Contigliano: Medieval Heritage, Churches, Festivals and Trails
Accommodation in Contigliano
A historic town centre with a clearly defined outline
For visitors, Contigliano begins with an unusually clear impression: the historic centre lies on a rocky spur and retains its ring of fortifications. The town’s medieval origins have been documented since the 12th century. The rocky spur and ring of fortifications therefore shape the historic character of the centre and provide a clearly recognisable starting point for your exploration.
File:Contigliano - borgo da Piazza degli Eroi 01.jpg
Photo: Alessandro Antonelli via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Churches and architectural history
Palazzo Tiberi is one of Contigliano’s important historic buildings. The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista dates from 1428. In Collebaccaro, Contigliano, the Chiesa della Madonna della Visitazione is dated to 1413; the Chiesa di Sant’Andrea was built there in 1735. The architectural history therefore extends from medieval origins into the modern era.
The Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo has chapels decorated with frescoes, and its main altar is made of polychrome marble. It also houses a painting by Filippo Zucchetti from 1710 depicting the archangel Saint Michael. The Processione del Cristo Morto takes place on Good Friday; it begins and ends at the Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo.
Historic traces around the town
The remains of a Roman settlement are visible at the Pieve di San Lorenzo. The walls of the medieval Castrum Quintilianum have survived; the Porta dei Santi belongs to its medieval urban layout. The ruins of the Chiesa di San Giovanni are an attraction in Contigliano. The Abbazia di San Pastore officially began operating in May 1255. Villa Battistini is located in the 5-hectare Parco della Musica and is home to the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. In the ruins of Reopasto, the façade of the 18th-century Church of Sant’Andrea has survived. Reopasto is not an equipped tourist site; direct access to the ruins is at your own risk.
Trails and connection with nature
Contigliano is connected to the Riserva Naturale Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile. The Cammino di San Francesco and the Via di San Benedetto pass through the town. This allows different interests to be taken into account when planning: local history, the two trails that pass through the town and the connection with a nature reserve.
Festivals with a local character
In August, Contigliano hosts Assalto al Castello, a historical re-enactment of the Middle Ages. The Palio dell’Ariete is the highlight of the Assalto al Castello; during it, six town districts simulate an attack on the Porta dei Santi using a long and heavy battering ram. The Sagra del Pizzicotto also takes place in mid-August. If you plan your trip for this period, these events can make your stay particularly focused on history and local festival traditions.
Regional specialities
Lu pizzicottu is a dish classified as PAT and made from yeast-leavened bread dough: the dough is torn into pieces before cooking and then served with a spicy sauce. Pizza sucia is a Christmas pastry classified as PAT, made from bread dough with dried fruit, dried figs and hazelnuts. In Contigliano, a savoury dish and a seasonal pastry therefore offer different culinary highlights.
Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans
When choosing your accommodation in Contigliano, you can take the focus of your trip into account: the historic centre and its buildings, churches and ruins, the trails that pass through the town, the connection with the Riserva Naturale Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile, or the festivals and regional dishes. This allows you to plan your stay around your own interests without reducing the town’s different facets to a single experience.
Discover more places
Casperia, Leonessa, San Polo, Antrodoco, Montopoli Di Sabina, Canneto, Borgo Velino, Apoleggia
For the higher-level travel overview: Rieti.
