Montalto di Castro
Immersed amongst the fascinating territory of Alta Tuscia, close to the wonderful region of Tuscany, the town of Montalto di Castro present visitors with a centre of great importance and beauty, extraordinarily rich in stunning architectonic elements and ancient monuments that retell the history and remarkable past of this wonderful town.
Located on the splendid Tyrrhenian coast, the town faces the Fiora river and can boast a natural beauty and environment that is truly one of a kind.
The town, found in the province of Viterbo, is characteristic for the great fascination of its historic centre and can offer tourists numerous cultural and artistic splendors, as well as ancient churches, palazzi that have for centuries hosted important religious and political figures, and monuments which retell the events that have transpired in the amazing past of Montalto di Castro.
The town is also seen, for the great uniqueness of its environment and art, as a paradise for summer tourists, offering the wonders of the Mar Tirreno and the beauty of its landscapes, as well as a rich culture, tradition and history.
Not to miss:
La Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Assunta (The Parish of St. Maria Assunta): a completely renovated medieval structure built for Pope Pius VI in the second half of the 18th century. The building is richly decorated and embellished with some amazing architectonic elements, a single nave, precious 18th century frescoes, a striking reliquary and the relics of Saints Candido and Quirino.
Church of St. Sisto: built just outside the town of Montalto di Castro, it dates back to the 1200’s and whilst originally constructed for the Agostiniani order, it was used in the following centuries as an obituary, a hospital and today, as the location of the local museum.
Palazzo of the Comune: a fascinating building that was originally the convent of the Franciscan order, then in subsequent centuries the residence of the Farnese counts and today, the seat of the Municipality.
Guglielmi Castle: the oldest and most important building in the town, this castle dates back to the 1400’s and of the original structure, there remains, only the quadrangular tower.
Church of the Santa Croce: a splendid sacred building built in the Middle Ages in the Piazza Felice Guglielmi. As an extraordinary and fascinating example of neo-classic art, you can find inside its walls significant works of art and paintings, including “La Madonna della Vittoria” (The Madonna of the Victory).
Le Fontane delle Tre Cannelle e del Mascherone (The Fountains of the Three Cinnamons and the Grotesque Mask): a 16th century monument located just outside of Montalto di Castro and embellished with some interesting Latin inscriptions and the emblem of the commune of Montalto.
Archaeological Museum of Vulci: located in the Castello dell’Abbadia, (Castle of the Abbey) the museum is truly a testament to the ancient Roman and Etruscan roots of this section of Alta Tuscia, housing some extraordinary and fascinating objects, ruins and utensils that date back to the year 1000 and were found in the famous ancient city of Vulci.
History:
Like much of this wonderful territory, the history of the town of Montalto di Castro, is definitely interesting and fascinating. In fact, documents refer to the original settlement known as “Castrum Montis Alti” as far back as the 9th century, mentioning it in a Papal bull of the era.
Originally the town was the possession of the Apostolic Chamber before falling under the rule of various local noble families, including the Aldobradeschi of the Santa Fiora branch, the Orsini and the Prefetti di Vico (Prefects of Vico), during the Middle Ages.
Monatalto di Castro was then ruled by the Dukedom of Castro and Papal States, who managed to maintain control under 1870, when the town was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.