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Rocchette and Rocchettine in Sabina: the story of twin castles having opposing fates
In Sabina, perched above the gorges of the Aia torrent, stand Rocchette and Rocchettine. They are twin 13th-century fortresses with differing destinies. The first is a living, inhabited village, while the second is a fascinating ghost town frozen in the 1950s. A unique place, where two parallel stories look across at each other from opposite banks of the stream.
In the ghost village
Rocchettine, once known as Rocca Guidonesca, is today a labyrinth of silence. Abandoned after the war, its medieval structure has remained intact. Among the ruins of houses and ancient workshops, the only building restored in the 18th century is the Church of San Lorenzo (St Lawrence). It comes to life just once a year. On the tenth of August, for the feast of the saint, the inhabitants of Rocchette arrive in procession from the neighbouring village.
The twin that lives on
On the opposite bank, life continues. Rocchette, the ancient Rocca Bertalda, welcomes visitors with a gate dating from 1601 and a small inhabited nucleus. Here, the houses lean directly against the medieval walls, creating a powerful atmosphere. The feel is different, but the stones tell the same origin — a time when the two fortresses controlled the trade route between Rieti and the Tiber valley.
Rocchettine is freely accessible, but caution is advised among the ruins. Rocchette is an inhabited village, and can be visited all year round.
