Labro

Labro is an exquisite jewel, a tiny town, beautifully restored and perched on a hill overlooking the Piediluco Lake. Like so many of Sabina's picturesque towns, Labro was founded in the middle ages, around 950 AD, as a military stronghold between Rieti and Spoleto. In the 15th century the heir of Labro's ruling family the de Nobili married the last descendant of the Vitelleschi. The two families merged to become the (de) Nobili-Vitelleschi with entwined crests of a crowned eagle and fish (de Nobili) and a lily and calf (Vitelleschi). After WWII the noble and middle class families living in Labro started leaving, sadly a situation echoed in many country towns all over Italy. Here however something special happened in the late 1960s. A dream became reality with a loving restoration of the whole town, the dream of Flemish architect Yvan van Mossevelde. Mossevelde brought his dream to fruition with the support of the Marchioness Ottavia Nobili Vitelleschi. Labro is famous throughout Italy and deservedly so. It is a gem. The town's name Labro probably comes from the Latin word lavabrum meaning pool referring to the Luco lake below the town, today called Piediluco Lake. It is not to be missed, and nor is the lovely restaurant in a converted monastery nearby. From here you could continue driving to Spoleto or the Marmore Falls.