Montalto di Castro, a medieval burg in Tuscia, in the province of Viterbo, sits on the banks of the Fiora River, overlooking the Green-Flag winner Tyrrhenian Sea.
Montalto di Castro – photo www.visitmontaltodicastro.it
Walking throughout the village, we come across the quadrangular tower of the Castello Guglielmi, probably built in the fifteenth century by the Orsini family and, in via Soldatelli, the single-nave Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Here, the relics of Quirino and Candido are preserved, the Patron Saints celebrated at the beginning of March during the historical celebration dedicated to “the 40 of Sebaste”, the Roman soldiers martyred on March 9, 320 AD. in Armenia.
In Marina di Montalto, the Etruscan port of Regisvilla emerges close to the shores of Punta delle Murelle, the economic hub of the old Vulci, with its grey sandy beaches. The over 800-metre-long coast, bordered by dunes, is rich in vegetation and boasts a splendid pine forest, a sloping sandy seabed, and rocks emerging up to three hundred metres from the shore.
Montalto Marina
Again, this year, Montalto di Castro has been awarded the Green Flag, the prize conferred to the most welcoming beaches, suitable for children and their families. Pet-friendly shores are the beaches of the Murelle and Pescia Romana, where you can bring your four-legged friend.
Vulci Park
Do not miss a visit to the Naturalistic Archaeological Park of Vulci, the over one-thousand-year-old Etruscan city-state between Montalto di Castro and Canino. Here stands out, still intact, the Castello della Badia, once headquarters of the Templars and today home to the National Etruscan Museum. We will also appreciate the Ponte dell’ Arcobaleno, a Roman arch thirty metres above the Fiora River, and the Necropolises with the imposing mounds of the Cuccumella and the Cuccumelletta, as well as the François Tomb.
Laghetto del Pellicone
Not everyone knows that some scenes of the exciting miniseries “The Name of the Rose“ were shot in the Parco dei Vulci, whereas a part of the movie “Three Men and a Leg” with Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo has been filmed by the bathing Laghetto del Pellicone and the waterfall in the WWF oasis, which stretches along the Fiora River.
Nothing left to do but cry at the Laghetto del Pellicone
“but 9×9 will be 81?”
Nothing left to do but cry, a cult movie with Roberto Benigni and Massimo Troisi, was also shot at the Laghetto del Pellicone.
The typical dishes of Montalto di Castro are wild boar “alla cacciatora” and jugged hare; Canino DOP extra virgin olive oil is produced here.
In the second half of May, the Festival “Maremma d’aMare” is celebrated in Montalto Marina, with activities and shows related to local traditions, horses, butteri (shepherds on horseback) and Maremma cows.