Ceri
Ceri Fraction: A Charming Landscape
Ceri is a beautiful hamlet in the municipality of Cerveteri, in the metropolitan city of Rome Capital. The small village is located on a tuff plateau just a few distances away from the main city. The countryside surrounding Ceri is typical of the Roman countryside, with intense agricultural activity that makes the landscape enchanting and suggestive. The territory is rich in ancient and fascinating history, which can be perceived in every detail of the village.
The History of Ceri
The history of Ceri begins with a settlement from the Bronze Age, which occupied the tuff cliff where the village now stands, and some surrounding areas. With the passage of time, most of the inhabitants moved to the plateau of Cerveteri, where they founded the great Villanovan and Etruscan city of Kaisra.
During the occupation of Ceri by the city-state of Kaisra, large tombs were built to the north of the village, which were used as a burial place by the noble family. Less monumental but still very interesting tombs were built on the tuff tongue of the Fornaci. The Tomb of the Statues, which is located not far from the village, is one of the most important testimonies from that period.
In 1236, the inhabitants of the nearby city of Cerveteri left their city to move to a safer location. At that same time, the castle of Ceri was built, with the purpose of defending the village. The new center was called Caere Novum to distinguish the ancient city, Caere Vetus, from the more recent one.
Throughout history, the village of Ceri was dominated by numerous Roman families, including the Normans of Trastevere, the Anguillara, the Cesi, the Borromeo, the Odescalchi, and the Torlonia. In 1503, the city was besieged and conquered by Cesare Borgia, who wanted to capture the members of the Orsini family who lived in Ceri.
The Church of Madonna di Ceri and the Cinema
In the main square of the village stands the Church of Madonna di Ceri, which was built on the site where the cult of the goddess Vesta once existed. During a restoration in 1980, Roman School frescoes dating back to the twelfth century were discovered. These depict scenes from the Old Testament and stories from the life of San Silvestro.
Over the years, the village of Ceri has also been chosen as the set for some film productions. In 1976, the exterior scenes of the episode "Il superiore" from the film "Basta che non si sappia in giro" were shot in Ceri, with the participation of Nino Manfredi, Lino Banfi, and Vittorio Mezzogiorno. In 1982, the director Giorgio Bracardi chose Ceri as the location for the film "Settefolli". In 2017, the village was chosen for the filming of the film "Metti la nonna in freezer", starring Fabio De Luigi and Miriam Leone.
Conclusions
Ceri is undoubtedly a perfect destination for an excursion out of town. The surrounding landscape is amazing, and the village itself is a jewel of architecture and history. The Church of Madonna di Ceri and the Castle are must-see destinations for anyone visiting the hamlet. In every corner of the village, you can still feel the traces of the ancient history that made it famous over the centuries. And for those who are passionate about cinema, Ceri represents a curious discovery: discovering the landscape that inspired some noteworthy film productions makes the experience even more exciting.
