Calcata, the medieval village of artists, hippies and positive energy

Calcata it is a small village in the province of Viterbo since Lazio, a few kilometers from Rome. In the 30s, the fear of collapses in the cliff walls forced the inhabitants to abandon the ancient center and rebuild their homes downstream. Calcata town was destined for demolition, but was saved by a special law, promulgated in the fascist era, for the reconstruction of the earthquake-stricken towns in Sicilia e Calabria. In the fascist era (1927) Calcata passed from the province of Rome to that of Viterbo. Calcata Roma is a short distance away, about 50 kilometers from the north of the capital.

They call it the artists' village. And in fact when you cross the entrance to Calcata, north of Rome and in the province of Viterbo, you immediately have the sensation of finding yourself in a unique place. Here cars are prohibited and the village, suspended on a cliff, the trademark of Tuscia in Lazio, is said to be visited also for the positive energy it emanates.

The real attraction of Calcata is the positive energy it emanates, which has made this ancient village a place of harmony and balance for those who have had the sensitivity to feel it.

Calcata what to see

1 The village of Calcata Viterbo: a magical place where artists live

The village of Calcata old it was subsequently a destination for artists and intellectuals, attracted by the magical atmosphere of the place, who appropriated the ancient buildings, transforming the town into a village bohemian. Calcata, a medieval village, is accessible from the "large door", a gap in the walls of the ancient castle that introduces us to the city center, where houses and caves dug into the tuff overlap, between steep staircases, balconies with colorful flowers, narrow alleys and paved streets from large river pebbles. Some houses, most of which were once used as stables and barns, date back to 1200. Today they house shops and colorful artisan workshops. In Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II there is the Baronial Palace of Anguillara, the family that dominated the fief until the XNUMXth century and the church of SS. Name of Jesus.

Il Baronial Palace of Calcata was in the past used as the site of the primary school, the medical clinic and the post office. The building is currently owned by Treja Valley Park and is suitable for civil wedding celebrations, events, exhibitions and conferences.

2 Calcata village and the secret door

From the cliff, a precipice overlooking the valley, hides thesecret door” an invisible path that during the war allowed people to go down to the valley for supplies without being seen. There Treja valley, a destination for excursions and nature trails, was the setting for Italian western films in the mid-60s, such as the Franco Franchi e Ciccio Ingrassia, some films by Bud Spencer e Terence Hill, some scenes from Decameron di Pasolini. The center of Calcata was instead part of the scenography of the film "My friends" with Hugh Tognazzi. However, the real attraction of the place seems to be the positive energy it emanates, which has made this ancient village a place of harmony and balance for those who have had the sensitivity to feel it. Furthermore, in the surroundings of Calcata, it is possible to contact theOpera Bosco Museum of art in nature. This is an outdoor contemporary art itinerary on two hectares of woods in the Treja Valley gorge.

3 Church of SS. Name of Jesus

The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, in Calcata, is a fourteenth-century place of worship. Completely renovated in the XNUMXth century, it is located in the old town of the village. Inside the church it is possible to admire frescoes and objects dating back to the XNUMXth century.

4 The inhabitants of Calcata

According to a recent census, Calcata is inhabited by around 90 people, a third of them Romanians.

5 Calcata where to eat

A Calcata there are several restaurants where you can eat local and national cuisine. in Street of the Americans, at number 7, is located “Trattozero“, restaurant with typical local cuisine. In Via Garibaldi 9, instead it is found “The Grail“. This place also offers typical cuisine. To the "Opera restaurant“, in Via della Pietà 2, national cuisine is offered. Prices are average, the Grail slightly more expensive while the cheapest is the Trattozero.

6 Calcata where to sleep

In the surroundings of the medieval village of Calcata there are several nice accommodations to consider. Give her holiday homes, to farmhouse restaurants passing through B&B and hotel. There's something for all tastes. It is not difficult to find accommodation in Calcata.