Ristorante Al Castello
What to order: something with fresh truffle, which the owners hunt themselves, and in winter the polenta
geocalia
Day itinerary · 41.57° N · 12.97° E
Sermoneta and Norba on a Sunday, the Caetani castle and a Latin city on the balcony of the Lepini.
For the months without Ninfa: Caetani Castle with a guided visit, a truffle lunch opposite its gate, a stroll round Sermoneta and the walls of Norba at sunset.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Roma fromBarcelona 1 h 45Alicante 2 h 15Bilbao 2 h 15Valencia 2 h 15Zaragoza 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Asturias 2 h 45Málaga 2 h 45Sevilla 2 h 45Fuerteventura 4 h 30
Part of Garden of Ninfa and Sermoneta
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h 15 each way
From Rome1 h 15 by car
BookingCastle, at giardinodininfa.eu
Castle admission€8.25 online
DifficultyEasy
Best daySaturday or Sunday
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Rome 1 h 15 by car
SS148 Pontina towards Latina and the climb to Sermoneta; park below and walk up to the old town
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1
A walk through Sermoneta
The stone old town, the collegiate church and the viewpoints over the Pontine plain
- 5 min on foot
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Caetani Castle in Sermoneta
One-hour guided visit in a reserved slot · €8.25 online
- 2 min on foot
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Ristorante Al Castello
Opposite the castle entrance · truffle, mushrooms, polenta in winter · booking
Via della Fortezza, 7, 04013 Sermoneta · +39 0773 30404
Restaurant €€Book - 15 min by car8,9 km
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4
Archaeological Park of ancient Norba
Polygonal walls and views over Ninfa; free access
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Back home
About an hour and a quarter to Rome
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
A walk through Sermoneta
The Garden of Ninfa opens only a few days a year, from March to November. The rest of the time, the village and castle of Sermoneta, on the slope of the Lepini mountains, make a full Sunday from Rome, with a mountain lunch opposite the castle and, in the afternoon, the walls of ancient Norba, a Latin city overlooking the plain and the garden itself.
First of all: booking
Caetani Castle can only be visited with a guide, in a group and by time slot, and the tickets are bought at giardinodininfa.eu. In November 2026 there are visits on Saturdays and Sundays, at €8.25 online; check the calendar for each month. Also book a table at Al Castello, which is open only at weekends at lunchtime.
The day, hour by hour
8:45 · Leave Rome. By the SS148 Pontina towards Latina and the climb to Sermoneta, about an hour and a quarter. The old town has narrow streets: park below and walk up.
10:00 · Sermoneta. A walk round the stone old town, the churches and the viewpoints over the Pontine plain as far as Circeo.
11:30 · Caetani Castle. A one-hour guided visit through courtyards, walls, towers and frescoed rooms.
13:00 · Lunch at Al Castello. Opposite the castle gate, with four dining rooms and a fireplace. The owners hunt for truffle and have it all year round; in winter, polenta, mushrooms and game.
15:30 · Norba. From the Ninfa road you climb to Norma up the hillside; the archaeological park is freely accessible: walls of polygonal blocks, remains of temples and views over the plain and the garden.
17:00 · Return. About an hour and a quarter to Rome.
Time1 h 30
Change the route
If it falls on a day the garden is open (March to November): Ninfa in the morning with a booking and Sermoneta in the afternoon:
Garden of Ninfa
From May to September, Friday to Sunday: swap Norba for the Molino 7Cento winery visit at 17:00, €45 per person:
Vineyard and winery visit at Molino 7Cento, with tasting
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Bar and eating area of the Garden of Ninfa
What to order: something simple on leaving the visit; book if you want lunch
Molino 7Cento restaurant
What to order: whatever the season brings from the kitchen garden, with a wine and the house oil
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Garden of Ninfa and Sermoneta
Designed for winter, when the Garden of Ninfa is closed and the castle opens at weekends. Al Castello is open only on Saturdays and Sundays at lunchtime. On the third Sunday in January, Sermoneta holds its Sagra della Polenta.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the castle online
The groups are limited.
- 2Bring a coat to Norba
The upland is exposed to the wind.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the castle open in winter?
Yes, mainly at weekends, according to the foundation's calendar.
How much does admission to the castle cost?
€8.25 online on the November 2026 dates.
Where do you eat?
At Al Castello, opposite the castle, Saturdays and Sundays at lunchtime, with a booking.
Do you pay at Norba?
No, the park is freely accessible.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/italy/lazio/garden-of-ninfa-sermoneta/itineraries/rome-sermoneta-norba-sunday-caetani-castle
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.