Laran Tours of Lazio
Picture
  • in Rome
    • Avarice, Death & Witchery
    • Be a Gladiator of Rome
    • Borgias: Power Love Betrayal
    • Coffee Houses on The Corso Rome
    • Private Cocktail Class in Rome
  • out of Rome
    • Italian Car Race Route
    • Mysterious Etruscans
    • Coastal Myths & Legends
    • Sanctuaries in Lazio
    • Spa & Relax!
    • Food & Wine
  • Discover Lazio
    • Viterbo | Tuscia
    • Rieti | Sabina
    • Rome | Roma
    • Frosinone | Ciociaria
    • Latina | Agro Pontino
  • About
    • Travel Blog
    • Contact
Blogging about Rome & Lazio | Food | Wine | Art | Places | Traditions

21/10/2013

Spotlight on Soriano nel Cimino

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Soriano nel Cimino, Lazio
CHESTNUTS & HAZELNUTS – THAT'S WHAT THE SORIANO TERRITORY IS ABOUT. 
We took a drive up there the other day as amazingly we’d never stopped properly to have a look. 
And we LOVED it!

Snuggled at the foot of the Cimini Mountains at the modest height of circa 500 mtrs asl, the town of Soriano nel Cimino looks like a nativity. With friendly folk, wonderful smells of wood smoke and amazing 360° views!
As we approached we drove through field upon field of hazelnut trees.
Immagine
Hazelnuts are cultivated at lower altitudes, whereas the chestnuts are higher up. 

Both are included in a national list: Traditional Italian Food Products and their official names are: “Chestnuts of the Cimini Mountians” (Marrone dei Monti Cimini); and "Hazelnuts of the Cimini Mountians" (Nocciola dei Monti Cimini). 
We were visiting the area during the annual Chestnut Festival and earlier in the month they’d held their annual “Palio of the Rings” where the 4  Rioni (districts) of Soriano compete with each other, first on horseback, where they have to get a type of jousting stick through a series of small metal hanging hoops, then in an archery tournament. This year's winner was Rione Papacqua (pictured above).

The whole town gets a Medieval make-over (the locals and the buildings) – we wish it could stay like this all year round but I suppose it will come down in the next few days, until next year.

We tried a sweet that is not a very old tradition - in fact it has just been invented right here by some lovely local baker ladies – they call it “Fried Gnocchi” made from a kind of pizza dough, with a choice of topping! 

We had Nutella on ours and they were delicious!

Immagine
Immagine
I was puzzled by symbols and mention of Saint George everywhere – lots of Saint George-looking flags and a few dragons - even one of the 'Rione' is named after him! But some jolly old men of the village took time to explain to us that Saint George’s presence here is most likely legend, probably built around a metaphor for ‘good against evil’ (Saint George against his dragon) but there is an old tiny church dedicated to him, thought to have been built around 11th c. AD, pictured below, and whether he was really here or not, it made me feel at home! 
And to round off - a couple of shots of the castle: Castello Orsini....which, until the 1980's, was being used as a very grim prison. 

Share

0 Comments
Thanks for stopping by.
We hope to see you in Rome soon!

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

Details

    blog posts

    All
    1920's - 1930's Rome & Lazio
    Ancient Traditions & Festivals
    Archaeo-Sites
    Arts
    Beaches & The Lazio Coast
    Caffè Cappuccino & Espresso
    Christmas In & Out Of Rome
    Cinema & La Dolce Vita
    Easter & Carnival In Rome & Lazio
    Etruscans & Other Pre Roman Tribes In Lazio
    Favourite & Hidden Corners Of Rome
    Food
    Food & Wine
    Gelato Granita & Sorbetto
    Halloween & Thanksgiving In Rome
    Lakes Hill Towns & Castles In Lazio
    Local Roman Cuisine & Recipes
    Medieval & Renaissance Art
    Naughty Cakes Pastries & Chocolate
    Off The Beaten Path Outside Rome
    Places
    Recipes
    Roman & Pre-Roman Art
    Romantic Rome
    Rome & Lazio Wines
    Shopping In Rome
    Sport & Leisure
    Sports
    Summertime
    Templars Monks & Saints In Lazio
    Traditions
    Travel Tips For Central Italy
    Volcanic & Prehistoric Lazio
    Wine

    curated magazines

    View my Flipboard Magazine.
    View my Flipboard Magazine.
LARAN TOURS OF LAZIO
Winter closing: December 24 - January 4, 2018 | Easter closing: 1 & 2 April, 2018 | Summer closing: 17 - 24 June.
Then from mid-July to end-August, we will be running early evening walking tours only.
+39 392.566.4584

info@larantoursoflazio.com
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube | Google+

Copyright © 2012-2018 Laran Tours of Lazio. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs, texts & images are from our personal archives and may not be used or reproduced without prior written consent.
Country of Registration: Italy - Registered Number: 2405 | updated June 2017
designed by Frances  
booking terms & conditions
privacy | ​​website terms & conditions​
  • in Rome
    • Avarice, Death & Witchery
    • Be a Gladiator of Rome
    • Borgias: Power Love Betrayal
    • Coffee Houses on The Corso Rome
    • Private Cocktail Class in Rome
  • out of Rome
    • Italian Car Race Route
    • Mysterious Etruscans
    • Coastal Myths & Legends
    • Sanctuaries in Lazio
    • Spa & Relax!
    • Food & Wine
  • Discover Lazio
    • Viterbo | Tuscia
    • Rieti | Sabina
    • Rome | Roma
    • Frosinone | Ciociaria
    • Latina | Agro Pontino
  • About
    • Travel Blog
    • Contact
✕