At the roots of history: from the Orsini castle to the Cenci Bolognetti palace.
Vicovaro Castle traces its origins back to the 12th century. The first documented traces date to 1260, when the Orsini family made it a military stronghold controlling the Aniene Valley. The Orsini held the fiefdom for centuries, until 1692, when it was sold to the Bolognetti family.
With Count Paolo Bolognetti, first prince of Vicovaro, the ancient fortress became a country residence. Sebastiano Cipriani designed large halls, the hanging garden and scenic features such as the open-air theatre; Girolamo Theodoli added the church of San Pietro and the body housing the Salone dei Coretti.
In 1723, the marriage between Virginio Cenci and Marianna Bolognetti marked the birth of the Cenci Bolognetti lineage. The palace hosted vacations, concerts and banquets for Roman nobility and intellectuals. Today the restored castle is open to the public for unique experiences.
The Bolognetti family brought deep agricultural knowledge to Vicovaro. The castle became the administrative and logistical centre of the feud, a forerunner of modern farms. Granaries, oil rooms and storehouses still tell that story; olives are still hand-picked in the Aniene Valley.
“A unique cultural heritage, guarded generation after generation.”
“Frescoed halls, stone walls and the hanging garden tell stories of popes, princes and intellectuals.”
“Granaries, oil rooms and storehouses preserve the family’s agricultural bond with the Aniene Valley.”
“Since 1692, the castle’s story has been intertwined with the Cenci Bolognetti family.”