Cittaducale is an elliptical-shaped Angevin village in Sabina, with two perpendicular streets intersecting in Piazza del Popolo, the centre of civic, commercial, and religious life.
Piazza del Popolo
Here stands the Gothic-Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria del Popolo, built in the late 1400s. It features a rectilinear medieval façade, typical of Abruzzo architecture, a beautiful rose window, and a myriad of small arches with a lace-like pattern.
Palazzo della Comunità – www.cittaducaleturismo.it
Of particular interest is also the Palazzo della Comunità, flanked by a crenellated Civic Tower, which was restored by Vignola and hosted Duchess Margherita of Austria in the sixteenth century. Noble residences overlook the square, founded by Charles of Anjou in 1308.
The Lunettes
The partly preserved city walls are still enriched with defensive towers, including the Angevin Tower, also known as the Cassero di San Manno, which guards the main entrance.
The Ancient Baths of Vespasian – www.cittaducaleturismo.it
Cittaducale boasts numerous medieval and Renaissance churches within and outside its walls, but the highlight of the village are the Ancient Baths of Vespasian, built by the Roman Emperor, who was born in this area.
The Baths of Cotilia in Cittaducale
The Baths of Cotilia and its small lake of sulphurous water are today part of an archaeological site of great interest.
The Sword in the Stone at Cinque Confini on Mount Terminillo
Unmissable is a hike on Mount Terminillo, to discover the Sword in the Stone, said to have belonged to a Knight of the Templar Order. It was stuck in Cinque Confini, between the municipalities of Rieti, Cittaducale, Micigliano, Borgo Velino and Castel Sant’Angelo.
Sagne alla Molinara – www.cittaducaleturismo.it
Cittaducale offers a traditional, simple cuisine. Typical local dishes are the Sagne alla Molinara, prepared with humble ingredients like flour and water and rolled by hand, and, in the right season, chestnuts and vin brulé.
The most important event in Santa Rufina di Cittaducale is “Rulli e Cantine“, the festival held just before the Feast of San Martino, celebrating autumnal products and local culture and traditions.