Families planning a trip to Italy often stick to the well-trodden path of Rome, Florence, and Venice. But a new children's book aims to change that by introducing young readers to a hidden medieval village just 90 minutes from Rome. Giulio Gargiullo's illustrated book, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno," starts as a fairy tale and ends with a surprising revelation: the village of Celleno is real, and families can visit the places that inspired the story.
The book's final pages include a QR code that leads readers to aerial drone footage of the actual village, letting children see Celleno's castle and landscapes before they visit. This innovative approach turns sightseeing into a story-driven adventure. "I wanted children to enter Celleno through imagination and then discover that the place they have been dreaming about actually exists," Gargiullo said. "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."
Celleno is located in northern Lazio, in the province of Viterbo, making it an off-the-beaten-path destination for families interested in medieval villages and nature. Its abandoned historic quarter is known as "Il Borgo Fantasma" — the Ghost Village of Celleno. The village was previously featured by The Telegraph among 25 Italian ghost towns described as frozen in time. The story draws from real history: Orsini Castle still overlooks the village, and the book's heroine, Simonetta, is loosely inspired by a woman from the Gatti family, who controlled the town before the Orsini family took ownership.
The book has received the official patronage of the Municipality of Celleno, and Gargiullo was named an honorary citizen in 2024 for his efforts to promote the village internationally. The connection between book and destination is also educational. 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 blend of children's literature, family travel, local history, nature, and digital technology offers parents a unique way to introduce children to a destination before arriving in Italy — or 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.
The village's history extends far beyond the Middle Ages, with archaeological evidence pointing to Etruscan settlement from around the 7th century BC. The area later came under Roman control in the 3rd century BC. Today, Celleno offers travelers an atmospheric alternative to Italy's best-known destinations, with its abandoned historic quarter and surrounding countryside of Tuscia, within easy reach of Viterbo and Orvieto.
