Cervara di Roma is a tiny village in the province of Rome, in the region of Latium, Italy. As of 2017, it had a population of just 444 people. However, despite its small size and number of inhabitants, the town has a lot to offer. Perched dramatically, high up on a cliff in the Monti Simbruini Regional Park, it is picturesque in the way that such mountain villages in Italy tend to be but it is also unique in that it has become an open-air gallery that has attracted painters, sculptors, poets, and other artists over the centuries. If you have found a luxury villa in Rome and are exploring the wider region, seeking out interesting and unusual attractions, well off the beaten tourist path, hidden gems, and singularly intriguing places, then look no further than Cervara di Roma.
Named for the deer that used to live in the surrounding region, Cervara di Roma is a medieval village overlooking the Aniene Valley with a population that has dwindled after WWII, which continues to decrease as more and more people turn from farming and head to nearby Rome in search of work.
While it is no bustling metropolis, its peaceful and quiet beauty has inspired many great artworks and artists: artists like the Frenchman Ernest Hébert who lived in Cervara in the 19th century, produced a number of paintings of the women of the village, such as “Les Cervaroles,” which is exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris; Joseph Anton Koch, who painted landscapes of the area in 1810; Roman artists Bartolomeo Pinelli, Corot, and Oscar Kokoschka drew the area; Spanish poet Rafael Alberti wrote of Cervara and there are on display throughout the town; and renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone dedicated two compositions to Cervara.
As you wander the town, you can find traces of these artists and more all throughout the peaceful streets and piazze but one of the main places to check it out is the famous “scalinata degli artisti” (or staircase of artists).
For art-lovers and adventurers exploring this part of Italy, be sure to come explore this little known art centre and discover its continued appeal for yourself...
While it is no bustling metropolis, its peaceful and quiet beauty has inspired many great artworks and artists: artists like the Frenchman Ernest Hébert who lived in Cervara in the 19th century, produced a number of paintings of the women of the village, such as “Les Cervaroles,” which is exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris; Joseph Anton Koch, who painted landscapes of the area in 1810; Roman artists Bartolomeo Pinelli, Corot, and Oscar Kokoschka drew the area; Spanish poet Rafael Alberti wrote of Cervara and there are on display throughout the town; and renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone dedicated two compositions to Cervara.
As you wander the town, you can find traces of these artists and more all throughout the peaceful streets and piazze but one of the main places to check it out is the famous “scalinata degli artisti” (or staircase of artists).
For art-lovers and adventurers exploring this part of Italy, be sure to come explore this little known art centre and discover its continued appeal for yourself...
Photo credit: LPLT / CC BY-SA 3.0