CITERNA
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Citerna
Perched on a hill in an enchanting position with a fantastic view of the entire Upper Tiber Valley, Citerna is of ancient Etruscan origin. Its territory was densely populated also in Roman times, as is testified by potsherds and coins, found especially between S. Fista and Pistrino.
During the Middle Ages it was a bitter bone of contention between Ghibelline Arezzo and Guelph Città di Castello.
Fief of the mighty Margraves del Colle until the early 13th cen-tury, it then passed under the protection of Città di Castello.
Subjected from 1310 to 1340 to the powerful Tralati di Pietramala, after which together with Città di Castello it appealed to Perugia for protection, only to tall under the sway of the Pietramalas, and then the Malatestas, until in 1463 it was made over to the Papal State.
Early in the XVIth century Citerna was vicariously assigned to the Vitelli family of Città di Castello who, after various ups and downs and having embellished it with monuments and works of art, governed there until the end of the century, when it returned to the monotonous life of a village under papal administration.
In 1619 and again in 1630 Citerna was hit by two great plagues which took toll of many victims and reduced the town to dire poverty.
In 1849 it hosted Garibaldi on his retreat towards Ravenna, and in 1860 it was the first Umbrian town to form part of the Kingdom of Italy.
To be seen:
Church of S. Francesco, with interesting paintings attributed to Luca Signorelli and Raffaellino del Colle;
Church of S. Michele Arcangelo with a Della Robbia Madonna;
a magnificent fireplace in the Prosperi-Vitelli mansion;
Church of S. Maria Assunta in Pistrino with a splendid series of Renaissance frescoes of the Umbrian school.
Waiting to be discovered:
at about 3 kilometres, in the underlying hamlet of Monterchi, Piero della Francesca's "Madonna del Parto";
the mediaeval covered ways along the surrounding walls and the remains of the ancient fortress;
the clay quarries of Fighille where two tusks of "elephas meridionalis" were found; the Sanctuary of S. Maria di Petriolo.
Not to be missed:
the folk Grape fiesta which is held every year at Pistrino in the month of September. The Fighille Pottery Fair in October.
What to buy:
wines, charcuterie and truffles when in season.
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