Discover Casacastalda: Castle Complex, Churches and Hiking Trails

Casacastalda is a destination for travelers who want to experience history in a distinctive castle complex, churches and along varied trails. Medieval traces, religious art, Umbrian folk songs and local cuisine give the town several distinct facets to consider when planning your trip.

Castle Complex and Ecclesiastical Heritage

Casacastalda originated from a castle founded in the 8th century by the Lombard Ernero Castaldo, a descendant of Totila. The castle of Casacastalda was rebuilt by the people of Perugia in 1433. Following its reconstruction, Casacastalda retained its present diamond-shaped castle complex with fortified entrance structures. The complex includes the Porta Perugina to the south, the Porta del Giglio to the north and the Porta Eugubina to the west.

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 10th century and was extensively renovated in the 19th century. The church houses a triptych by Matteo da Gualdo. It was formerly one of the 15 parishes of the Diocese of Nocera. This places both the long ecclesiastical history and a specific work of religious art at the center of the town.

The Santuario della Madonna dell’Olmo commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to a shepherd girl on May 22, 1484. The elm trunk is preserved inside the church. The strong connection to this date and to the traditional account of the tree trunk makes the sanctuary another distinct theme within the town’s history.

Location and Trails

Casacastalda stands prominently above the Risacco valley and the Val di Rasina. The Risacco is a tributary of the Chiascio, while the stream of the Val di Rasina comes from the direction of Gualdo Tadino. These geographical references place the town within a landscape where river valleys and trails are closely connected to the historic settlement.

The Madonna dell’Olmo–Monte Santa Cristina loop is a short, easy trail over gravel and asphalt. It leads from the Madonna dell’Olmo church to Monte della Dea and onward to Monte Santa Cristina. The Casacastalda–Monte Serra loop offers a different type of hiking experience: it is a scenic route of moderate difficulty from the Santuario della Madonna dell’Olmo to the church on Monte Serra dedicated to Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Casacastalda also provides the opportunity to hike the “Assisi–Valfabbrica–Gubbio” Way of Saint Francis. Together with the two loop trails, this route offers a selection in which you can consider short, easy stretches and a moderately difficult route separately, without losing sight of the town’s cultural attractions.

Folk Culture and Regional Cuisine

The Cantamaggio of Casacastalda began in 1977 as a folkloric event. It takes place every year in May as a traditional performance of Umbrian folk songs with a rural character. Stornelli and sonnets draw on the tradition of sung jokes and serenades. For the culinary calendar, the 56th edition of the “Sagra dello Spaghetto e prodotti tipici locali” is scheduled to take place from August 8 to 14, 2026. Nine evenings of dancing and food stalls on the multipurpose square are planned.

When choosing accommodation in Casacastalda, you can plan around these focal points: the castle complex and churches, the trails with their differing characteristics, or the annual May event and the event scheduled for August 2026.

Other Places for Trip Planning

Volterrano, Papiano, Torricella, Doglio, Fighille, Monteluco, Giano Dell Umbria and Monte Petriolo

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.