The village of Vejano was founded near the upper reaches of the Mignone River in 1800–1700 BC under the name of Viano.
The Ancient Palio della Città in Viano
The Ancient Palio di Viano, established in 1582, is celebrated on the last Sunday of August in honour of the patron saint, Sant’Orsio. Participants from different districts on bareback of half-breed horses compete for the traditional banner, with two riders at a time darting among the crowd along Corso Umberto I.
Panorama of Vejano with the Fortress – retedimorestorichelazio.it
The medieval urban layout of Vejano preserves traces of several noble families, the Anguillara, the Prefetti di Vico, the Della Rovere, and the Orsini. From 1493 to 1664, the village belonged to the Santacroce, and then, in 1670, passed into the hands of the Altieri Family and remained in their possession for three centuries. After the family died out, the property was acquired the Princes Rampolla di Napoli, the current owners of the castle.
The Rocca di Vejano
The original Rocca built by the Anguillara was destroyed by Pope Borgia in 1493 and reconstructed by the Santacroce Family. Subsequently, the castle passed to the Altieri Family, and today it is owned by the Princes Rampolla di Napoli.
The Rocca, exterior – retedimorestorichelazio.it
Although badly damaged by the bombings in 1944, the castle, one of the Historic Residences in Lazio, still stands imposingly in the historical centre. Built directly on the tuff rock, it is surrounded by a moat with two access bridges. Visits are only possible from the outside.
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta – comune.vejano.vt.it
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta was built in 1344, and then restored by Onofrio Santacroce, who chose it as his burial place. Subsequently, it was renovated by the Altieri Family and finally rebuilt after the bombings of World War II.
Worth a visit is the geological, archaeological, and naturalistic Ecomuseo della Tuscia Rupestre – EMTR, which covers the areas of Barbarano, Blera, Capranica, Vetralla, and Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia.
The Pizza a Fiamma
Among the specialities of Vejano are the Tarquinia DOC wine and the soft and durum wheat Pizza a Fiamma, filled with chicory and ricotta and cooked over an open wood flame. A festival dedicated to this traditional dish dating back to 1900 is celebrated at the beginning of July. The Pizza a Fiamma is included in the Slow Food Network.
The participants of the Living Nativity Scene – Facebook @presepevivente.vejano
From December 26 to January 6, in Vejano, an evocative Living Nativity Scene is staged. Three hundred participants walk eight hundred metres through the alleys and squares of the ancient medieval village, illuminated by torches. The sacred re-enactment, accompanied by the Coro Polifonico dell’Assunta, is enlivened by an arts and crafts exhibition.