Municipality of Castel Sant’Elia
Lat. 42.25238 Long. 12.36834
Via Umberto I, 41
01030 Castel Sant’Elia (VT) Italy
Tel. ++39 0761556425
(23,99 square km with 1935 inhabitants: Castellesi)
The small town is located at about 40 km from Viterbo and it is named after a Romanesque basilica dedicated to St. Elia, which is in close proximity;
however the origins of the hamlet are much older. As a proof of the evident Etruscan origin of the territory there are three places: Pizzo Iella,
St. Anna and Castel dÕIschi o Castellaccio. In the past Pope Gregorio Magno transformed the present historical centre into a defensive outpost
against the barbarians invasions. The territory was given as a present by the Apostolic Camera to the Colonna, to the Orsini and then to the Farnese.
PLACES TO VISIT
Sanctuary of Maria SS ad Rupes
The sanctuary is located on a tuff block from which it is possible to see the valley underneath and it is composed of the Church of St. John and the chapel of Maria SS ad Rupes. The heart of the monastery is a small rupestral church dating back to the 16th century, where it is possible to admire a precious canvas which portrays the Virgin.
Basilica of St. Elia
It faces the Suppetonia valley in a particularly panoramic position. The building dates back to the 8th century and it is one of the most beautiful Romanesque works in the province of Viterbo. It was erected on a pre-existent Benedictine coenoby.
