As Italian tourism continues to concentrate on the well-trodden paths of Rome, Florence, and Venice, a new children's book is offering families a different kind of adventure: a literary gateway to a hidden medieval village. 'Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno,' written and illustrated by Giulio Gargiullo, tells the story of two children who explore an enchanted cherry forest, only to reveal at the end that the setting is a real place — the hilltop village of Celleno in the Lazio region, about 90 minutes from Rome.
The book, which has received the official patronage of the Municipality of Celleno, merges fiction with travel inspiration. On its final pages, a QR code links readers to aerial drone footage of the actual village, allowing children to see the castle, landscape, and historic quarter before they even set foot there. For parents traveling with children, this transforms sightseeing into a narrative journey. As Gargiullo explains, 'I wanted children to enter Celleno through imagination and then discover that the place they have been dreaming about actually exists. 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, often called 'Il Borgo Fantasma' or the Ghost Village, is an abandoned historic quarter that has been recognized by The Telegraph as one of Italy's 25 ghost towns. Its Orsini Castle still dominates the skyline, a reminder of the noble families that once controlled the area, including the Gatti family, from which the story's heroine, Simonetta, is loosely drawn. The village's history stretches back to Etruscan times, with archaeological evidence dating to the 7th century BC, making it a destination steeped in layers of history that families can explore beyond the typical tourist sites.
The book also serves an educational purpose, introducing the 'Little Guardians of Nature' concept, which encourages children to engage in simple environmental actions like leaving water for birds, caring for plants, and picking up litter. This blend of children's literature, family travel, local history, nature, and digital technology provides a novel approach to destination discovery. Available worldwide on Amazon in English and Italian editions, the book offers a way for families to connect with Italy's lesser-known treasures before or after their trip.
Gargiullo, a Rome-born communication and digital marketing professional with family ties to Celleno, has dedicated his career to promoting Italian destinations internationally. In 2024, he was named an honorary citizen of Celleno in recognition of his efforts. With this book, he aims to encourage families to step off the beaten path and experience the authentic Italy that lies just beyond the major tourist hubs.
