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Overview
Located in the easternmost part of Sabina, in the province of Rieti and overlooking the Turano Valley, Rocca Sinibalda stands out from afar thanks to its imposing castle, dating back to 1085, when Sinibaldo Sinibaldi, the local feudal lord, had it built, giving the village its name. Reconstructed as a fortress by architect Baldassarre Peruzzi, it was later enriched with frescoes that softened its austere appearance. Declared a National Monument in 1928, in the 1950s it became the property of American writer Caresse Crosby, who turned it into a meeting place for artists. The entire complex was fully restored and reopened in April 2014.
Nearby stretches the Monti Navegna and Cervia Regional Nature Reserve, a protected area of about 3,600 hectares featuring Apennine landscapes with beech and oak forests, ancient chestnut groves, high-altitude meadows and deep river gorges between the limestone peaks of Monte Navegna and Monte Cervia, overlooking the artificial lakes of Salto and Turano. The combination of unspoiled nature, panoramic views and hiking trails makes the reserve an ideal destination for trekking, birdwatching and nature lovers.
Near Vallecupola—a small village in the province of Rieti, within the municipality of Rocca Sinibalda, close to Varco Sabino and Lake Salto—stands the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pagaret, a place of reflection and meditation that inspired the creation of a dedicated walking trail. This small mountain church, located at 1,805 metres above sea level, features a bell gable with two small bells, rung by a simple chain. Its simple and elegant façade is marked by three small “eyes” arranged around the portal; the date 1679 is engraved on the architrave, bearing witness to its 17th-century origins. Behind the altar lies a delicate Marian image, the heart of local devotion.
02026 Rocca Sinibalda RI, Italia
