NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE - EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED ALSO FINAL CLEANING-
FREE WI-FI ALL OVER THE PROPERTY
COMPLIMENTARY WELCOME BASKET (Coffee, Tea, Cookies, Jam, ) -For our long term guests (14 days) a present of local handicrafts
TWO FULL BATHROOMS
GREEN HOUSE - Two level House: on the first floor large bedroom (2 people), wardrobe room and private bathroom/shower. Large panoramic window overlooking the Tiber Valley, the volcanic cliffs (calanchi) and the Umbrian mountains.
On the ground floor fully equipped kitchen/living room with sofabed (2 people) and bathroom/shower. Large fireplace.
There is an interior door (beautifully hand painted) separating the two level floors, for more privacy.
The House was recently and lovingly restored, tastefully (country syle) with any home confort.
LAUNDRY ROOM (to share with guests of Blue House) FREE OF CHARGE
AIR CONDITIONING
SWIMMING POOL to share with few other guests. The pool (12 X 8 mts.) with amazing panoramic view is equipped with deckchairs, umbrella, tables, self-service bar, shower and toilet. Our guests have ACCESS to the Swimming pool walking along a short path (100 mts. ca.) through a beautiful park
Fully equipped BBQ area (to share with guests of Blue House) with large table and seats. Guest might cook and eat Lunch or Dinner on the spot.
House linen included.
House cleaning included (before arrival and after departure).
GREEN HOUSE is located at Castel Cellesi (Bagnoregio Viterbo) at the meeting point of Latium, Umbria and Tuscany.
A 16 th century village where the road ends in the great
Piazza. Stunningly located-surrounded by emerald green fields,silver green olive groves, piercing blue skies, deep red sunsets - dominating the Tiber Valley at the foot of the Umbrian mountains.
Nestled in the northern Tuscia region- the Etruscan Italy.
CASTEL CELLESI is made for relaxing. Yet it is surrounded by places of historic, artistic and scenic interest. Within easy reach of Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto ( Gothic Cathedral) Viterbo (Pope's Palace, Cathedral and medieval quarter) Siena, Assisi, Lake Bolsena and the thermal springs at Viterbo.
The nearby highway whisks you quickly to Florence and Rome.
The area around Castel Cellesi is also a food and wine lover's paradise !
HOME RESTAURANT near the Swimmin Pool
COOKING CLASSES available in the village
HIKING AND BIKING (self or escorted tours) - A number of great paths were recently created to explore the enchanting countryside around Castel Cellesi. Walking, hiking or biking people go across olive groves, woods (oak, pine, cypress trees, Mediterranean bush) and get to see the ruins of an old Mill near a little river (Rio Chiaro, Rio Scuro) and fantastic falls in the middle of unspoiled nature (Ferriera Falls)
ELEPHAS ANTIQUUS (PALAEOLOXODON ANTIQUUS)
A few years ago the remains of a big Elephas Antiquus were found by accident in a field just a couple of km. from the center of Castel Cellesei far away. Excavations were started immediately being involved the University of Florence, the University of Rome and the Archaeological Group of Castel Cellesi.
The Elephas Antiquus (Palaeolooxodon antiquus) is the biggest elephant ever existed in Europe.
The specimen of Castel Cellesi, probably coming from Africa and dating back to Middle Pleistocene, was a male one, very old in age and extremely huge. For the size of its bones, they presume it might have been 4 meters high (up to gathers) and 10-12 tons of weight.
Upon request i's possible to visit the Museum that was recently built around the 20 square meters of excavations showing bones and remains of our Elephas Antiquus
THE FRANCIGENA ROUTE
Medieval man felt himself as a pilgrim on earth and he really became one traveling towards the sites of the Christian faith through roads- like the Francigena- with Rome or possibly Jerusalem as a final destination.
The “ Via Francigena “ (the Iter Francorum or the Frankish Route) is a branch of the Pilgrimage trail that goes between Canterbury and Rome, coming into full use starting around the 11th century.
Bishop Sigeric of Canterbury first made the journey to Rome in 990 AD to receive honors from the Pope. He wrote a travel diary with accurate details, descriptions, pictures and maps of the route, which became the pilgrimage route of today, more or less. The pilgrimage to Rome can be made by foot, bicycle or horse.
