Case Alte: Hilltop village with Roman cisterns

Case Alte is a destination for travelers who want to consider the landscape and local history when choosing where to stay. The village sits atop a gentle hill and is surrounded by cultivated land; a beautiful panorama can be seen from Case Alte. Historical highlights include Roman cisterns, the small Church of Santa Maria Assunta, and the original village center with its farmhouses. These features give you concrete points to consider when choosing Case Alte as a destination for a hotel stay.

Landscape and access

The village’s position atop a gentle hill and the cultivated land around it shape the landscape; a beautiful panorama can also be seen from Case Alte. Three distinct aspects stand out: the village’s elevated position, its cultivated surroundings, and the view from Case Alte. If the landscape is a factor in choosing a destination, these aspects can help distinguish the village’s location from its cultivated surroundings.

A narrow road descends into the surrounding countryside from the northern corner of the walls of Sant'Omero, then climbs to the village after a little over one kilometer. When planning your route, take into account both the narrow road and the transition from descent to ascent.

Roman cisterns

Case Alte is home to the largest and best-preserved group of Roman cisterns in Sant'Omero. This makes Roman heritage a defining part of the village’s character and offers travelers interested in ancient structures a specific highlight. The Budiani cistern consists of two large, interconnected chambers. The group and Budiani offer different points of interest: the group stands out for its size and state of preservation, while Budiani is notable for its specific division into two chambers.

Church and settlement history

The small Church of Santa Maria Assunta stands in Case Alte’s main square. It was built more recently in memory of the ancient Santa Maria de Cellis, which no longer exists. The names refer to different buildings and periods: Santa Maria Assunta is the church in the square; Santa Maria de Cellis is the ancient church that it commemorates and that no longer exists. This commemorative connection links the small church to the village’s earlier history without conflating the two buildings.

The original historic village center consisted of a cluster of farmhouses atop the hill. Rather than focusing on individual named buildings, this description highlights the settlement’s form: a group of farmhouses on the hilltop. This perspective adds the structure of the historic center to the village’s history, complementing the cisterns and church.

Nature

The European bee-eater nests along Via Case Alte. This natural feature adds a specific bird-related aspect, tied to the road, to the village’s architectural and historical character. If you are interested in birds, you can consider this alongside the historical highlights when choosing a destination.

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