For families planning a trip to Italy, the itinerary often revolves around the iconic trio of Rome, Florence, and Venice. But a newly released children's book is encouraging families to look beyond these well-trodden paths and discover a hidden gem in the Lazio region: the medieval hilltop village of Celleno, about 90 minutes from Rome.
Giulio Gargiullo's illustrated book, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno," begins as a fairy tale but ends with a twist: the village is real, and families can visit the very places that inspired the story. The final pages include a QR code that leads readers to aerial drone footage of the actual village, bridging the gap between imagination and reality.
This innovative concept transforms sightseeing into an interactive story. Children first explore Celleno through the adventures of Simonetta and Ruggero, then discover that the castle, medieval streets, and countryside they've read about truly exist. For parents, this means turning a family trip into a literary quest.
Celleno is an off-the-beaten-path destination in northern Lazio, offering families a chance to experience medieval villages, nature, and lesser-known Italy. Its abandoned historic quarter, known as "Il Borgo Fantasma" (the Ghost Village), was previously featured by The Telegraph among 25 Italian ghost towns, described as places frozen in time.
The story draws heavily from Celleno's real history and landscape. Orsini Castle still overlooks the village, a legacy of the noble families who once controlled the area. The young heroine, Simonetta, is loosely inspired by a woman from the Gatti family, who ruled Celleno before the Orsini. The book has received the official patronage of the Municipality of Celleno, highlighting its authenticity.
Gargiullo, an honorary citizen of Celleno since 2024, said, "I wanted children to enter Celleno through imagination and then discover that the place they have been dreaming about actually exists. If a family reading the story decides to leave the usual tourist route for a day and discover the village together, the fairy tale has completed its journey."
The educational component extends beyond history. The book's final pages introduce "Little Guardians of Nature," encouraging children to adopt simple eco-friendly habits like leaving water for birds, caring for plants, and picking up litter.
By blending children's literature, family travel, local history, nature, and digital technology, this book offers a unique way for families to connect with a destination before arriving in Italy—or to inspire a future visit after reading. It's a perfect resource for parents seeking a children's book about Italy for an upcoming family trip.
Celleno's history stretches back to the Etruscan era, with archaeological evidence of settlement from around the 7th century BC. The area later came under Roman control in the 3rd century BC. Today, it offers travelers an atmospheric alternative to Italy's most frequented destinations, surrounded by the countryside of Tuscia and within easy reach of Viterbo and Orvieto.
For families looking to experience a side of Italy that remains largely undiscovered, Celleno and this charming book provide an invitation to step off the beaten path and into a story.
