The Location

The grottos and the modern room

The grottos inside our restaurant date back to ancient times, and were excavated by hand, using pickaxes. So we thought: ”Why should we ruin all that hard work?” Up to 50 years ago, a part of the location was dedicated to a furnace, where vases, crockery, urns and jugs were crafted. Today, the exhaust pipe of the furnace is the tool that enables us to express our workmanship, creativity and craftsmanship in the creation of our premium dishes. The largest grotto, which now hosts guests and high-quality food aficionados, used to be a stable 50 years ago. In order to make the air safe to breath and healthy, we installed a controlled mechanical ventilation system, which is always turned on to stop the grotto getting damp, making it one of the only ones without unpleasant or mouldy smells. Every meal in our restaurant is perfectly enjoyable. It’s a beautiful setting to while away the hours. Our restaurant is the perfect marriage of past and present, memories and innovation, for an exclusive and enjoyable experience. The ancient grottos, decorated with modern designs and colours, exhibit a modern flare with the iron corten, light wood and bold colours of the chairs. The breathtaking interiors perfectly complement the outdoor space we created for guests to enjoy the lovely summer nights. It’s the perfect spot to wine and dine, surrounded by nature and the green environment of Tuscania.

The fascinating medieval well

One of the hidden treasures of the restaurant is our medieval well, which we left untouched, so the past can permeate the atmosphere. The stone-carved staircase, an ancient underground, secret passage to our restaurant from the nuns’ monastery, still remains and is visible to amaze our guests. Guests can imagine themselves setting foot on those steps, evoking feelings of crossing a bridge connecting past and present times, connecting the story of the monastery to our modern cuisine and local territory. Additionally, the emotional response from the older residents of the area when returning to these sites was a powerful moment. When we re-opened the site where they used to play as children, their lives’ stories came flooding back, almost bringing them to tears - another way you can see how permeated with history the location is. The medieval well gives Cichi’s Ristobistrot a unique atmosphere, full of history and secrets still to be unveiled. Still keeping its mystery is the secret passage that used to connect the well to the nuns monastery of St. Francis.

The cellar: connecting the past and the present

We love wine just as much as we love food. This is why we put so much effort into curating our cellar, preserving its timeless beauty, without ruining the amazing original structure. Our intention was to maintain its uniqueness, and that is what we did. Today, you can still see the ancient steps next to the passage which were used to slide wine barrels down. Cichi's Ristobistrot is much more than just a restaurant: it’s a location where history, cuisine and passion come together to create a unique experience in the heart of Tuscania. The evocative grottos, the medieval well and the cellar are but a few of the marvellous treasures you can discover in your experience at Cichi’s.

The intimate but unpretentious atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for couples or small groups of visitors who want to immerse themselves in the past, while experiencing the modernity of this village in Tuscia. Live music is our carefully selected soundtrack, which brings everything together, to the beautiful sounds of swing and jazz. Sample our playlist on Spotify.