Soriano nel Cimino is a classic central Italian hill town. With its terraced streets and 13th-century castle, you might think it’s in Tuscany or Umbria. Though it does border both regions, its location in Lazio, 63 miles north of the center of Rome, gives it a more under-the-radar status. Perched 509 meters above sea level in the Tiber Valley and circled by chestnut groves, its strategic position also made it an outpost for the Etruscans.

Travelers who do find their way to Soriano — as Los Angeles native Michael Kovnick did during his first trip to Italy in 1984 — discover a village steeped in history, and if they happen to be there in July and August, a palio (horse race) pitting neighborhood teams against each other, similar to the one in Siena. In October, Soriano’s lively multi-day celebration of chestnuts, complete with medieval pageantry, is reason enough to plan a trip.