by car:
From the north
Motorway A1 Firenze-Roma Nord; exit at FIANO ROMANO - RIETI and then follow Via Salaria (SS4) until the intersection of Ponte Buita. Then follow the road direction Casaprota.
From the south
Motorway A1 Napoli - Roma Nord; exit at FIANO ROMANO - RIETI and then follow Via Salaria (SS4) until the intersection of Ponte Buita. Then follow the road direction Casaprota.
www.autostrade.it
To see the timetables of the buses Rieti - Roma Stazione Tiburtina / Roma Stazione Tiburtina - Rieti, check on www.cotralspa.it

by train:
Train from Rome Fiumicino airport Leonardo Da Vinci with destination ORTE or FARA SABINA.

by bus:

Casaprota - Rieti
07:15 from CASAPROTA - Autobus extraurbano G2009
08:01 to RIETI FS RIETI VIA SACCHETTI SASSETTI

15:00 from CASAPROTA - Autobus extraurbano G2009
15:37 to RIETI FS RIETI VIA SACCHETTI SASSETTI

Rieti - Casaprota
06:35 from RIETI FS - Autobus extraurbano G2009
07:15 to CASAPROTA

14.10 from RIETI FS - Autobus extraurbano G2009
15.00 to CASAPROTA

Casaprota is set on 531 m above the sea level and has about 900 inhabitants. The distance from Rieti is about 27 km. The origin of the name of the village, set on a hill and belonging to the ?Comunità Montana? of Turano, is pretty much debated: the first historical notes about Casaprota in the documents of the Farfa Abbey (1st century a.C.) cite the village as Casa Perotis or Perote: according to various interpretations the etymology could derive from the ancient family of Proti or from an old gentleman of the area, Proto, the founder of a castle which was destroyed by the Saracens, or, a more realistic possibility, from the first inhabitant of the place, Perota. The economy of the village is strongly tied to its agricultural tradition: in addition to the excellent olive oil obtained from the local olive groves, the area enjoys good production of chestnuts. In the valley extending below the village there are the Springs of Capore which give origin to Farfa river and which, supplying 6000 litres of water per second to the Municipality of Rome, constitute a substantial source of income to the Casaprota Municipality.
The hamlet of Collelungo is particularly interesting as it is characterized by an urbanistic structure of fortitied castles, with narrow little streets, houses built one on another and ancient town walls with embattled towers transformed into dwellings: the ancient statute of Collelungo which boasts a long tradition as a municipality, is conserved in the State Archives in Rome and represents an important trace in discovering the usages and customs of the late Middleages.

Several inscriptions and finds dating back to Roman period have been discovered in the area of Casaprota. These testify the presence of agricultural structures such as rustic villas and farms, scattered in the area during that period. This form of settlement characterised the area also during Middle Ages when the name ?Casa Perotis or Perotae? started to appear (The first time in 776), initially in the documents of the Duke of Spoleto Ildebrando, but little by little also in the documents of Farfa Abbey through a patient work of rearrangement of other parts of the properties held by some Longobards. Over the VIII and IX centuries a strong agricultural conquest was carried out in the surrounding area and one of the consequences was the planting of chestnut woods which then disappeared with the time and have survived only as place-names. During the first decades of the X century a castle was founded, probably from the initiative of the monks. Very soon it was alienated by the abbot Campone and granted to his wife Liuzza and their children. After this the traces of the castle and of its owners were lost for a long time and only towards the end of the XII century, under the pontificate of Celestino III, a controversy took place and make the de Romania, the most powerful noble family in Sabina, oppose the guild of the Camponeschi, strongly rooted in Sabina hills, for the ownership of the Church of Sant?Angelo of Casaprota. This fact would prefigure that the castle belonged to de Romania, also because at the start of the 15th century the Brancaleoni, a family branch of the same de Romania were the lords of the castle, while the rumour that the Sederini would have had the lordship in the 13th century, has no foundation. Casaprota passed from the Brancaleoni to the orsini during the same period, until 1604 when the castle was confiscated by the apostolic chamber and inserted right after in the territory of Sabina, with its centre in Collevecchio. With the final reorganisation of the state of the church, cerried out in 1817, Casaprota with its 250 inhabitants, was submitted to Mompeo and therefore included in the district of Poggio Mirteto. Later on Casaprota became an autonomous municipality and counted 500 inhabitants of which 50 lived in the countryside. All in all there were 92 families, living in 91 houses, under one single parish dedicated to San Domenico. The castle, which wasn?t very large, appeared already badly degraded. A mile away from the walls there was a monastery suppressed by Carmelites called Maria Santissima delle Grazie. The picture of Madonna, preserved in the church of S. Maria della Croce, set on the slope of Casaprota hill, was considered miraculous. The annexed monastery had been suppressed but two chaplains took care of the celebration of sacred rites. There were two merchants selling various products, four selling cereals, two dressmakers, a shoemaker and a shop selling salt and tobacco. In addition there was a doctor and a pharmacy Palmucci. Traces of the past can still be seen in the structure of the village. The Reneissance entrance gate shows the stone holders for the hinges of the main entrance and the internal covering with a barrel vault. A refined building, oggi Filippi, set in the higher part of the village, presents a very simplified facade with XVI century windows and with a circular tower. The building belonged first to the Gentili and subsequently to the Vincenti Mareri who had many interests and landed properties in the area. The noble family from Rieti used Casaprota as a summer holiday residence without carrying out any munificent interventions. For example the parish church of S. Domenico was restored and enlarged by cardinal Ippolito Vincenti Mareri at the start of the XIX century while in 1735 eight scudos were paid to Paolino Benedetti, bell-ringer of Rieti, for the fusion of the bell of the church.

