Holiday home for max. 6 persons
Castel Cellesi, Lake Bolsena, Italy

RED House is located along a side street close to the main square in a quiet rural village called Castel Cellesi., a subset of Bagnoregio at the crossroad of three important regions: Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. in the northern Tuscia - the Etruscan Italy -. Castel Cellesi is a 16th century village where the road ends in the great Piazza. Stunningly located in a panoramic position, surrounded by emerald green fields, endless olive groves, dominating the Tiber Valley at the foot of the Umbrian mountains, the village is made for peace of mind and relaxing. Yet there is a large choice of interesting places to visit in a short distance.

Red House is on two floors and suitable for up to six people. It has been carefully renovated in a country style with wooden ceiling beams and terracotta floors. The furnishing is very tasteful, including some antique pieces. On the ground floor there is a fully furnished living room (30m²) with a sofa bed for two people, a dining table with chairs for eight people and cableTV. Connected to the living-room there is a well stocked kitchen (ca. 20m²) with a large dining table and a usable fireplace (firewood is available free of charge in the barbecue area). The kitchen unit is equipped with an oven, gas stove, fridge with freezer compartment, dishwasher, toaster and kettle. There is also a guest bathroom on this floor with a WC and washbasin. The first floor comprises a spacious bedroom with a double bed (180 x 190cm) and a walk-in wardrobe. It has a big window with a wonderful view of the Umbrian mountains and the Tiber valley. The second bedroom shows two single beds (90 x 190cm), that can also be joined together as a double bed, and a wardrobe. There is also a bathroom on this floor with a shower.

A baby cot and high-chair for children can be provided.

The whole house is provided with wireless Internet connection free of charge.

Air conditioning in the whole house and central heating for winter time.

A few houses further on, to the rear of the building with property no. 1120955, there is a laundry room with a washing machine and ironing accessories, free of charge, for shared use with guests at property nos. 11444698 and 1120955, belonging to the same owner.

WELCOME BASKET with coffee, thea, sugar, cookies, jam is provided

NO EXTRA CHARGE - EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED

An EnglisAh speaking host is always present to help and advise our guests giving information about city-tours, museums, restnts, trains, events, cooking classes etc..

In front of the house there is a little patio with two chairs and a small table and the PRIVATE, fenced garden with barbecue area, a large table and chairs, parasols and deckchairs.

A short distance takes you to the SHARED swimming pool (12x 8 mt.) in the middle of a park in a panoramic location. There is a private bar by the pool with a toilet, and outdoor shower, deckchairs and parasols around the pool.

A very special HOME RESTAURANT is located near the swimming pool.

Cars can be parked in the street in front of the House, free of charge.

SPECIAL FEATURES AROUND CASTEL CELLESI 

ELEPHAS ANTIQUUS (PALAEOLOXODON ANTIQUUS

A few years ago the remains of a big Elephas Antiquus were found by accident in a field just a couple of km. from the center of Castel Cellesei far away. Excavations were started immediately being involved the University of Florence, the University of Rome and the Archaeological Group of Castel Cellesi.

The Elephas Antiquus (Palaeolooxodon antiquus) is the biggest elephant ever existed in Europe.

The specimen of Castel Cellesi, probably coming from Africa and dating back to Middle Pleistocene, was a male one, very old in age and extremely huge. For the size of its bones, they presume it might have been 4 meters high (up to gathers) and 10-12 tons of weight.

Upon request i's possible to visit the Museum that was recently built around the 20 square meters of excavations showing bones and remains of our Elephas Antiquus

THE FRANCIGENA ROUTE

Medieval man felt himself as a pilgrim on earth and he really became one traveling towards the sites of the Christian faith through roads- like the Francigena- with Rome or possibly Jerusalem as a final destination.

The “ Via Francigena “ (the Iter Francorum or the Frankish Route) is a branch of the Pilgrimage trail that goes between Canterbury and Rome, coming into full use starting around the 11th century.

Bishop Sigeric of Canterbury first made the journey to Rome in 990 AD to receive honors from the Pope. He wrote a travel diary with accurate details, descriptions, pictures and maps of the route, which became the pilgrimage route of today, more or less. The pilgrimage to Rome can be made by foot, bicycle or horse.

The Francigena Route contains lots of interesting cities, towns, villages rich of archaelogical, artistic and monumental sites. The Tuscany and Latium sections are especially valuable for the many amazing places on the route such as Luni, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Acquapendente, Montefiascone, Viterbo.

In the vicinity of Castel Cellesi two interesting, enchanting sections of the Via Francigena are available to hike: Section N° 39- Among olive groves and brushes the path detaches from Bolsena - at the Basilica of Santa Cristina - and, after going up and down, admiring wonderful sights of the lake, takes to Montefiascone. From the hilltop of Montefiascone, where the Rocca dei Papi is located, a 360 degree view is to enjoy.

