English version
Casperia is a municipality of about 1250 inhabitantssituated in Sabina. Casperia is in the province of Rieti between the left bank of the Tiber and the western side of the Sabini Mountains. The quality of this territory from a tourist and environmental point of view has been certified by the Italian Touring Club by assigning to Casperia the“Orange Flag”.
The Latin poet Virgilio tells in the Aeneid about Casperia in ancient times, also the literati Silio Italico, Vibio Sequestre and Mauro Servio Onorato mention Casperia in their writings.Despite all this ancient literature the origin of Casperia is uncertain. Some writings tell about an ancient city in Sabina which had arose in a locationcurrently called Paranzano.The ruins of several rustic villas are visible in this area and among those there is one owned by Pallante. He was a powerful freed slavethat had belonged to Antonia (mother of emperor Claudius).
Recent speleological and archaeological surveys have discovered an aqueduct from the 5th- 4th centuries B.C. which was built by the Sabines. This discovery however, is not enough to establish where the ancient Casperia was situated exactly. Other speleological and archaeological surveys havefound another archaic hydraulic tunnel in a Roman settlement in the Legarano area (currently called St. Mary in Legarano).
The village we see today dates to the 10th century A.D. and its original name was Aspra. This name was kept until1947. Aspra became an independent borough in 1189and between the 13th and 14th centuries the community who lived therewas one of the most powerful in Sabina.
The old town of Casperia is an extraordinary example of medieval architecture. The village is enclosed by the majestic defense walls erected in 1282. It can only be accessed through the Roman Gate (to the west) and St. Mary’s Gate (to the east), also known as Porta Reatina. Above the latter entrance you can admire the clock that marks the canonical time. It is possible to access the old town through the two gatesonly on foot.This is because there are no driveways in the old town.The houses are embedded in a labyrinth of narrow alleys and staircases that rise to 400 meters above sea level. St. John the Baptist is the name of the top square of the village where the parish church, which takes on the same name as the square, is located.The characteristic architecture of towers, walkways, slits and small strongholdscan be taken as proof of the historical importance of Casperia in the middleages.
St. Mary in Legarano, Paranzano and St. Vito are Casperia’slocalitiesin the countryside wherevast olive groves produce the “dop”extra virgin olive oil of Sabina.
Casperia also has a vast mountainous territorywith some ofthe highest peaks of the Sabini Mountains, e.g. M. Macchia Gelata (1258 meters above sea level) and M. Alto (1215 above sea level). Casperia’sterritory is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Sabini Mountains and the most important perennial spring in the entire mountain range: Fonte Cognolo (1054above sea level).
How to get to Casperia by car:
From Fiumicio Airport:
Take highway E80/A91 Roma-Fiumicino, dir toward Roma;
Take ramp rightfor E35/A1, dir towardAurelia/Firenze;
Bear left onto A90 GRA, dir toward Aurelia/SS2/Cassia/E35/A1;
Take exit exit 10 for E35/A1 motorway, dir toward Firenze;
Bear left onto E35/A1 motorway, dir toward Firenze;
See instructionsbelowFrom Rome for the remaining route to Casperia;
From Ciampino Airport:
Take Via Appia Nuova/SS7, dir toward Roma until exit for E35/A1 dir to Firenze;
Take ramp right for E80 toward L’Aquila/Napoli-Firenze;
Continue on A90 GRA until ramp right E35/A1 dir toward Firenze;
See instructions below From Rome for the remaining route to Casperia;
From Rome:
E35/A1 motorway,dirtoward Florence
2a) At Svincolo Fiano Romano (exit/toll) take ramp right for E35 toward Rieti;
3a) Bear right onto S.S. 4dir /Diramazione Salaria until Passo Corese;
Alternatively to 2a) and 3a ):
2b) From A1 motorway take exit/toll Ponzano-Soratte instead of Fiano Romano;
3b) After the toll keep straight until road crossing and take rightonto S.R. 657 dir toward
Galantina;
From Passo Corese or Galantina take S.R. 313,dir toward Terni;
Take ramp right for Cantalupo and continue to Casperia onto S.P. 49;
Frome Florence:
Take A1 motorway dir toward Rome untilPonzano-Soratte exit/toll;
After the toll keep straight until road crossing and take right onto S.R. 657 dir towardGalantina;
From Passo Corese or Galantina take S.R. 313, dir toward Terni;
Take ramp right for Cantalupo and continue to Casperia onto S.P. 49;
From Rieti:
Take freeway Rieti-Terni until Contigliano exit;
After Contigliano continue on the S.P. 45, dir toward Fonte Cerro, then Cottanello;
After passing Cottanelloat road crossing takeleft onto S.P. 48, dir toward Poggio Mirteto;
Alternatively:
Take road S.P. 46, dirtoward Tancia;
Then on road S.P. 47 drive through Poggio Catino;
At road crossing take rigth onto S.P. 48, dir toward Cottanello;
From Terni: - Take road S.R. 313, dir toward to Passo Corese;
Take ramp left for Cantalupo and continue to Casperia onto S.P. 49;
How to get to Casperia by train:
From Fiumicio Airport and from Rome:
Take train FL1 Fiumicino-Roma-Orte and get off at Poggio Mirteto station;
From Florence:
Take Regional train or Intercity and get off at Orte station;
Then take train FL1 Orte-Roma-Fiumicino and get off at Poggio Mirteto station;
Alternatively:
Take High-Speed Trenitalia or Italo and get off at Roma Tiburtina station;
Then take train FL1 Fiumicino-Roma-Orte and get off at Poggio Mirteto station;
From Poggio Mirteto station take bus Cotral to Casperia.
Train schedules at: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
Bus schedules at:https://servizi.cotralspa.it/PercorsiTariffe
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