The Village of Wishes in Castelnuovo di Porto

A night of stars and wishes in the village

Every August 10th, on the night of St. Lawrence, Castelnuovo di Porto participates in "The Village of Wishes," a national initiative promoted by the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' association across over a hundred villages on the peninsula. From sunset until late at night, the historic center of this Lazio town comes alive to welcome residents and visitors for the most romantic evening of the summer, when the sky fills with shooting stars and everyone is invited to make a wish.

Among medieval alleys and the Rocca Colonna

The charm of the evening stems from its setting. Castelnuovo di Porto sits on a tuff spur about thirty kilometers north of Rome, not far from the Via Flaminia, and preserves its medieval layout, which grew in concentric circles around the castle. Dominating the village is the Rocca Colonna, an ancient fortress transformed into a Renaissance palace by the Colonna family in the 15th century, now the symbolic heart of the town's cultural initiatives. The 'Village of Wishes' itinerary winds through the alleys, walls, and the Rocca, in a journey dedicated to the sky, the stars, and hope.

The ritual of the wishing well

The most evocative moment is the ritual that gives the event its name: each participant writes their wish on a note and deposits it into an ancient well in the village, "symbolic, silent, and full of memories." It is a gesture that is both intimate and collective, uniting those who perform it in a single shared hope. As part of the national format, one of the wishes collected in each village is chosen to represent the community in the final selection organized by the association.

The village and its territory

The event is also an opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful historic centers in Lazio: Castelnuovo di Porto joined the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' circuit in 2021, as the twenty-third recognized village in the region. In this municipality in the province of Rome, the evening is part of the local summer calendar, featuring sunset walks, terrace aperitifs under the first stars, and the slow discovery of squares, churches, and glimpses that tell centuries of history.

An experience for everyone

"The Village of Wishes" is designed as a widespread, participatory event suitable for families, couples, and astronomy enthusiasts. It is not just a show, but a different way to experience the village: walking in the dark among ancient stones, looking up at the Perseids, and entrusting a thought for the future to the sky and the well.