Historical notices
The Preroman necropolis of Fosso San Lorenzo testifies an ancient settlement. The Roman presence too is proved by findings of crockery, metal objects and tombs.
Around the 11th century the first nucleus of the castle was built on a territory be-longing to the Commune of Todi. It was built by some members of the Chiaravalle family exiled from their town. During the struggles between the Papacy and the Empire, in 1497, the ghibelline Altobello Chiaravalle was compelled to escape from Todi and the slaughtering happening there. He and his soldiers found shelter in Montecchio. As a consequence of that, the famous mercenary captain Bartolomeo d'AIviano, moved against Montecchio that, after a heroic resistance, had to surrender. Altobello too came to a bad end: wanted for three years, was captured in battle, killed, broken to pieces and thrown to the dogs.
Curiosities
The legends and the old popular belief often have a base of truth.
Providing you interpret them properly, Over the generations, by oral tradition, at Montecchio the belief was handed down that in a place called Fosso San Lorenzo there was a hen with seven gold chicks. Nothing more absurd! Mere popular credulity! Until some years ago, when archaeologists found in the same place the famous Umbrian-Etruscan Necropolis, containing vases and metal jewellery highly valued.
