Friday 15 October 2021 15:10
Recommended daytrip from Rome: Soriano nel Cimino
Soriano nel Cimino is Lazio region’s undisputed chestnut capital, and October 17 is the town’s very own New Year’s Eve with Christmas and the Republic Day all rolled into one: it’s when everyone celebrates autumn’s best fruit with a grand festival, the Sagra della Castagna. But if you can’t go this weekend, that doesn’t mean you […]
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Soriano nel Cimino is Lazio region’s undisputed chestnut capital, and October 17 is the town’s very own New Year’s Eve with Christmas and the Republic Day all rolled into one: it’s when everyone celebrates
autumn’s best fruit
with a grand festival, the Sagra della Castagna. But if you can’t go this weekend, that doesn’t mean you have to give up entirely a visit to these parts!- It has a millennia-old history: it’s been continuously inhabited since the Etruscans ruled this area of Italy, and later it became a Roman stronghold. Like other townswe have covered as daytrip destinations, its position was considered strategic and many powerful families from Rome fought over Soriano, and eventually ruled over it: the Altemps, the Albanis, the Chigis, the Orsinis (their coat of arms is in the town’s insignia)…
- It’s not just chestnuts in Soriano! The town is well-known for its olive oil, red wine and grilled meats. And compared to Rome, it’s inexpensive too! Stop at a restaurant in the city center and see for yourself (we recommend the local gnocchi).
- While the town sits in the middle of a chestnut oasis, the mountain above it features a centuries-old beechwood forest which attracts outdoors enthusiasts from all over Italy, and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Because of its location, Soriano has very mild summers but very cold winters, so tourism is only recommended until the end of October. Bring a jumper!
- The Castello Orsini castle is now a public building and can be visited (with a mandatory booking). Read herefor more information (in Italian, but easy enough to navigate!).
If you have the time and would like to keep wandering, nearby Bagnaia is the home to the stunning 16th century Palazzo Lante with its world-famous gardens. If you’re lovers of the odd, don’t miss the only “Italian” moai, made by Rapa Nui’s own stone carvers in Vitorchiano or, the grotesque gardens in Bomarzo’s Parco dei Mostri.
Public transport works best from Viterbo and is provided exclusively by local bus (the blue Cotral ones): if you want to reach the town from Rome, it’s roughly two hours from the city to Viterbo, by train, and 45 minutes from the latter to Soriano proper (not considering waiting times), by coach.
Ideally, exploring the area is best with a rental car, but if you don’t have your International Driving Permit with you or feel unsure about driving in Italy, do get in touch with us and we can send you a quote for a driver to take you to Soriano and back to Rome in the same day.
