Blog

After our article on Ficulle , we are off to discover Parrano and the secrets it holds. This quiet town, located up in the hills at a height of 400 meters above sea-level immersed in the natural splendour so unique to Umbria, is also part of the province of Terni.

Where is Parrano exactly?

Even though Parrano is located off the beaten track, it is just half an hour away from Orvieto, thanks to the vicinity of the exit of the A1 highway, at just 8 km distance from Parrano, and the vicinity of the train station; Rome and Florence are easily reached in less than an hour and a half .

The village is immersed in the Parco dello S.T.I.N.A . (Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana Territorial System of Naturalistic and Environmental Interest), which includes three different protected areas belonging to the same system managed by Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana Mountain Community. The largest area is Allerona-Selva di Meana , followed by the area Melonta-Bosco dell'Elmo , very interesting from a floristic-vegetational point of view, and by San Venanzo protected area, also including a volcanological area. The mountain environment of Peglia Group is characterized by oak woods, as well as large pinewoods; the flora is very rich and includes over one thousand species.

What to do and see in Parrano

The area in which Parrano is located is possibly one of the oldest inhabited places in Italy. In fact, archaeological finds in the area, in particular in the karstic caves dug out in the hill on which the town is built, show that it was already inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic.

And it is in the vicinity of these karstic conformations that we find the most suggestive location, starting with its name: the devil’s den (tane del diavolo).
The “tane del Diavolo” are caves opening onto the crystal-clear water of the Fosso del Bagno, a peaceful and enchanting location, despite its name.

So why the Devil’s Den? Simple:

The spring that feeds the water of the Fosso is a thermal spring that flows at 28°C . In the past, it wasn’t all that strange to think that the hot water came from deep down in hell!

Going back up towards the town, passing through one of the two access gates (Porta Piazza e Porta Ripa), you will find yourself wandering through the lovely alleys with their typical pink bricks. The ancient castle with its Medieval furnishings, the  clock tower  (Torre dell’Orologio), the many churches and old palazzi , will take you back to a world we thought no longer existed. One of these is  Palazzo de Sanctis , a marvellous historical residence.

Life in Parrano

Even though in this magical part of Umbria time appears to have stopped, Parrano offers many amenities for its inhabitants. There is a small but well-stocked supermarket , a bar – where the locals usually meet -, a post office , a pharmacy , nursery school and elementary school .

If you need to pamper yourself a little, there is certainly no shortage of restaurants and agriturismos, scattered in the peaceful green hills. Or why not relax a bit at the nearby spa facilities ?

If you love an active lifestyle, there are municipal sports facilities and a practical bike sharing service (even with pedal assisted bicycles). For whatever else you may require, it will take you 8/10 minutes by car to reach the town of Fabro, where you can find everything you need.

Are you curious to know what your life would be like in Parrano?

Then we suggest you take a look at our listings . If that's not enough to curb your curiosity, feel free to contact us !

Do you have a property to sell in Parrano?

Contact us here or on our Facebook page .