Italian Ghost Town Celleno Attracts Netflix Movie “Dark Moon” and Visitors From All Over The World

In the small town of Celleno, located in the Province of Viterbo, an hour’s drive from Rome Italy, the filming of the television series “Black Moon” (Luna Nera) by Italian producer Fandango, started a few days ago. The television series will be available worldwide on Netflix by 2020. The TV series is about the story of a group of women accused of witchcraft in Italy in the 17th century. The movie is based on a manuscript by Tiziana Triana and created by Francesca Manieri and Laura Paolucci. Other scenes of the film have been filmed in the same territory and in the studios of Cinecittà. This area, called Tuscia, has always been the ideal location for many internationally renowned films, commercials, and advertisements.

Many famous visitors visited Celleno in recent times: from the director Paolo Sorrentino, or the well-known international artist Enrico Castellani, who lived and worked in the castle of the village for over 40 years and produced masterpieces that are worth millions of euros each, and that are viewable in the most important international museums. Recently, George Clooney in the area shot the entire series of “Catch 22” for several months, buying an old mansion in the nearby City of Viterbo.

Celleno has been feautured on The Telegraph among “Beautiful villages lost to time: Italy’s incredible ghost towns”.

To attract directors, actors, VIP’s and tourists from all over the world it’s the unique charm and beauty of the small village, situated on a spur of tufa, standing in the green valleys with its castle, uninhabited since 1951. The Orsini Castle, in fact, was abandoned several heartquakes that hit the entire town. By then the medieval castle is deserted and the town is called the “ghost village” because it is not inhabited by anyone, but you can walk the stairs that climb up to the castle. Experts from the EPAS-European Paranormal Activity Society-in recent weeks, after an extensive investigation, detected paranormal presences and signals in Celleno Castle. Some claim that the strange presences are attributed to the last heir, Giovanni Gatti, who was made to kill by Pope Alexander VI (Borgia) for refusing to return the castle, to the ancient property of the Holy See. At the beginning of 1500, after the fall of the Gatti family (one of the most powerful families in the territory), Celleno became feud of the Orsini, family from which the castle still takes its name.

So said the mayor of Celleno Mario Bianchi just re-elected to his second term:” We are pleased to announce the launch of the filming of the series “Black Moon”  (Luna Nera”) by Fandango in Celleno, where much of the work derives from that one developed in the territory, for the people, for the community . As a result, we are also very pleased with the successes that we have achieved on a number of occasions both at national and international level in the film industry, as in other strategic sectors of the local economy. This is the result of the municipality of Celleno, as of all the territory of Tuscia”.

Drone footage of Celleno and its castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBUxB4WtNA

Further info about filming in Celleno: https://allaboutitaly.net/black-moon-the-new-series-by-netflix-set-in-celleno/

Media contacts in English:

Giulio Gargiullo

info@giuliogargiullo.com

+39 0698381363

Media contacts in Italian:

Sindaco di Celleno Marco Bianchi: +39 3387197681

Comune di Celleno Tel. +39 0761 912002

sindaco@celleno.it

https://www.comune.celleno.vt.it/

About Celleno

The municipality of Celleno is located in the province of Viterbo, on a tufaceous spur in a strategic position: between Civita di Bagnoregio and Lake Bolsena, just an hour from Rome by car, and near Orvieto and the border with Tuscany. The origins of Celleno are very ancient: from the time of the Etruscans, passing through the Medieval era.

Of great importance, it’s the majestic medieval castle located in the main square of the medieval village. The Orsini Castle, once inhabited by a large part of the population, was abandoned after a violent earthquake. For 40 years the castle was subsequently inhabited only by internationally renowned artist Enrico Castellani, who died in December 2017. Castellani in his laboratory-studio in the castle of Celleno created most of his art spread all over the world and that reaches millions of euros per work.

Today, visiting the Orsini Castle, it is possible to breathe the art of the master recently passed away, together with the uninhabited structure. Celleno is the ”Ghost Village ” for its beauty remained intact, with the Orsini Castle on the cliff-face, such as the nearby Civita di Bagnoregio and the surrounding area, green and full of opportunity for slow tourism, cultural and enogastronomic routes.

Particularly well known is the Cherries festival in Celleno held every year, with the characteristic ”cherry pit spitting” with the proclamation of the national winner of who has been able to expel the core at a greater distance.

Spectacular view of the Inferaccio waterfall, where the water is orange, due to the strong presence of iron.

Also worth a visit is a former convent, where for several years a community resides and it’s a point of attraction for spiritual retreats; the ancient church of San Rocco, the medieval village at the foot of the castle.

Many artists have visited so far and noticed Celleno for its beauty and for the start of film projects, such as the recent visit of the movie director Paolo Sorrentino.

Celleno has been feautured on The Telegraph among “Beautiful villages lost to time: Italy’s incredible ghost towns”.

Drone footage of Celleno and its castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBUxB4WtNA

Further info about filming in Celleno: https://allaboutitaly.net/black-moon-the-new-series-by-netflix-set-in-celleno/