Oriolo Romano

Oriolo Romano, located in the Tuscia region between Rome and Viterbo, lies along the ancient Via Clodia near Bracciano Lake. Founded in 1560 by Giorgio Santacroce, it is one of the few examples of a Renaissance settlement designed as an “ideal city.”At the heart of the village stands Palazzo Santacroce-Altieri, a noble residence from 1578 to 1604, now part of the Lazio Museum Network. Surrounded by an eight-hectare park, it houses frescoes and artworks and overlooks the monumental Fontana delle Picche, attributed to Vignola.The Olmate—tree-lined avenues linking Oriolo to Montevirginio—enrich the landscape. Among the area’s natural gems are the Mola dei Biscione, a former mill now a public park, and the ancient beech forest of Monte Raschio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Oriolo also preserves worship sites like the churches of San Giorgio and Sant’Anna, and vibrant traditions such as the feast of San Giorgio, the Acquacotta Festival, the Hunter’s Festival, Porcino Mushroom Month in September, and a charming live nativity scene at Christmas.