Tenaglie: the village that embraces the solemn mass of Palazzo Ancajani
Set on a rocky ridge facing Montecchio—almost in a visual dialogue with the hill where the Castle of Carnano once stood—Tenaglie is dominated by the austere profile of Palazzo Ancajani, built in the early 1700s by Filippo Ancajani on the foundations of a former fortification.
Its roots likely reach back to Roman times, then the Middle Ages under the commune of Todi with the Baschi family, and—starting in the sixteenth century—the long Ancajani season. Between community claims and collective rights to the land, 1891 saw the birth of the Dominio Collettivo di Tenaglie, which still safeguards shared woods and landscapes today.
Now the village is living history and nature: stone lanes, vineyards and chestnut woods, quiet corners and a cultural heritage gathered in churches, small museums, and the great palace that crowns the ridge.
From here begins the evocative Cammino dei Borghi Silenti, a roughly 90 km loop trail threading through ravines and ancient mule tracks.
Start at the Belvedere, then pass under the Gate topped by the Todi eagle. Look across to the AMAT – Antiquarium / Archaeological Museum of Tenaglie and discover the earliest chapters of local history from the Umbrian–Etruscan necropolis of Vallone di San Lorenzo. Take in the views toward Carnano and Montecchio before wandering the alleys and climbing to the Church of St John the Baptist. Just above, the elegant Palazzo Ancajani (early 18th c.) asserts its severe façade; a short stroll outside the old core leads to the Church of Our Lady of Grace (enlarged 1852–54 by Baron Decio Ancajani), with frescoes by Andrea Galeotti da Cortona and a Latin-cross plan with vaulted spaces and side chapels.
Let yourself be surprised: below you’ll find the interactive map, GPX and elevation profile.
Umbro-Etruscan frontier land, land of contested castles, land of a landscape shaped by silent hamlets and rolling hills of olive, oak and chestnut trees.
Fondo Europeo Agricolo per lo Sviluppo Rurale: L’Europa investe nelle zone rurali
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas