Monte San Giovanni in Sabina e Castello Orsini

Monte San Giovanni in Sabina is a medieval village located among the Sabine Mountains. The elevated position of the village offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape, dominated by Monte Tancia, the highest peak of the massif.

The village is situated along the Via Tancia, which for centuries was a very important communication route as it connected the territory between the Duchy of Spoleto and the Roman world, used by merchants and pilgrims. During the 1400s, this road became crucial for trade, and many merchants and pilgrims traveled along it. To provide refreshment for these travelers, the Osteria del Tancia was built, a historic inn that served as a resting point for shepherds and wayfarers during their transhumance.

Artifacts from the village of Monte San Giovanni in Sabina, some dating back to the Bronze Age, are preserved in the archaeological museum of Magliano Sabina.

The castle of the village, the Castello di Capo Sabina, first mentioned in 1240 and now known as Castello Orsini, served as a defensive stronghold and a checkpoint for transhumance and trade in the Tancia valley.

The earthquake of the 17th century caused significant damage to the castle, of which only a small tower remains today, a testament to its medieval past. During World War II, the village was the site of a tragic Nazi reprisal, an event commemorated by a monument that honors the victims and keeps alive the historical memory of the community.