Casacastalda: Castle Complex, Churches and Hiking Trails

Casacastalda brings together the history of a fortified castle complex, churches, art and hiking trails. When planning your stay, you can choose different focuses: explore the town’s architecture, discover sacred art and local traditions, or choose one of the routes described here. The trails vary in difficulty and course, so you can make your choice based on your own hiking plans.

Castle Complex and History

Casacastalda’s origins are traced to a castle founded in the 8th century by the Lombard Ernero Castaldo, a descendant of Totila. In 1433, the people of Perugia rebuilt the castle. This reconstruction is associated with the diamond-shaped layout that has been preserved to this day, whose fortified gateways give the townscape its distinctive character.

Three gates are associated with compass directions: Porta Perugina lies to the south, Porta del Giglio to the north and Porta Eugubina to the west. Together with the diamond-shaped layout, these named entrances offer specific points of reference for exploring Casacastalda’s fortifications. The town’s history can be traced both to its origins as a castle and to the reconstruction of 1433.

Churches and Sacred Art

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 10th century and was extensively remodeled in the 19th century. It was once one of the 15 parishes in the Diocese of Nocera. The church houses a triptych by Matteo da Gualdo. As a three-part work of art, it is a tangible artistic feature that complements the church’s architectural history.

Another sacred landmark is the Santuario della Madonna dell’Olmo. It commemorates the tradition of an apparition of the Blessed Virgin to a shepherdess on May 22, 1484. The elm trunk is preserved inside the church. Casacastalda thus brings together different aspects of its religious heritage: the parish church, altered over the centuries and home to its triptych, and the sanctuary with its tradition and preserved trunk.

Hiking Trails Around Casacastalda

The Madonna dell’Olmo–Monte Santa Cristina loop is short and easy. It follows gravel and paved roads, starts at the Madonna dell’Olmo church and leads to Monte della Dea and then onward to Monte Santa Cristina. For planning purposes, both the waypoints mentioned and the change in trail surfaces are relevant. Since trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check them locally before setting out.

Another option is the scenic Casacastalda–Monte Serra loop, which is rated moderate. It starts at the Santuario della Madonna dell’Olmo and leads to the church on Monte Serra, dedicated to Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Compared with the short, easy route to Monte Santa Cristina, this route is rated moderately difficult. From Casacastalda, it is also possible to hike the “Assisi–Valfabbrica–Gubbio” Way of St. Francis.

Cantamaggio in May

Casacastalda’s Cantamaggio began in 1977 as a folkloric event and takes place every year in May. At its heart is a traditional performance of Umbrian folk songs with a rural character. Stornelli and sonnets draw on the custom of singing playful verses and serenades. The Cantamaggio therefore offers a different way to experience the town than its castle complex, churches and hiking trails: the focus here is on song traditions and folkloric performance. If you would like to plan your stay around this event, check the specific dates and program details for the year in question.

Landscape and Waterways

Casacastalda stands prominently above the valley of the Risacco and the Val di Rasina. The waterways in this landscape have different geographical connections: the Risacco is a tributary of the Chiascio, while the stream in the Val di Rasina comes from the direction of Gualdo Tadino. This distinction helps to tell the two valleys apart and understand the town’s location in relation to the named waterways.

Discover More Destinations

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For the main travel overview: Perugia.