The small village of Casaprota lies in the upper basin of the Farfa River, surrounded by a beautiful countryside dotted with olive groves and medieval ruins.
The Palazzo del Gatto – www.palazzodelgatto.it
The nineteenth century Palazzo del Gatto, in the centre of Casaprota, owes its name to the presence of a mummified cat discovered in the wine cave. Here is the story narrated by Luis Sepúlveda, who was particularly fond of Casaprota.
“More than four decades ago, in Casaprota, a wealthy bourgeois decided to permanently shut his palace […] but he did not notice that, before closing the doors, a cat had entered the palace and remained there, wandering alone, like a four-legged ghost, throughout the elegantly furnished rooms and among the austere portraits […] When, after more than forty years, my friend Renato Vivaldi and the Associazione Culturale Sabinarti opened the palazzo to convert it into an artists’ residence, they found the mummified cat in the cellar peacefully sleeping at the foot of a barrel. He still lies there, listening to the verses of the Finnish, Czech, Brazilian, Colombian, and other artists, who come to the residence to enjoy the serene landscape and draw their inspiration, hence the name Palazzo del Gatto”.
The Palazzo del Gatto – www.palazzodelgatto.it
In addition to the wine cellar “la grotta”, this former residence of local nobles still preserves handcrafted furniture, items, and decorations. The olive groves, orchards, and a rose garden are embellished by a spring water well and eighteenth-century farms, now used as art workshops. The palazzo, now a residence for artists of all kinds, hosts several international events promoted by the l’Associazione Culturale Sabinarti.
The Fausto Tozzi Theatre – www.comune.casaprota.ri.it
The Fausto Tozzi Theatre, located on the main square of the village, hosts performances, book presentations, and civil weddings. On the smaller square in the historic centre, the Fausto Tozzi Award Film Festival has been held for thirty years during the last week of July. Each evening, a different film released during the current year is shown free of charge.
Collelungo di Casaprota – www.comune.casaprota.ri.it
The hamlet of Collelungo, consisting of narrow medieval alleys, was ruled in 1480 by the Orsini Family, who acquired the Casaprota Castle from the Brancaleoni Family during the same period. Also noteworthy is the noble palace, now Palazzo Filippi, renovated in the sixteenth century.
The Bruschetta Festival in Casaprota – www.comune.casaprota.ri.it
From the Valley of the Montenero and Farfa Rivers to the Sabine Mountains, the landscape is characterized by centuries-old olive and oak trees. On the last weekend of January in Casaprota, the Sabina’s Green Gold, one of the best oils in Italy, is celebrated during the Bruschetta Festival, where we can taste the famous roasted slice of bread seasoned with oil, as well as other typical specialities from Sabina, such as sausages, spaghetti all’amatriciana, spelt and truffle soup, fregnacce alla sabinese, and fried pizza. Folkloristic performances, exhibitions, live music, and guided tours accompany the festival.
Also not to be missed is the forty years old Porcini Mushroom Fettuccine Festival celebrated in mid-August.