Guidonia Montecelio, a town very close to Tivoli, the treasures of Villa Gregoriana, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana, was once called Montecelio, and it was only during the Fascist era that it acquired its current name.
Sacred shrines in the historic centre of Montecelio
Along the winding alleys of the medieval historic centre, it is possible to admire several sacred shrines, the small stone building in Via Sant’Antonino with its mullioned window, and Palazzo Cesi, built around 1500.
The Rocca of Montecelio Photo @ Fondo Ambiente Italiano FAI
Continuing along the steps in Via degli Scacchi, past the Arch of San Lorenzo, the Rocca dominating the town appears. It was built by the Crescenzi Family, owners of vast estates in the area, who used the recycled materials from a Roman temple. In 1400, the fortress passed into the hands of the Orsini, and, in 1500, it was abandoned and neglected. Not to be missed in Guidonia Monticello is the eighteenth-century Church of San Michele Arcangelo, with its Monastery now housing the Civic Archaeological Museum dedicated to the famous archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani, whose family had local origins.
The “Triade Capitolina” in the Rodolfo Lanciani Museum in Guidonia Montecelio
The museum’s exhibition space displays artifacts discovered in the surrounding area. Among the most valuable pieces, the “Triade Capitolina” stands out, the sculpture depicting Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno seated, with their animal companions, an eagle, an owl, and a peacock. The museum was renovated in 2025.
Piazza Matteotti Ph @ comune.guidoniamontecelio.rm.it
The modern Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, a significant example of Rationalist architecture, hosts the Town Hall, the Civic Tower, and the former Casa del Fascio.
The Church of Santa Maria di Loreto – Ph @ diocesitivoliepalestrina.it
Also dominating the village is the Church of Santa Maria di Loreto, built in 1938 and dedicated to the patron saint. It houses an original painting depicting the Madonna holding out the Child to protect the town with the hangars of the nearby military airport on the background.
The territory of Guidonia Montecelio also includes a protected natural area, the Inviolata Archaeological Park, ideal for lovers of hiking in the nature, where the typical Roman countryside, is enriched by small streams and tunnel-like forests. The village is also well-known for its traditional cuisine. A local speciality is the Pinciarelle, pasta made with flour and water and topped with fresh tomato sauce and local cheese, celebrated in mid-September on the main square during the Pinciarelle Festival.