Marcetelli is the smallest village in Lazio, counting less than one hundred inhabitants! The ancient historic centre is strategically embedded in the almost precipitous rocky spur Le Ravi, a charming terrace overlooking the Valle del Salto.
Marcetelli
This medieval jewel of stone, which winds its steep way up Mount Navegna, is immersed in the gorgeous greenery of the “Cammino Naturale dei Parchi” and the “Riserva Naturale monti Navegna e Cervia”.
Marcetelli – www.comune.marcetelli.ri.it
Narrow alleys, flanked by perched houses,
wind around the Church of San Venanzio Martire. The church has undergone quite a few changes and some of the paintings are hidden under several layers of plaster. The Church of Santa Maria in Villa, from the year 1000, stands on the extreme tip of Monte Santo, at 1000 metres above sea level, and preserves frescoes of great value. The Church of San Rocco, just outside the Castrum, was built in 1656 to host and cure the victims of the plague.
Museo Bottega dei Cerchiari – www.comune.marcetelli.ri.it
Here, we can still enjoy the atmosphere of the past, visiting the workshops of the master coopers, who create vats, tubs, and barrels of chestnut wood by hand.
The Cerchiari of Marcetelli – www.comune.marcetelli.ri.it
The “Bottega del Cerchiaro”, the first museum entirely dedicated to this art, displays craftsman tools, such as pialle, toghe, cortellu elle toe e segarellu.
The Cerchiari have increased the growth of local economy in the twentieth century.
Red Chestnuts of Cicolano
Before leaving, let us not forget to taste the local excellence, the delicious red chestnut.
The Red Chestnut Festival in Marcetelli has been celebrated for almost fifty years on November 1, in a fascinating autumn setting.
On August 10, you can join the gastronomic tour “Il Serpentone di Montagna”, throughout the historic centre. At each stop, you will appreciate excellent wine and taste typical delicacies, such as the pizzicotti, a flour dough seasoned with a tasty sauce, the lentil soup, and the sheep allu cotturu, with tomato and chili pepper.