The timeless appeal of Calcata

Calcata probably is one of the most popular destinations loved by the Roman people and by the tourists visiting the Eternal City. Situated in the province of Viterbo, 20 minutes by car from the North of Rome, Calcata is situated on a tuff hill on the Treja river banks, and it is a very attractive location, where time seems to have stopped. It is the ideal destination for a peaceful holiday, surrounded by nature and good food.

What to see in Calcata
Calcata is a small village located on a tuff hill, in a green landscape. It has two faces: the historical village and the modern city. In the 30s, the country actually risked to crash, because of the fragile basis it was situated on, so the people started to move themselves in the new city they built less than three kilometres far from there.
In the 60s, the ancient village got populated again, especially by artists appreciating its fascination and its atmosphere, but also looking for good deals to buy houses. The village still is so suggestive and fascinating, as in the past, thanks to its little houses and narrow lanes facing on the Treja valley. The life of the village takes place in the main square where the SS. Nome di Gesù church is situated, built in the 14th century, and restyled in 1793. According to the legend, a landsknecht soldier got imprisoned there, because during the sack of Rome he had stolen the Holy Prepuce, in the church of San Giovanni in Laterano.
The relic was found in 1557, and from then on, it has been venerated by pilgrimages and indulgences. In the external area, on the right of the Church square, there is a little square characterised by 3 tuff thrones nobody knows where they come from. The Castello degli Anguillara is situated in front of it: it is a noble building, with a beautiful tower, once the residence of the then owners. These are the most important monuments, but Calcata also has a very peculiar structure.
It is rich in little squares and panoramic terraces, from where you can take advantage of a wonderful view on the valley and on the river. If you are lucky, you can also see some wild boars and buzzards. Its typical medieval charm will attract also the most exigent visitors.

What to do in Calcata
As it is very small, Calcata is not the perfect place for a short tour and a cultural weekend. It is a destination you prefer for a relaxing weekend, surrounded by a natural landscape, where there is no network to use your smartphone, even if you will not feel the necessity to use it.
During the year, it is populated by less than 90 inhabitants, but during the weekend it hosts all the people have bought a little lodge there, but also all the tourists coming there even more numerous, to discover the timeless fascination of this Tuscia village. During the weekend, Calcata gets full of street artists finding ideal spectators for their music, art, dance, and juggling.
The village is also rich in several artisans’ shops, offering jewels, ceramics, wood and leather products, and so on. A weekend in Calcata can also be characterized by good food. The little restaurants often situated inside the typical tuff caves, propose food made of homemade pasta, and typical cheese and salami.
The sheep is the real protagonist of this area; they are able to balance the flavours of the place with spices and season vegetables. And, what to do after a so good meal for a good digestion? Obviously, a walk around the lanes of Calcata, until the Museo della Civiltà Contadina, where you will be able to discover something about our Italian history, thanks to the exposition of farmer instruments used during the last 200 years in the Agro Falisco. An indeed incredible experience.

The unmissable surroundings of Calcata
Because of it peculiar structure, the village is completely immersed into the Parco Naturale della Tuscia. It's just normal your weekend there will be at jump in the nature. At the bottom of Calcata, you can actually find the entrance of the park, proposing natural tours, along the Treja river banks. Inside the forest surrounding the river, you can also visit the Museo Opera Bosco, a permanent exhibition born in 1996 by the will of Costantino Morosin and Anne Demijttenaere: they are exhibiting 40 of their works of art made of natural materials.
A very suggestive exhibition, changing aspect according to the conditions of natural light. You can also admire the Monte Gelato waterfalls, inside the park.

This is a little part of the river, characterized by an incline able to create little waterfalls: a wonderful and sudden show surrounded by surrounded by vegetation. This area is the perfect place for trips at the beginning of the spring, but also in the summer, it is possible to bathe in the little natural lake at the foot of the waterfall, or doing a picnic in the addictive areas in the park. During some periods of the year, bike excursions and other activities take place, thanks to the several associations working there. Not far from there, there are the remains of an ancient temple.
If you want to move a little bit more, you can also reach Viterbo, historical residence of Popes and royal people. It is famous for its Palazzo dei Papi, surrounded by a mediaeval atmosphere. On September the 3rd, every year the city hosts the suggestive Festival of the Macchina di Santa Rosa, to honour its patron.