Palombara Sabina: A Medieval Gem in Lazio’s Crown
Despite its population of nearly 13,000, the Lazio town of Palombara Sabina has maintained its real hamlet aspect. In the province of Rome and on the slopes of Monte Gennaro, the old village grows around its centerpiece, the medieval Savelli Castle, and immediately enchants history buffs because it has not changed significantly since its inception.
Narrow, easy-curving lanes evoke ancient times, when the ancient city of Cameria gave birth to a new urban town named Palumba as a result of the abundance of pigeon farms throughout the entire region. In its domain, the Abbey of Farfa, Duke Alberigo the Lombard, the Savelli, and the Borghese alternated in temporal relay, giving way to the revolutionary course of the Risorgimento, at the conclusion of which Palombara Sabina became an autonomous municipality with its own government.
The Castle
The castle is still the only example of military architecture on the site; it was strongly desired by the Crescenzi Ottaviani family, who had it built around the year 1000 and then made it susceptible to various modifications capable of making it the largest manor in Lazio, with 132 rooms spread across a total area of 10,000 square meters.
Inside, Baldassarre Petruzzi’s frescoes are fascinating—works that extol Roman heroism, the grotesque side of celestial figures, and the allegory of the liberal arts. There is also a nicely supplied library and the Naturalistic Museum. Castiglione, a castle village dating back to the early Middle Ages, is located inside Monti Lucretili Park, a short distance from the town. It has two city walls, a church, and a Roman cistern. In actuality, just a few ruins have remained, yet they are so remarkable that they are well worth visiting.
What to See in Palombara Sabina
To gain access to the sacred heritage, take a beautiful country excursion that primarily follows a path immersed in a blanket of olive trees and vineyards within a hilly area, ready to reveal the Abbey of San Giovanni in Argentella, a very beautiful and unique building managed by a single custodian and thus not always open to visitors.
The Abbey of San Giovanni in Argentella
Its origins are still unknown; there is talk of a primitive Byzantine structure that was deductively followed by a typically medieval construction with strong Romanesque and late Baroque elements, which explains the suggestive presence of grave goods such as the underground crypt, the masonry presbytery, the ciborium, and the main altar. The construction, built with irregular yellow tuff stones, features a brick bell tower with numerous single, double, and triple lancet windows but no bell, which was present before 1820 and then destroyed.
The Benedictine mark may be seen both inside and outside, proving that it was possible to monumentalize a genuinely beautiful place of prayer. A plethora of columns and pillars supporting harmonious round arches lend exact majesty to the three naves, the frescoes set along them having been stolen, with the exception of a representative, if faded, San Guglielmo.
Today, the church is a national monument. The abbey was claimed to be connected to the Convent of San Nicola via an underground passage, but only a few remnants survived.
Visitors will still find the Church of Sant’Egidio, the Romanesque Church of San Biagio (the oldest in town; it was founded in 1101 and houses, among other works, the Madonna with Child by Antonio da Viterbo and the Glory of San Biagio by Raffaele Casnedi), and finally the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata, the latter dating back to the fourteenth century and boasting a façade that is a hybrid between Romanesque and Baroque, a mix that many visitors are surprised by.
Events, festivals, and fun things to do
All customs and folkloristic events, such as the patronal Feast of San Biagio on February 3, the Good Friday Procession, the Feast of the Madonna della Neve on August 5, and the appropriate Christmas Concert, exude a powerful religious aura.
On the gastronomic-rural side, we are referring to celebrations of local products, notably the National Exhibition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Sabina DOP in March, the Sagra delle Cerase in June, and Il Giorno di Bacco in November.
Also worth noting is the Borgo Bike, a one-of-a-kind cycling competition held at night in the ancient village’s streets in July. Cretone, a vibrant hamlet, is also noted for its spa, the Persica Festival in June, and the Ciammellocco Festival in September.
How to reach Palombara Sabina
Palombara Sabina can be reached by car along Via Salaria, Via Nomentana, Via Tiburtina, or the A1/A24 motorway with an exit at Tivoli; the trains stop at Palombara-Marcellina and Piana Bella di Montelibretti near the suburban lines FR2 Rome-Tivoli and FR1 Orte-Fiumicino; shuttle buses are regularly active; and Rome-Fiumicino is the reference airport.