Casperia

Perched on a rocky outcrop and bound by the remains of its original stone walls and watchtowers, Casperia is one of the most picturesque medieval villages in the Sabine Hills. While enjoying the local food and wine, you can often listen to a live jazz pianist as you watch the sun set over Mount Soratte. In this completely pedestrian town every turning along the narrow cobble stoned alleyways offers a photo opportunity. A local craftsman, Gianni, has been making a wonderful model of the village for the last 10 years as a setting for the Christmas nativity crib. Every year he adds more. The model is located in the church of San Giovanni Battista, which is usually open in the afternoons around 5pm. A favorite place on a summer’s evening is the panoramic café in the piazza of Casperia. 

In 1852 the famous German historian, Gregorovius, described Casperia in his book Wandering in Italy “In all my travels I have never beheld a panorama of such heroic beauty as that offered to me from the top of the hill in the territory of Aspra (the old name for Casperia). It is truly a paradise on earth! A majestic solitude dominates both the nearby mountains where timeless castles stood, and the villages of the Sabines where ancient families still dwell, solidly preserving the customs and the ways of life of the past...the ideal place to dream.” Little has changed since Gregorovius fell in love with Casperia and the Sabine Hills