Castel di Tora, Turano Valley, Rieti

Despite the name change, the inhabitants of the small village on Lake Turano are still called castelvecchiesi in memory of the old name. The medieval village of Castel di Tora is included among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. The name recalls the ancient Sabine-Roman city of Thiora, located at 607 meters above sea level and 33 kilometers from Rieti. The houses of the village reflect in the waters of the Turano. Its fortress, an ancient keep shaped like a pentagonal tower, stands steeply above the lake. Its skyline has almost become a symbol of the entire valley. Clean and orderly, it stands out for the grace of its arches and small courtyards. Opposite the village, on a small peninsula connected by an isthmus, rises a conical rocky hill, with the ruins of the Dragon Castle, at the foot of which are visible the remains of the ancient Antuni (15th and 16th centuries), which can only be visited on foot (you need to contact the Tourist Information Point).