Discover Sellano: Castles, Trails and Regional Traditions

Sellano appeals to travellers who want to combine history, landscapes and local traditions. Sellano is a 12th-century castle complex in a commanding position above the Vigi Valley. The area is predominantly mountainous and is crossed by the clear, crystal-clear waters of the Vigi River. Historic buildings, paths through the Valnerina and festivals featuring regional specialities give the town a variety of facets.

Historic Centre and Medieval Traces

Sellano’s historic centre is home to the Palazzo Comunale. The building displays clear 16th-century features and preserves traces of 16th-century frescoes. The Church of San Francesco is also known as Madonna della Croce; it was completed in 1538 and has an octagonal floor plan. The Church of Santa Maria was built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 16th century.

Historical evidence can also be found outside the centre. In the municipality of Sellano, Postignano is home to a medieval castle with a hexagonal tower. Villamagina, in the municipality of Sellano, is known for the traditional production of files and rasps. This old craft became well known in the 18th century.

Hiking, the Bridge and Trails through the Valnerina

For planning your time around Sellano, the historic and art-historical hiking trail through the Vigi Valley is particularly interesting. It leads from Montesanto to Sellano through a landscape of medieval castles. The Ponte tibetano di Sellano is 517 metres long and 175 metres high and connects Sellano with the hamlet of Montesanto. Numerous trekking routes begin just a few steps outside Sellano’s built-up centre and lead through the lush vegetation of the Valnerina.

The Valnerina can also be explored in various ways by bicycle. There are numerous routes for mountain bikes and e-bikes. The mountain-bike and e-bike routes have varying difficulty levels, reach the highest peaks of the Apennines and also include options for families with children. Horse rides lead through the forests, meadows and clear waters of the Valnerina.

Festivals and Specialities from Sellano

The Sagra della Fojata e dell’Attorta takes place every year in the second week of August. At this festival, you can try the savoury fojata and the sweet attorta; both traditional Sellano cakes are DeCo-certified. The Festa della Campagna takes place every year in autumn and honours Sellano’s agricultural and mountain-farming traditions.

At the Festa della Campagna, Sellano presents traditional agricultural and food products such as chestnuts, wine, cured meats, arrosticini, cheese, polenta and stuffed pizzas. The Festa delle Erbe Dimenticate takes place in Sellano in May and showcases forgotten plant-based products, along with their flavours and textures. Regional products and traditional production methods are therefore among the topics you can take into account when planning your trip.

Getting There and Choosing Your Accommodation

You should consider how you will get there when choosing your accommodation. The nearest railway stations to Sellano are in Foligno and Spoleto; from there, onward travel by bus or rental car is required. This allows you to compare the location of your accommodation with your planned excursions, hikes and sightseeing visits.

More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also find Fanciullata, Colfiorito, Lerchi, Spoleto, Papiano, Ramazzano, Rasiglia and San Fatucchio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.