Nerola is 50 kilometres from Rome in the Sabina Romana region.
Its houses are gathered around the Castello Orsini, on a spur of the Monti Lucretili.
Standing within the town walls, the Orsini Castle features magnificently frescoed interiors. It is the result of a conversion from a 10th century stronghold into an aristocratic residence during the 15th century. Legend has it that the fragrance of the local flower blossoms so intoxicated Marie Anne, wife of the prince of Nerola, that she was driven to create the famous Neroli perfume, named after her town.
The stories linked with the name of Nerola are intriguing. According to one legend, Nerola originated from a sanctuary where an ancient local population venerated the goddess of strength, Nereine. Another legend traces the name back to the emperor Nero. So it happens that the community chose as its emblem the head of the emperor encircled by the writing Comunitas Nerulae, which was engraved into a silver seal.
In actual fact it is believed that the town developed from the ancient Regillo, famous for having been the birthplace of Attus Clausus, forefather of the Gens Claudia, from which Nero descended.
The unmissable sites are the lovely fountain in Piazza Municipio (1885); the Ospizio dei Pellegrini, an ancient pilgrims’ lodge, now housing the Ospedale Sant’Antonio; the Church of San Giorgio Martire, patron saint celebrated on 23 April; and the Church of San Sebastiano, which preserves a statue of the saint, a wooden crucifix dating from 1500 and an ancient baptismal font bearing the Orsini family emblem. An unforgettable experience would be hiking on the Mountain of the Elci.
You mustn’t leave Nerola before savouring the Sabina DOP extra-virgin-olive oil on roasted bread, the Ravenna della Sabina PAT cherries and the Colli della Sabina DOC wine. Some traditional dishes are polenta with pork spareribs and sausage, celebrated with a feast in November; beans with the typical hand-made pastas; and the fried dough sprinkled with either salt or sugar or eaten with prosciutto.