Perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Valnerina, Casteldilago is a small Umbrian village of extraordinary charm, now a hamlet of the municipality of Arrone and included in the prestigious circuit of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages. Located a few kilometers from Terni and only 5 km from the Marmore Falls, Casteldilago offers an authentic plunge into medieval history and spirituality.
The first evidence of this settlement dates back to the 6th century, when St. Lawrence the Illuminator, a Syrian monk, chose the site as a hermitage. Later, in the 11th century, a fortified castle arose, of which only a few ruins remain today, incorporated into the settlement. Thanks to its dominant position on a road junction that connected the Via Flaminia to the Via Salaria, Casteldilago was for a long time a military garrison of great importance for the control of the Valnerina.
A village that tells the story
Throughout the centuries, Casteldilago was disputed by Spoleto, Terni and the Papal States, suffering occupation, subjugation and rebellion. Its historical events are intertwined with figures such as Frederick II, Lucrezia Borgia and Pope Alexander VI, testifying to the strategic and political importance of the village. In the sixteenth century, the village acquired its own statute and maintained an autonomous administrative structure until its incorporation into Arrone in 1875.
Architecture and atmosphere
The village retains intact its medieval urban layout of cobblestone alleys, stone arches, underpasses and white limestone houses. Strolling through the steep streets, one encounters charming corners, such as the Church of St. Valentine, leaning against the rock, with its 16th-century portal and frescoed lunette with the Madonna and Child, or the Church of St. Nicholas, embellished with frescoes of the Spoleto school.
Don’t miss a visit to the old 16th-century mill, now converted into a dwelling but once the beating heart of the rural economy. Also of interest is the Museum of Ceramics, which houses artifacts found during restorations, evidence of the village’s ties with noble families from central Italy. Another notable building is Italy’s first reformed Catholic church, built in the 19th century by Count Enrico Campello.
Nature, spirituality and legends
Nearby are places charged with spirituality, such as the Hermitage of Madonna dello Scoglio, a destination for pilgrimages and meditation. The name “Casteldilago” recalls the ancient lake that once occupied the valley, drained around 1580 thanks to hydraulic interventions related to the Marmore Falls.
Casteldilago is striking for its exceptional architectural integrity, attention to conservative restoration and ability to combine history, nature and local identity. It is the ideal destination for those seeking authenticity, breathtaking scenery and the atmosphere of yesteryear, in a corner of Umbria that is still little-traveled but full of emotions to be discovered.