The Francigena Route contains lots of interesting cities, towns, villages rich of archaelogical, artistic and monumental sites. The Tuscany and Latium sections are especially valuable for the many amazing places on the route such as Luni, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Acquapendente, Montefiascone, Viterbo.
In the vicinity of Castel Cellesi two interesting, enchanting sections of the Via Francigena are available to hike: Section N° 39- Among olive groves and brushes the path detaches from Bolsena - at the Basilica of Santa Cristina - and, after going up and down, admiring wonderful sights of the lake, takes to Montefiascone. From the hilltop of Montefiascone, where the Rocca dei Papi is located, a 360 degree view is to enjoy.
Section N°40: The path detaches from Montefiascone – near the Sports Field – Hikers walk for hundreds of meters along the original paving of the Roman Via Cassia stepping on the the ancient stones (Basolatum) which are still in good conditions, then continue across a hillpark overlooking Montefiascone, North – Viterbo, South.
Before getting to Viterbo the path crosses a flat land rich of hot springs called “Bagnaccio Spa” where pilgrims used to stop and relax. The hot springs are open to the public still today.
For a short Walk:
THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN CASTEL CELLESI
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, housing the tomb of Jesus Christ, was the desired destination of many medieval pilgrims. But to travel so far was beyond the physical abilities or financial means of most people. Political complications, too, discouraged such journeys when the Muslims took over Jerusalem in1157. To respond to this unfulfilled desire, numerous copies of the Holy Sepulchre were built in the Christian world. All of Europe was pervaded by the presence and proliferation of chapels and edifices, sometimes containing relics taken from Jerusalem, modelled
after the Aedicule of Jesus Christ, to offer the illusion of the pilgrimage to those unable to do it.
In the Latium area “Copies or Memorials” of the Holy Sepulchre have been identified in the Church of Santo Stefano Rotondo (5th century) in Rome, in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre (785) in Acquapendente, Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Castel Cellesi (1703) -Bagnoregio”, in the Church of Santa Maria del Sepolcro in Vicovaro and possibly in the Rotunda by San Flaviano (1032)- -Montefiascone.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Castel Cellesi is now a cemetery chapel on top of a little hill overlooking the village. It was founded by will of Count Girolamo Cellesi in 1674 in smaller size than the present. He asked the Gardians of the Holy Land some relics from the Holy Land and when Count Girolamo had the assurance they would be sent, he decided to enlarge the Chapel to include a reconstruction of the Aediculae of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church granted indulgencies through a Papal brief of Clemente XI, an act that made Castel Cellesi and the Teverina area a very attractive place for devotion and pilgrimages.
THE “LIVE NATIVITY SCENE” AT CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
Something unforgettable !
The Nativity scene is one of the most popular and favourite Christmas traditions in Italy. But some villages and communities go a step over: they spend weeks and months to create fantastic live Nativity scenes featuring real people and real animals too.
One of the most famous “Live Nativities” is featured every year, between Christmas time and January 6th (Epiphany), at Civita di Bagnoregio near Viterbo (Latium). The village is the perfect set for such an event: it's a very small town suspended on the top of a rocky cliff eroded by winds and rain. It's connected with land through a footbridge which seems to be suspended in the air too. An ancient gate introduces people into the heart of the village where a narrow allyway takes to a XIII century Church facing the main square. Medieval streets, very old stone buildings, porches, terraces and arches properly decorated for the occasion, live people wearing ancient costumes, animals make you feel like you were at the first Christmas in Betlemme.
The first “Live Nativity” was featured at Greccio, (a small town in Umbria – 80 Km. from Castel Cellesi far away) in the year 1233 and organized by St. Francis of Assisi after a trip to the Holy Land where he visited the real birthplace of Jesus. Francis thought that believers could better comprehend the celebration of Christmas if exposed to the very setting where the miraculous event occurred.
SPECIAL EVENTS in the area:
ORVIETO - International Jazz Festival in August and Christmas/NewYear
CASTEL CELLESI- Fireworks on August 16th -Dinner and Music on the main Square
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO- Live Nativity Scene Christmas time till January 6th
An English speaking host is always present to help and advise our guests giving information about city-tours, museums, restaurants, trains, events, cooking classes etc..
