If you are looking for a quiet and uncrowded place, we have the place for you. An hour’s drive from Rome lies a ghost town, so called because it has been abandoned for centuries. Its origins date back to the Bronze Age, with Etruscan settlements attested from the 7th century B.C. and then the arrival of the Romans around the 4th century B.C., who built the aqueduct.
The ghost town in the Monterano Regional Nature Reserve
Ancient Monterano has not been inhabited for many years but in the Middle Ages it was a strategic center and bishop’s seat, gaining prestige under the protection of noble families such as the Anguillara, the Orsini and finally the Altieri. Thanks to the presence of these important families, the village was enriched with architectural and artistic works, many of them attributed to the young Bernini.
The decline began between the 18th and 19th centuries, due to malaria epidemics and military plundering, until it was completely abandoned. Today the village retains fascinating ruins, including the church of San Bonaventura, the aqueduct with two rows of arches, the ducal castle and remains of Roman villas, set in a natural landscape that conveys peace.
Ancient Monterano is also famous as a film set for numerous Italian and international films (Il Marchese Del Grillo, Ben Hur, Ladyhawke, Brancaleone and others). To see the locations of the films there is a paper guide to the film tourism trail, which, by scanning the qr code, allows you to see scenes from the films on a site. It is still chosen as a set for several commercials.
Visitable as an archaeological and nature site, it is a unique place to contemplate millennia-old history, from the Etruscan age to decadence, in an evocative atmosphere of a ghost town that tells stories of art, power and nature.
It is a recommended destination for hikers, history and photography lovers, surrounded by greenery, a short distance from Rome.