Village of Foglia

Ranked with full merit among Italy’s Most Charming Villages, the ancient village of Foglia constitutes a small hamlet of Magliano Sabina. This picturesque place stands out for its historical evidence, including the striking medieval Palazzo Orsini, the Renaissance Palazzo Valignani-Orsini and the 16th-century church of Santa Maria Assunta. The interior of the latter is enriched with frescoes dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Inhabited by about forty residents, the village of Foglia invites pleasant walks through its characteristic alleys. The panoramic views offer a variety of vistas, ranging from the wide panorama of the Tiber River, with particular reference to the ancient landing place of Porto Sant’Agata from Roman times, to the majestic profile of Mount Soratte and, further in the distance, the imposing silhouettes of the Sabatini and Cimini mountains.

The origins of this territory, located on the banks of the Tiber River, date back to the Umbro-Sabinians and the ancient Falisci people, who established the first contacts with Rome thanks to river flows used to transport wine and oil, still emblematic products of the area.

In 1198, Foglia Castle came under the rule of the Church, while from the 5th to the 11th century AD, the territory became the property of Farfa Abbey. Historical documents attest to the presence of the castle in the second half of the 10th century. In 1241, during the conflict between Rome and Viterbo, the castle was destroyed, but later restored. Napoleon Orsini gave it to his brother Cardinal Giovanni Orsini, the future Pope Nicholas III. After complex dynastic events, it became a hamlet of the municipality of Magliano Sabina in 1858.