As families plan their travels to Italy, a new children's book offers a unique gateway to a hidden medieval village beyond the crowded streets of Rome, Florence, and Venice. Giulio Gargiullo's illustrated book, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno," weaves a fictional adventure that culminates in a surprising revelation: the enchanting village depicted is real, and families can visit it. The story follows the young heroine Simonetta and her companion Ruggero through a cherry forest, but the final pages include a QR code that transports readers to aerial drone footage of the actual village of Celleno, allowing children to see its castle, landscape, and historic quarter before experiencing them in person.
Celleno, located in northern Lazio about 90 minutes from Rome, offers an off-the-beaten-path experience for families interested in medieval villages and nature. Its abandoned historic quarter, known as "Il Borgo Fantasma" or the Ghost Village, was previously featured by The Telegraph among Italy's ghost towns, described as places frozen in time. The story draws inspiration from Celleno's real history: the Orsini Castle overlooks the village, and before the Orsini family, it belonged to the Gatti family, who controlled the town for over a century. Simonetta is loosely inspired by a woman from that same family line.
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. "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."
The connection between the book and the destination extends beyond entertainment, incorporating educational elements. The final pages introduce "Little Guardians of Nature," encouraging children to adopt simple eco-friendly 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 parents with a tool to introduce children to a destination before arriving in Italy—or to inspire a future visit after reading the story.
For families seeking a children's book about Italy for their travels, "Simonetta, Ruggero and the Cherry Forest of Celleno" is available worldwide on Amazon in English and Italian editions, in print and Kindle formats. The story not only entertains but also encourages families to step off the beaten path and discover the rich history and charm of lesser-known Italian destinations like Celleno.
