San Martino al Cimino: Abbey, Borgo and Paths through the Landscape

San Martino al Cimino is particularly appealing if you would like to experience Italian architectural history together with a distinctive townscape and paths through the landscape. Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, the borgo, San Martino Abbey and the Ponte-Capello excursion each add a different dimension between culture and activity.

Palazzo and a Deliberately Planned Borgo

Palazzo Doria Pamphilj acquired its present appearance around the middle of the 17th century, based on an earlier medieval building. The piano nobile, completed in 1652, was divided into twelve rooms with wooden coffered ceilings, stucco portals, wooden floors and walnut doors. It is precisely the combination of clear spatial organization and handcrafted details that makes the palace an important point of interest for culturally interested travelers exploring the town.

The borgo of San Martino al Cimino also bears the mark of deliberate urban planning. Regularly arranged houses, built as workers’ dwellings, stand in rows and lean against the town wall. The townscape therefore tells not only of individual buildings, but also of how a cohesive residential area was designed.

San Martino Abbey

San Martino Abbey is an active parish and is located on Piazza della Chiesa in San Martino al Cimino. This specific location makes the abbey an established part of the townscape and connects the religious building with Piazza della Chiesa in San Martino al Cimino.

The architecture of San Martino Abbey reflects the classical Cistercian style, developed further in comparison with the simpler abbeys of central Italy. The façade is framed by two bell towers built between 1651 and 1654. This gives you a particularly precise view of the architectural design: style, façade and construction period can be considered together in a specific ensemble.

Hiking Trails and Exploring the Landscape

The CAI 120d hiking trail connects the town of San Martino al Cimino with the trail network of the Lago di Vico nature reserve. If you would also like to combine your stay with a hike, this trail leads from the town into a larger network of paths, offering a second perspective on the surrounding area.

The Ponte-Capello excursion is a 6.6-kilometer circular route starting at the Cistercian abbey of San Martino al Cimino. It follows a section of the Via Francigena della Montagna and branches off for a few hundred meters onto a path providing access to the gorge of the Fosso Porchetta. The combination of a circular route, a historic starting point and a section of the Via Francigena della Montagna gives the excursion a clearly defined character.

On the Ponte-Capello excursion, your exploration can be extended to include a gorge with steep, weather-shaped tuff walls and rich woodland vegetation. The colors and scents of the vegetation change according to the season. In addition to its geological character, the route therefore offers changing natural impressions that you can take into account when planning your days outdoors.

Cultural Destinations in the Surrounding Area

The Sodalizio dei Facchini di Santa Rosa Museo is located in the vicinity of San Martino al Cimino. Alessandrìs Palace is also nearby. Both places broaden the cultural perspective beyond the borgo and the abbey and provide additional points of interest for your exploration if you are interested in architecture, history and regional culture.

Further Places for Trip Planning

Lubriano, Montalto Marina, Ischia Di Castro, Carbognano, Bassano Romano, Marina Di Pescia Romana, Vitorchiano and Calcata Vecchia

For the higher-level travel overview: Viterbo.