Discover Casigliano

Casigliano can be explored through its architectural and funerary history, as well as through stories about the lake. Castello di Casigliano, Chiesa di San Biagio and the Atti family tombs offer different historical perspectives; Lago di Casigliano adds a geological context and a local legend. If you choose a destination for its history and specific buildings, these topics lead through different historical periods and forms of storytelling.

Castello di Casigliano and the History of the Atti Family

Castello di Casigliano was rebuilt in 1519 at the request of Ludovico degli Atti, following a design by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, around an existing medieval fortress. This means the building brings together a medieval past and a specifically dated reconstruction. The fortress already existed before the 1519 reconstruction was commissioned; that year therefore does not mark its construction.

The interior of the Castello can only be visited by prior arrangement with the owner. Check the booking arrangements before your trip if you would like to plan a visit.

Chiesa di San Biagio stands in the center of Casigliano. Its crypt holds the tombs of members of the degli Atti family, who were killed by the Cesi di Acquasparta in 1553. The Tomba degli Atti contains the remains of Ludovico degli Atti, Virginia dei duchi Aquitani, Cecilia Sforza and Cecilia Sforza's sisters. The tombs thus offer a perspective on the family's history distinct from the architectural history of the Castello.

The sarcophagi of the degli Atti family in Casigliano also bear distinctive features: they are made of white marble and display a Christian monogram and the family's coat of arms. The heraldic elements include a rampant lion, three bands and a star. The material, religious symbol and coat-of-arms motif can be distinguished without combining them into a single depiction.

There is a traditional account of Casigliano's early history. According to it, members of the Gens Casilena founded the settlement and built a Roman villa there enclosed by walls. This account opens up a different historical period from the dated information about the Castello's reconstruction in 1519 and the deaths in 1553.

Lago di Casigliano Between Geology and Legend

Lago di Casigliano lies near the Castello di Casigliano of the same name, by Acquasparta. Geologically, it is a striking example of a piping sinkhole phenomenon. A local legend about its formation tells that the earth sank after Santa Degna turned away. The geological explanation and the traditional story thus offer two different ways of understanding the same lake: one identifies a phenomenon, while the other links the sinking earth to Santa Degna.

Hiking and Trip Planning

The meeting point for the guided hike “Casigliano e l'antica strada delle Sette Valli,” announced in 2021, was at Casigliano di Acquasparta. The hike was dedicated to exploring the territories of the Cesi and the Atti. If you would like to include this topic in your trip planning, check current dates and conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Cantone, Montecchio, Baschi, San Gemini, Portaria, Visciano Di Narni, Montecastrilli, Benano.

For the broader travel overview: Terni.