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- info@cesiportadellumbria.it
- Cesi, 05100 Terni (TR), Umbria, Italia
From Carsulae to the village of Portaria among olive groves, woodland, and history: a walk through memory, landscapes, and the flavors of the Martani Mountains
This excursion is an easy walk dedicated to a young woman who passed away at the age of twenty in a road accident and who was deeply connected to this land. The route allows visitors to explore two important points of interest in the Martani Mountains - at the start and at the end of the walk: the archaeological park of Carsulae and the medieval village of Portaria.
The trail begins at the Carsulae parking area, follows the provincial road for about one hundred meters, then turns left and climbs toward a farmhouse before continuing through the trees. After crossing the provincial road again, the route follows a dirt track in the locality of Tre Oche, winding through olive groves and woodland along the hillside with a gentle ascent, reaching the slopes below the village of Portaria. Along the way there are several opportunities to stop and admire beautiful views over the countryside of Carsulae and the valley of the Naia stream.
The village of Portaria offers the chance to rest in an extremely peaceful setting and to taste local specialties, such as pizza sotto al fuoco, a traditional hearth-baked flatbread.
At the end of the fifteenth century, Portaria hosted Lucrezia Borgia, whose stay in the village is commemorated each year in May with a historical reenactment. Worth seeing are the remains of the fortress, the clock tower, the Renaissance well, the town gates, and the Church of Saints Philip and James, which preserves several artifacts from the Roman city of Carsulae. The archaeological site can also be visited on the return journey, which follows the same route back.
How to get there
The starting point of this short excursion is Carsulae. It can be reached from the north via the E45, exiting at Montecastrilli and continuing toward Cesi–Terni along the Carsulana provincial road. Cars can be parked in the archaeological area parking lot. From the south, take the Terni–Orte expressway (RATO) and exit at Terni Nord, then continue along the provincial road toward Cesi and onward to the Carsulae archaeological site parking area, which can be visited for a fee.
