About
An abandoned village sits across a narrow gorge from a settlement that was once its twin.
Historically, the narrow gorge of the Laia River represented a strategic route connecting the Italian regions of Lazio and Umbria, as well as the historical territory of Sabina with the Tiber River valley. In the 13th century two fortified settlements were built on either side of the gorge. Today one of those is Rocchette, while the other, Rocchettine, has become a ghost town. Rocchettine was originally known as Rocca Guidonesca, perhaps named after the Guidoneschi family. Over time, however, the population dwindled and by the 1950s it was completely uninhabited. Although its state of conservation is poor, it is still quite exciting to explore the empty village filled with ruins of houses, walls, and towers. Several houses appear to have been built after abandonment of the village but little else is known about community’s fate. The only full building in Rocchette is restored Church of San Lorenzo with its late-Baroque façade and bell tower which is usually closed to public.