Section N°40: The path detaches from Montefiascone – near the Sports Field – Hikers walk for hundreds of meters along the original paving of the Roman Via Cassia stepping on the the ancient stones (Basolatum) which are still in good conditions, then continue across a hillpark overlooking Montefiascone, North – Viterbo, South.

Before getting to Viterbo the path crosses a flat land rich of hot springs called “Bagnaccio Spa” where pilgrims used to stop and relax. The hot springs are open to the public still today.

For a short Walk:

THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN CASTEL CELLESI

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, housing the tomb of Jesus Christ, was the desired destination of many medieval pilgrims. But to travel so far was beyond the physical abilities or financial means of most people. Political complications, too, discouraged such journeys when the Muslims took over Jerusalem in1157. To respond to this unfulfilled desire, numerous copies of the Holy Sepulchre were built in the Christian world. All of Europe was pervaded by the presence and proliferation of chapels and edifices, sometimes containing relics taken from Jerusalem, modelled

after the Aedicule of Jesus Christ, to offer the illusion of the pilgrimage to those unable to do it.

In the Latium area “Copies or Memorials” of the Holy Sepulchre have been identified in the Church of Santo Stefano Rotondo (5th century) in Rome, in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre (785) in Acquapendente, Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Castel Cellesi (1703) -Bagnoregio”, in the Church of Santa Maria del Sepolcro in Vicovaro and possibly in the Rotunda by San Flaviano (1032)- -Montefiascone.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Castel Cellesi is now a cemetery chapel on top of a little hill overlooking the village. It was founded by will of Count Girolamo Cellesi in 1674 in smaller size than the present. He asked the Gardians of the Holy Land some relics from the Holy Land and when Count Girolamo had the assurance they would be sent, he decided to enlarge the Chapel to include a reconstruction of the Aediculae of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church granted indulgencies through a Papal brief of Clemente XI, an act that made Castel Cellesi and the Teverina area a very attractive place for devotion and pilgrimages.

THE “LIVE NATIVITY SCENE” AT CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO

Something unforgettable !

The Nativity scene is one of the most popular and favourite Christmas traditions in Italy. But some villages and communities go a step over: they spend weeks and months to create fantastic live Nativity scenes featuring real people and real animals too.

One of the most famous “Live Nativities” is featured every year, between Christmas time and January 6th (Epiphany), at Civita di Bagnoregio near Viterbo (Latium). The village is the perfect set for such an event: it's a very small town suspended on the top of a rocky cliff eroded by winds and rain. It's connected with land through a footbridge which seems to be suspended in the air too. An ancient gate introduces people into the heart of the village where a narrow allyway takes to a XIII century Church facing the main square. Medieval streets, very old stone buildings, porches, terraces and arches properly decorated for the occasion, live people wearing ancient costumes, animals make you feel like you were at the first Christmas in Betlemme.

The first “Live Nativity” was featured at Greccio, (a small town in Umbria – 80 Km. from Castel Cellesi far away) in the year 1233 and organized by St. Francis of Assisi after a trip to the Holy Land where he visited the real birthplace of Jesus. Francis thought that believers could better comprehend the celebration of Christmas if exposed to the very setting where the miraculous event occurred.

SPECIAL EVENTS in the area:

ORVIETO - International Jazz Festival in August and Christmas/NewYear

CASTEL CELLESI- Fireworks on August 16th -Dinner and Music on the main Square

CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO- Live Nativity Scene Christmas time till January 6th

Castel Cellesi is surrounded by an incredible number of places of historic, archaeological, artistic and scenic interest. Within an easy drive you can reach a lot of interesting sites such as:

CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO - "the dying city" (13 km. from Castel Cellesi) atop a volcanic pinnacle in a vast canyon ruled by wind and erosion. It is connected to the mail land through a suspende footbridge.

VITERBO - (km.28 from C.C.) with its spectacular Pope's Palace, cathedral Church and the famous medieval quarters.

HOT SPA - "Terme dei Papi", near Viterbo

ORVIETO - (km. 28 from C.C. ) great tourist destination with its famous colourful marble Cathedral, palaces and medieval streets.

LAKE BOLSENA (15-20 min. from C.C.) surrounded by a number of towns and villages such as Montefiascone, Marta Bolsena village which are really worth a visit. Lake Bolsena is also a great for water sports, fishing, swimming and sunbathing

TUSCANIA - (45 km. from C.C.) celebrated for itsmedieval romanesque churches, Etruscan and Roman remnants

ETRUSCAN TOMBS, Etruscan sites and remnants are spread out all over the area around Castel Cellesi. The Tuscia Region was the core of the Etruscan Civilization.

Easily reachable are also Assisi, Todi, Siena

The nearby highway A1 whisks you quickly to Florence (220 km.) and to Rome (130 km).

Castel Cellesi is also a good choice for people who like Trekking, Hiking, Byking, A number of paths and trails start from the village itself. In the vicinity, some trails take to the "Calanchi" (rocky cliffs and pinnacles) of Civita di Bagnoregiio. . Not too far some stretches of the Via Francigena.

Guided Hiking and Byking is possible (on payment)