Roviano, slightly less than 60 km from the capital, is part of the Aniene mountain community.
The ancient village is dominated by the Brancaccio castle and still retains its medieval features.
In the 17th century, the castle had been the home of the Colonna family, and was then converted into an oil mill. Today it houses the Museum of Rural Civilization.
Located on a small hill, the municipality of Roviano dominates the high valley, Alta Valle dell’Aniene in an area between the Park of the Lucretili Mountains and Park of the Simbruini Mountains.
The place name probably comes from the name of the Roman family, Rubri, which settled in the area after the submission of the Aequi in 304 BC. It would seem that the distinctive polygonal walls located in the residential area called Leveta date back to the era of this Italic population.
The territory is home to one of the most important aqueducts dating back to 144-130 BC, built by the Praetor of Roviano, Quintus Marcius Rex. The traces of the Valeria Vetus road which climbed through Cineto, Roviano and Riofreddo, are still present.
The historic core dates back to the 12th century when it was fortified. In fact, in the year 1000 Roviano was already a castellum and the peasants of the area found shelter within its walls from the wars between the aristocrats and local gentry for control of the castles.
The characteristic historical centre rises up the hill in concentric lines intersected by numerous lanes and is closed off by the gothic Scaramuccia Gate demolished by the municipality in 1878 and rebuilt by Camillo Massimo in 1880.
Initially belonging to the Abbey of Subiaco, over the centuries it was the fiefdom of the various branches of the Colonna family, and also belonged to the Orsini and Barberini families.
For more information: Comune di Roviano