The top 10 tourist attractions in Belmonte in Sabina covers a period beginning in prehistoric times. Prehistoric caves can be seen on its territory, as well as a bridge from Roman times and several churches and buildings dating back to the Middle Ages.
Top 10 tourist attractions Belmonte in Sabina
01. Cyclopean Wall
A long limestone wall can still be seen in the suburb of Collina. It was built without using any kind of cement, by laying matching blocks on top of each other. It dates from the late Bronze Age (1300 to 75 BC).
02. Caves of Zoccano
Beneath this wall are the even older (3000 to 2000 BC) prehistoric caves of Zoccano.
03. Ponte del Sambuco
The Ponte del Sambuco is a bridge over the Via Salaria. It dates back to Roman times and was built in the 1st century AD, over a stream that was dry in summer but could get very high in the rainy season. It is 64 metres long and had a width of just over 6 metres. The large blocks from which it is made are of a type of stone commonly used in the region and a called breccione. Until a few years ago, the stone in the riverbed could still be seen indicating how far the bridge was from Rome (41 Roman miles, where a mile was 1.48 meters).
04. Roman villa
Not far from the bridge, the ruins of an ancient Roman villa have been found.
05. Sant’Elena Church
The Sant’Elena Church has a square floor plan and was probably built on a pre-existing pagan temple.
06. Casale Toraniano
On the Colle dell’Emiato, close to Sant’Elena Church, traces of the early-medieval Casale Toraniano can still be seen.
07. San Nicola Monastery
To the west of Belmonte is the San Nicola Monastery. Some of its walls still date from the 12th century. The adjoining church features wall paintings from the 16th century, along with a wooden statue depicting San Francesco made in the 17th century.
08. San Salvatore Church
The San Salvatore Church’s biggest attraction is an apse fresco depicting John the Baptist. The fresco was part of a larger cycle.
09. San Rufino Church
The San Rufino Church features an altar cloth depicting the “Virgin and Child”. It probably dates from the 16th century and is rather poorly restored.
10. Castle
Traces of the old castle that was located here can still be seen in the old town center, including the old entrance gate from the 13th century.