As families plan their travels to Italy, many focus on the iconic destinations of Rome, Florence, and Venice. However, a new children's book is encouraging families to venture off the beaten path and discover a hidden medieval village in the Lazio region. Giulio Gargiullo's illustrated book, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno," blends a fairy-tale adventure with the real village of Celleno, located about 90 minutes from Rome.
The story follows the adventures of Simonetta and Ruggero in a cherry forest, but the final pages reveal a surprising twist: the village of Celleno is real, and families can visit the places that inspired the tale. A QR code on the last pages leads readers to aerial drone footage of the actual village, allowing children to see the castle, landscape, and historic quarter before they even step foot in Italy.
This innovative approach transforms sightseeing into a storytelling experience. Children first explore the village through the characters' eyes, then discover that the castle, medieval streets, and countryside they've been reading about truly exist. For parents traveling with children, this makes the visit more engaging and memorable.
Celleno is a hilltop village in northern Lazio, in the province of Viterbo, making it an ideal off-the-beaten-path destination for families interested in medieval history and nature. Its abandoned historic quarter, known as "Il Borgo Fantasma" (the Ghost Village), was previously featured by The Telegraph among Italy's 25 ghost towns, described as "frozen in time."
The story draws inspiration from Celleno's real history and landmarks. The Orsini Castle still overlooks the village, which was once controlled by the Gatti family from nearby Viterbo for over a century. The heroine, Simonetta, is loosely based on a woman from that same family line. The book has received the official patronage of the Municipality of Celleno.
"I wanted children to enter Celleno through imagination and then discover that the place they have been dreaming about actually exists," said Gargiullo. "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." Gargiullo was named an honorary citizen of Celleno in 2024 for his efforts to promote the village internationally.
The book also includes an educational component. The final pages introduce "Little Guardians of Nature," encouraging children to take simple actions such as leaving water for birds, caring for a plant, and picking up litter. This combines children's literature, family travel, local history, nature, and digital technology, providing parents with a unique way to introduce their children to a destination before arriving in Italy—or to inspire a future visit.
For those seeking a children's book about Italy for a family trip, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno" is available worldwide on Amazon in English and Italian editions, in print and Kindle formats.
Celleno's history stretches back to the Etruscan era, with archaeological evidence dating to around the 7th century BC. The village offers travelers an alternative to Italy's most famous tourist spots, surrounded by the Tuscia countryside and within easy reach of Viterbo and Orvieto. By blending a fictional adventure with real-world exploration, this book invites families to experience a hidden gem of Italy, making the journey as magical as the story itself.
