If you're looking to get well off the beaten track in central Italy, then Stroncone in the province of Terni is as good a place as any. For a town that has been inhabited since Roman times, and which still preserves its medieval walled structure, it is surprising Stroncone is so way off the tourist map.
In fact, we had to pull out all we had on Umbria before we found one small paragraph mentioning the town. Apart from what we have just said, Stroncone overlooks the 'conca Ternana' and must have provided a strategic forward point for the larger Terni.
Delicious Italy visited Stroncone on what can only be described as the worst day of the year. It was the first week of March on a windy, rainy, freezing afternoon as dusk arrived. It was so cold, we decided not to visit the fabulous Marmore waterfall, the main reason for making the trip to the zone. We left it for a later barmy summer's day.
It seems they know all about water in Stroncone, as one of the first things we picked up in the local tourism office was a brochure entitled 'The Fountains of Stroncone, Sounds of Memories'. The author of the preface signed off with the words 'sogno refrigerante' which sort of summed up our day.
Nevertheless, it spoke of a certain Antonio Sangallo who in 1545 was called from his work at Marmore and Lake Piediluco to ensure the town always had sufficient water for agricultural purposes.
Speaking of which, 9 kilometres away you can also find the so-called 'I Prati' or 'Fields of Stroncone'. This is a vast, high plain or 'altopiano' at 950 metres above sea level where local people can cool off in the hotter months. Quite.
SUGGESTED LINK
www.comune.stroncone.tr.it
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