The Valnerina
Facts checked: July 2026. Torre Orsina is our neighbouring hamlet – two minutes up the road, and the silhouette we photograph most.
Torre Orsina is what a hill village looks like when it grows in a perfect ellipse: a closed ring of stone above the Nera gorge, threaded with arches and covered passageways, with the tower that named it at the top. It’s the prettiest village outline on this stretch of the valley – and it comes with horses.
Two origin stories (both worth telling)
Local tradition says the village was born of catastrophe: when Collestatte’s castle was destroyed in the 11th century by forces in the pay of the Abbot of Farfa, thirteen surviving families climbed the next hill and founded a new settlement – Villa Sanctae Mariae – around the church of Santa Maria de Turre (the tradition). The Comune di Terni’s own history starts later and drier: a watchtower built by the city of Spoleto in 1270, with the “Orsina” name arriving in the 16th century under the Orsini (official page). Take your pick – villages this old usually earn both a legend and a ledger. What’s documented either way: autonomy from Collestatte in 1627, its own comune until 1927, and the elliptical medieval plan that survives intact.
Seeing it
Twenty minutes covers the village: enter the ring, follow the lanes through the arches, find the old parish church (Santa Maria de Turre, now Sant’Antonio), and circle back. The photograph you came for is from the valley road below – the whole ellipse stacked above the gorge, best in low light. There are no restaurants or shops – this is a stop, not a destination; pair it with Collestatte or carry on to Arrone.
The horses
The village’s practical attraction is Maneggio Jolly Horse, the riding school on its edge – guided rides through the Nera valley woods beneath the falls, beginners and children welcome per its listings (directory entry). There’s no official website, so call ahead to confirm current operation, prices and minimum ages before you go. If it checks out, it’s the only ride-under-a-waterfall within an hour of Rome that we know of.
Frequently asked questions
Is Torre Orsina worth stopping for?
For twenty minutes and the photograph, yes – it’s the most photogenic village shape in the lower valley. Combine it with Collestatte (five minutes) rather than making a special trip.