UMBERTIDE
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La Rocca |
Umbertide
In ancient times it was certainly an important trade centre on the Tiber banks where the Umbrians and Etruscans bartered their wares. In Roman times it was known as Pitulum.
Medals, inscriptions, columns, a donary on Monte Acuto and a settlement near S. Maria di Sette confirm the existence of this village later to be destroyed by Totila's barbarians Tradition has it that it was rebuilt with the name of Fratta on its present site, towards the end of the VIIIth century by the sons of Uberto, Margrave of Tuscany.
Until the XIIth century it was self-governed, but in 1189 the Margrave Ugolino di Uguccione placed his territory under the protection of Perugia, to put an end to the continual pillaging. By 1362 it had its own statutes and in 1374 the chronicles speak of a fortified castle, restructured in 1385 by the architect Angelo di Cecco known as Trocascio. In 1394 Braccio Fortebraccio da Montone was imprisoned there.
In 1550 Julius III granted Fratta to Paolo di Niccolò Vitelli, but the concession was revoked the same year. In 1643 Fratta valiantly opposed and drove back the troops of the Grand Duke of Tuscany who had entered Umbria through the Piene Valley. It remained under papal sway until 1860, when it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
On January 25, 1863 the old name was changed to Umbertide in honour of Uberto's sons who first rebuilt the town.
To be seen:
the Rocca, built from 1374 to 1390 to a design by Angeluccio di Ceccolo, known as "Trucascio" and carried out by Alberto Giudalotti. The fortress consists of a massive square tower 40 metres high and three lower crenellated keeps. The walls are over two metres thick and formerly the gates were supplied with drawbridges. In the XIVth century Braccio Fortebraccio da Montone was immured here, while from 1818 to 1923 it was used as a district prison. Recently the Rocca has been completely regenerated and opened to visitors, who can now freely range from the dungeons to the top of the highest tower. The halls are used for polyfunctional cultural exhibitions and events.
Abbey of San Salvatore and Hermitage of Montecorona: the hermitage is surrounded by beech--woods and chestnut groves, and overlooks the Abbey founded by St. Romualdo in 1008. The crypt contains magnificent XIth century Romanesque capitals and a XIVth century fresco of the Annunciation.
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