Church of Immagine Miracolosa
Parish church of S. Domenico, reconstructed in 1535 on a previous roman church and consecrated by cardinal Lorenzo Santarelli, is set in the old town centre of Casaprota. In the past the Church of San Michele Arcangelo held the title of Parish church. The period of its foundation, dating back to the first half of the 14th century, has been testified by the traces of some 14th century frescoes, visible on the walls. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, set close to the cemetery, enjoys both historical and devotional importance: a picture of the Virgin is indeed preserved in the church. This picture is retained miraculous and is the object of particular veneration in the area. Worth mentioning also the work of ?Don Orione? which was donated by Luigi Filippi, deceased in San Remo in 1988. This work is preserved in the ancient Villa Palombara which offers stays for those who want to spend some time resting and relaxing. In the valley extending below the village there are the Springs of Capore which give origin to Farfa river. The springs that are tied o to ancient legends and roman divinities, have been structured in 1970-1980 in order to supply 6000 litres of water per second for the city of Rome. Tourists can also find interesting the village festivals, held especially in summer time. Two of them have become a yearly happening with lots of participants form the surrounding towns too. Every year during the week preceding Ferragosto, Casaprota assists a real parade with music and playing on the main square of the village. Another popular festival (San Michele) is held on 29th September.

Mill of Monte del Sorgente
The building, constructed as a mill for wheat and oil pressing, stands on the bank of the Farfa river, in a very beautiful location. The mill is set on two levels, following up the natural slope of the land but currently only part of it is used as a dwelling. In front of the entrance there is a large water basin, fed by a channel that is now obstructed. Some of the oldest data goes back to 1851 when the owner at that time asked for authorization for water derivation. However, as soon as in 1905 the mill wasn?t used anymore.
The building of simple forms, preserves inside some agricultural equipment and constitutes an extremely interesting historical example of rural building.

Palazzo Filippi
Entering the village through the Renaissance gate covered by a barrel vault, one arrives at the old, refined building Filippi which takes its name from the last family that owned the feud. Initially the building belonged to the family Gentili and later on to Vincenti-Mareri who used it as a summer residence. The facade of the building represent very simplified shapes, with 16th century windows.

Casaprota confines with Montenero Sabino and Torricella in Sabina in the north, with Poggio San Lorenzo in the east, and with Poggio Nativo and Frasso Sabino in the south (the name of the last one probably derives from its function of guard post during the Roman period). In the west Casaprota confines with Mompeo.

Farfa Abbey (Fara Sabina)
The Farfa abbey's origins are a mystery. Even the munk Gregorio da Catino, who reorganised and collected monastic documents between 11th and 12th century, confessed that, as a matter of fact, nobody knew anything precise about the origins and following happenings of the monastery, except that after the founder died, the area had been destroyed by Longobards and the Farfa site had been devastated. About a century later the abbey was rebuilt by a small maniple of munks, guided by Tommaso, who during a pilgrimage in the Holy Land had a vision of Madonna and was ordered by her to go to Sabina and rebuild the church that was dedicated to her and had been destroyed. Farfa?s location gave it a strong political connotation and as a consequence the influence increased inside the Italic territory to the point that the Longobards took the monastery under their protection. The becoming royal monastery brought luck to Farfa, which was inserted in the context of European renascence. Later on the braking of the Carolingian empire allowed the Hungarian incursions, and the monastery was occupied and set on fire during the first months of 898. The reconstruction was started in the beginning of the 10th century and revealed to be slow and difficult.

Several local dishes and gastronomic village festivals are tied to the acclaimed quality of the extra virgin olive oil. Sagra della Bruschetta (bruschetta festival) on the day of S. Antonio Abate, is by now an awaited happening in the village. Fried pizzas, panzanella (bread with tomatoes and olive oil), the soup of zucchini and parmesan with pieces of bread soaked in the soup, fettuccine with mushrooms, fregnacce with garlic and parsley, different types of omelettes: with asparagus, cabbage or tripe with tomatoes and olives. These are just a few examples of the gastronomic specialties of Casaprota. As to sweets, it is worth listing some of them: fried doughnuts of S. Giuseppe, hazelnut biscuits, Pangiallo (dough of honey and dried fruit, a typical sweet of the Christmas time).

Pizzeria "Tra Amici"
loc. Immagine - Casaprota
tel. +39 0765 886008

B&B Cjase Me
Loc. Vignanello
02030 Vignanello, Casaprota
tel: +39 0765 85341 / +39 335 8131732
Opening time: from 1st Januray to 10 January and from 10th April to 31th December
Rooms: 3 - Beds: 6 - Bathrooms: 2

B&B Colle Cesoni
Loc. Cesoni
02030 Cesoni, Casaprota
tel: +39 0765 85074
Opening time: from 1st March to 31st October and from 15th December to 10th January
Rooms: 1 - Beds: 3 - Bathrooms: 1