Castelnuovo di Farfa

What to see?

Castelnuovo di Farfa should be visited in every tiny corner. It is a typical medieval town that preserves narrow stone streets and low arches. The key element of the village is the Salustri Galli Palace which belongs to the family of the same name that administered the lands owned by the Abbey of Farfa. The Palace, made up of several nuclei, was built starting from the sixteenth century and gathered around the mid-1700s. In the same period, the building interiors were decorated with frescoes and decorations. It is also characterized by the beautiful Italian gardens found inside. Also worth mentioning is its place of worship, the Parish Church of St Nicholas of Bari, built around the second half of the 18th century on a pre-existing chapel that was destroyed. The Church of Our Lady of the Angels, of great importance, is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. It was located just outside the town and built in 1600 (the jubilee year) at the behest of the population. They wanted to thank the Virgin for protecting the country from the plague that struck the neighboring countries. The church was built with local materials, a simple plastered facade, and a small bell tower, added in 1698. It collapsed and was rebuilt at the expense of Angelo Salustri Galli, following the previous one. If you visit Castelnuovo di Farfa, you certainly cannot miss a trip to the Sabina Oil Museum, which celebrates the ancient olive culture of the area through architecture and art. The museum also brings together the places that best represent the history and traditions of the medieval village. The visit includes the Perelli Palace, now the town's municipal seat, a perfectly preserved traditional animal-powered oil mill dating back to 1700, and the Church of St. Donato, immersed in the countryside along the route that leads to the Farfa river. The church of St. Donato was used for worship until 1500 when it was abandoned. Its remaining ruins were incorporated into an agricultural building in the second half of the twentieth century. In the late 1990s, the church was restored to its ancient volume thanks to excavations. For nature and walking lovers immersed in silence, there is a fantastic natural monument in the municipal area, the Farfa Gorges, located in a protected area bordering the Mompeo area. Along the gorges, you can immerse yourself in a forest of holm oaks, poplars, and willows while admiring the clear waters of the Farfa that foam in the small natural waterfalls. Along the way, visitors will meet an ancient Roman bridge that crosses the Farfa and connects the town with that of Mompeo. Its construction dates back to the sixth century and is still devoid of parapets and protections. The bridge was a strategic point also because a little further upstream stood a multifunctional water mill whose remains are still visible today. The waters of the Farfa River are ideal for canyoning, rafting, and hydrospeed enthusiasts.