History
Palazzo Colesanti of Bagnoregio, in the Civita district, is the oldest residence of the family from which it takes its name, documented since 1441 when Colasanto, a native of Rieti, was appointed mayor and prosecutor of Bagnoregio. The very shapes of the building still represent a symbol of the history and fragility of Civita today.The building was born on the site of a large Roman villa, of which a large cistern and a complex hydraulic water management system remain in the garden. Some fragments of the architectural decorations of the villa itself are still today embedded in the cathedral and in the buildings of Civita. The two stone lions on the sides of the gate were put there in memory of the“Bagnoresi’s” (inhabitants of Bagnoregio), victory over the Mondaldeschi della Cervara and Baglioni di Castel Piero families in the 15th Century.The Palazzo is made up of a group of medieval residences around the Santa Maria Gate. These were joined together in the form of a modern era palace by Cosimo Colesanti in the 16th Century. Cosimo, a renowned member of the family, started new works in the Church of San Bonaventura in the latter part of the century. The church, now no longer, was originally built on the Saint’s birthplace, and Cosimo would have had the right of burial directly in front of the main altar. In 1604 many distinguished Bagnoresi lived in Rome and Cosimo obtained Roman citizenship along with his brother Girolomo.Only the right side of the Palazzo’s front façade is still standing and an ancient coat of arms is still visible. However, observing the structure vertically from the garden, one can follow, almost stone by stone, the path that from the ancient times, passing through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, ends with the Contemporary Age.The earthquake in June 1695, significantly accelerating the crumbling of the tuff plateau and the foundations of Palazzo Colesanti, unveiled the magnificence hidden inside making it the extraordinary haven that seems to arise directly from the living stone with no human intervention. The earthquake was also the cause of the slow abandonment of the Palazzo. Getting to Civita had become too grueling and the bishop and all the main families decided to move to the Rota district, the current Bagnoregio. Today, after a few centuries, the Palazzo comes back to life, most probably in a more fascinating shape than the one admired half a century ago.
Above the arch that characterizes the entrance gate to the town of Civita di Bagnoregio, there is the noble suite of the historic Palazzo Colesanti. A large environment that includes a sleeping area and and a lounge enriched by an ancient nineteenth-century library and a beautiful fireplace. The golden vault, which overlooks the large four-poster bed, is the same that once constituted the ceiling of the church of Santa Maria. The window overlooking the bridge of Civita is the same that you can see located under the famous three-light window that dominates the entrance arch to the village.
The Lodge
An open space housed in a suggestive cave of Palazzo Colesanti carved into the tuff. A charming and unique space with a terrace overlooking the valley below and the exclusive garden of the property. The location is enriched by a beautiful and ancient private cellar for the guests of the house.
The Cave
The most exclusive and representative room of the entire Palazzo Colesanti. The three-part window overlooking the entrance arch of the village is the famous view that houses a charming and timeless terrace where you can observe from above the bridge that connects Civita with the rest of the world. A princely bed. A seventeenth-century fireplace. A comfort to enjoy and live before going down to walk in the wonderful garden of the property, up to visit the ancient Roman cistern, which is under cultural heritage protection for his historical significance.
The Trifora
In the unparalleled setting of Palazzo Colesanti there’s a room with tall tuff walls, a sixteenth-century coffered ceiling and cotto tiles of the same age. Ancient paintings and large wooden shields ornate the walls. On one side the royal bed, on the opposite a fireplace in front of which you can relax and breathe the rich taste of a glorius past. The windows offer a beautiful sight both over the wide valley and the little Colesanti square from which the gaze runs to the church of San Donato. It is possible to visit the whole property, the ancient garden and the significant Roman cistern overlooked by the great, untouched columns.
The History
A room located on the upper and noble floor of Palazzo Colesanti from which you can see the aerial view of the valley below Civita. The same observation point as the hawks that soar the skies above the village. A Renaissance bed and a precious eighteenth-century tapestry furnish a space where to rediscover a time of peace and reflection, before descending to visit the magical garden and the ancient, precious Roman cistern.
The Hawk
A room on the second floor of the historical Palazzo Colesanti, with windows overlooking the big valley and the little square beneath as if they’re spying, like curious owls, the church of San Donato in the background. Two twin beds, under a roof supported by sixteenth-century wooden beams. A colorful and cozy setting to relax before having a walk below in the large, exclusive garden of the property.
The Owl
The garden is one of the few present in Civita. This makes it rare and precious. Centennial olive trees, verdant roses and colorful hortensia alternate their blooming from late spring to the end of summer enriching the area surrounded by centuries-old walls. In addition there is a kitchen and a barbecue where you can prepare and savour your food while admiring the breathtaking view.
The Garden
In the ancient cellar of Palazzo Colesanti, dug into the tuff centuries ago, selected wines are kept from among the best in the area, specific to the Viterbo area and from the surrounding regions, Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany. There is also an interesting selection of wines chosen from among the most renowned Italian wines.
The Cellar
