The Cenci Bolognetti Palace
The History of the Castle
At the roots of history
The Orsini castle: power, faith and architecture
Vicovaro Castle traces its origins back to the 12th century. The first documented traces
date back to 1260, when the noble Orsini family-among the most influential in Rome-made it a
military stronghold to control the Aniene valley. Linked to popes, cardinals and royal houses
of Europe, the Orsini held the fiefdom of Vicovaro for centuries, until 1692, when it was sold
to the Bolognetti family.
From the castle to the palace
Bolognetti and the rebirth of the complex
With the arrival of Count Paolo Bolognetti, the first prince of Vicovaro, the castle changed its face.
Architect Sebastiano Cipriani was commissioned to transform the ancient fortress into a splendid country residence, with large halls, a hanging garden within the castle walls and impressive scenic cues such as the open-air theater.
Thanks to the work then of Marquis Girolamo Theodoli, a well-known Baroque architect and brother-in-law of Prince Ferdinando Bolognetti, the monumental church of S. Pietro and the body housing the Salone dei Coretti, a scenic passageway that allowed the family to attend mass from a reserved choir, were added.
A story still alive
From the 18th century to today's world
In 1723, the marriage between Virginio Cenci and Marianna Bolognetti marked the birth of the lineage
Cenci Bolognetti.
His son Girolamo united the two surnames and became the fourth prince of Vicovaro, giving continuity to a family and a bond with the castle that reaches to the present day.
Over the centuries, the palace was a place of vacation, concerts and banquets for the Roman nobility and the
intellectuals of the time.
Today, thanks to the efforts of the current descendants, the Castle of Vicovaro has been restored and
open to the public, ready to host unique and unforgettable experiences.
Historical roots and the connection to the land
The art of agricultural production and extra virgin olive oil.
Armed with a deep knowledge of agricultural administration gained in their homeland
of Emilia, the Bolognetti family transferred their experience to Vicovaro. In addition to converting
the fortress into a palace, they made it the administrative and logistical center of the feud that was to become a
forerunner of modern farms.
The passion for the land is still alive today; many
environments typical of farming in the past, such as granaries, oil mills and vast storehouses, are preserved intact in the castle of Vicovaro.
Olives are still hand-picked in the lands of the Aniene valley and continue to
tell the story of the family and its dedication to agricultural tradition, transforming
the castle into the symbol of an unbreakable bond with the land and its heritage.
A family and heritage through the centuries
The family tree of the Cenci Bolognetti family.
The family tree of the Cenci Bolognetti family From 1692, when Count Paolo Bolognetti purchased the castle from the Orsini family, to the present-day descendants, the vicissitudes of Vicovaro Castle are intertwined with those of a family that has guarded, generation after generation, a unique cultural heritage.
From Paolo to Ferdinando, from Girolamo to Virginio, the family has left an indelible mark on the history of the area. The family tree, which can be seen next door, recounts this fascinating legacy with names and family entanglements spanning more than three centuries of history reaching to the present day.