Holiday homes with local colour
Casa Capena offers two holiday homes: the capacious Casa Galilei, which dates back to Renaissance times, and the compact Casa Marconi, which is a youngster by comparison – a mere two centuries old. Both are located in the historical centre of a thriving village situated near Rome and the Sabine Hills.
Despite its proximity to the city centre (it lies just 30km north of Rome along the Via Tiberina), the village retains a very distinct rural flavour with a refreshing lack of tourists but a small, established, international community of artists, the best known being Rosina Wachtmeister.
The apartments are located in and around the town’s ancient Rocca (depicted in the pictures on this page and in several images in the Capena photo gallery), a small traffic-free community made up of a picturesque jumble of houses, stairways and cobbled streets with a relaxed bohemian feel. Entering the old town centre is a little like stepping into a Fellini film or Cinema Paradiso, with life played out around the natural arena of the Piazza del Popolo.
“What makes Capena really special is the people: Capena is very special,
with warm, genuine hospitality – home from home.”
Mandi and Clive, Somerset, UK
the ancient and picturesque Rocca, in the old quarter of Capena
Capena’s chief attractions are the warmth and friendliness of the residents, its wonderful cuisine, the local colour and history, proximity to Rome and good road connections. With excellent public transport links to the capital and an array of adequate local shops and superb restaurants, it is easy to do without a car as well.
During the summer, you can swim and laze in a well-equipped local pool or choose to drive to one of the nearby lakes, which boast many amenities: Lake Bracciano, Lake Martignano or Lake Vigo in the crater of a volcano. The coast is 45 minutes by car. In winter, the ski resort of Terminillo is less than an hour’s drive away – or you could soak away the chill in one of the hot springs that abound in the area. Rome and the Sabine Hills are on your doorstep waiting to be discovered at any time of year.
for more maps, see the Maps page
The main motorway to Florence is just 5 km away, giving easy access to places of interest to the north and south of Rome. The capital’s airports, Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) and Ciampino, are both 45 minutes’ drive away.
Romans drive out to Capena in the summer to eat at its excellent, reasonably priced restaurants. Two shopping malls containing large supermarkets can be found slightly further afield (about 5–10 minutes’ drive away).
