The village of Frasso Sabino
Sforza Cesarini Castle
As Carlo Grappan tells us in his book Sabina Sacra e Civile: “The castle was erected on the ruins of the medieval fortress, during the sixteenth century (probably in the second half) by the Cesarini family, then owners of the fief … During the second half of the seventeenth century (1673), following the marriage of Livia Cesarini, eldest daughter of Giuliano Cesarini and Margherita Savelli, and Federico Sforza, son of Paolo Sforza and Olimpia Cesi, it passed to the Sforza Cesarini family. Who had renovation work done on it to better adapt it to the new needs of a noble residence. Of the original construction a massive cylindrical corner tower with a scarp base, adorned with corbels, survives, controlling, after the ravelin, the entrance ramp to the ancient nucleus of the town.”
The marriage between Livia Cesarini (1646 – 1711), and Federico Sforza, from which the Sforza Cesarini lineage was born, deserves a story in itself, or at least a mention. Suffice it to say that Livia’s generation was the last of the Cesarini lineage and that only two sisters-Livia and Clelia-married. Clelia to Filippo Colonna and Livia to Federico Sforza. But Livia to contract marriage left the convent even marrying in secret. The dispute between the sisters over the inheritance of the Cesarini’s immense estate lasted decades and ended with a compromise only in 1709.
Every first Sunday of the month the New Osteria Fair.
Don’t miss a walk to “Le Capore” Springs, on the banks of the Farfa River near its source.
