Foglio HPart. 393Scala 1:2000
Viterbo, Lazio

Calcata

The old village survived a state-planned transfer and later revived through artists, writers and craftspeople living in its tufa houses.

Calcata Vecchia rising from a wooded volcanic outcrop
Calcata Vecchia, Lazio. OrCer, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped for layout.
Residents
905
Region
Lazio
Best time
April to June and September to October. The regional park recommends a weekday visit for a quieter experience.

Why it is worth the drive

During the Fascist period Calcata was classed as a settlement to be rehabilitated under a law written for earthquake-damaged towns. Residents were moved to a new settlement on the plateau in the early 1960s, while the old village faced demolition until a decree in the 1990s finally protected it.

The emptied medieval village then revived through people arriving from Rome, elsewhere in Italy and abroad: artists, writers and craftspeople established homes and studios in the tufa houses. The municipality now counts about seventy stable residents in the old village; many other homes are second houses or short rentals.

Getting there

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is about seventy kilometres by road. There is no station in Calcata, so public transport requires a rail-and-bus combination and extra time.

The honest part

The headline population covers the whole municipality, not just the old village. The medieval centre draws day visitors from Rome, especially at weekends, and is entered on foot through its compact historic core.

Last checked 2026-09-13. Opening hours and festival dates change: confirm with the town before you travel.