History of Fossato Di Vico the Presents of Human Beings on the Territory of Fossato Di Vico Is Very Antique and It Presumably Goes Back to L Millennium B.C

History of Fossato di Vico The presents of human beings on the territory of Fossato di Vico is very antique and it presumably goes back to l millennium b.C.. It is in this area that the Umbrians, the Picenis and other populations around the mountain side of the Appennines, used to meet and exchange their products. Thereafter, in the century b.C. the Romans colonised the area and renamed it Helvillum. The construction of Via Flaminia (in 220 b.C. engineered by Gaio Flaminio) was the principal route of the entire region (and of the salt commerce), this meant that Hely/ilium was the main route and organised settlement for the antique station of the roman post. Via Flaminia, antique road going back to pre-roman time, is the result of a long planning work and was in antique times the main link from the capital to the Adriatic coast, where each stage coincide with the roman conquest of Umbria. After the fall of the Roman Empire, with the battle of Tagina (today's Quaid() Tadino) in 552 (a long Goto-Byzantine war), the village was probably destroyed and a new settlement was developed for the strategic importance of the area even if placed on a dominant position. This time with a Byzantine name Fossaton (fortification), while the "di Vico" was added later on to symbolize the Count Vico, a noble from Fossato. The Byzantines were probably the founders of the castle of Fossato, and what remains of it is now called "Roccaccio". in 996, Fossato became stronghold of Lupo 'Vico di Monaldo" Count of Nocera who, in X century, received it from Emperor Ottone Ill. In the XII century after the Vico, Fossato got passed on to the Counts of Marsciano, in 1208 to Perugia, to Gubbio in 1257 and finally back to Perugia. In 1386 Fossato became a Commune proclaiming the "Statuta" which guaranteed the autonomy, statues which they were able to maintain during the Papal State dominance. In 1540, Umbria and as a consequence even Fossato di Vico passed under Papal State until the constitution of the Italian Reign in 7860 (except for the Napoleonic period where Fossato became border land between the Italian and the French Reign this is the reason why Osteria del Gatto found the custom house). Today as in the past, Fossato di Vico is still the border land and route between two realities 'Umbria and Marche". Fossato di Vico, town located under the hillside of the Appennines chains in the southern area of the Regional Park of Monte Cucco, (protected natural area since 1995) sheltered as it is, it still preserves its antique town nucleus maintaining its characteristic medieval village: the walls, the towers, the roads. As you cover the steep road (on the way of Via Flaminia) which takes you to the town center of Fossato, one comes accross the small Church of San Benedetto (XIV century). Now days national monument, it is a gothic structure with fresco painting remains, of the eugubina school, internally a portrait of Urbano V by Matteo da Gualdo can be admired. As you reach the crenellated Tower which overlooks the main entrance door to the town and the Palazzo Comunale one can say to be in the actual medieval town of Fossato di Vico. There are many proofs from thepast that can be admired starting from the old Palazzo Comunale, the Torre dell'Orologio built by the Gricci brothers, the Cappella della Piaggiola, the Camaldolese Church of San Cristoforo (XIII century), the San Sebastian Church, the Monastero di Santa Maria del Fonte (X111 century), the Church of San Pietro dig into the rock, the Antiquarium Comunale, the museum centre of the peasantry civilization where over 2500 pieces are gathered together. Rughe These narrow streets which are partly covered by semi-circular stone vaulting are a remarkable example of the medieval castle architecture which were part of the defensive system of the castle. This system solved the defensive and viability problems along the internal perimeter of the defensive walls. Piaggiola The Church of Santa Maria delle Piagge, also known as "la Piaggiola", is a small building from the XIII century (antique site of Monte di Pieta). It is set up by a unique room covered by a barrel vault entirely covered by fresco painting. Some of these frescos, are attributed to be by Ottaviano Nelli, a known eugubino artist, who worked in Umbria during the XV century. His artwork can be seen in some of the churches in the region; in Assisi, Foligno, Perugia and in a particular way in the Chiesa di San Francesco in Gubbio but also in Urbino and Fano. Torre dell'Orologio It goes back to XVII century and it dominates the central piazza of the town. It's clock in perfect working condition, oeuvre by the Gricci brothers (a family from Fossato), until the sixties when it was replaced (for a better conservation). Together with the church bell, the clock was used to mark the passing of the day. The Tower built with semi-circulate vaults, positioned in the centre of the castle had also an important defensive role during medieval time. In fact from that height it was possible to see far away and coordinate the militia. Monastero di Santa Maria del Fonte It is an antique monastic building of the benedettine cloister nuns built during the XII century. Internally, an important vellum archives and antique documents are preciously kept including the bill of the foundation of the actual monastery and of the foundation of the Monastero di Santa Caterina. Antiquarium Comunale The Antiquarium Comunale was the municipal quarters from XIII century until the unity of Italy. Now days, on the top floor, it hosts a collection of documentation of sites and manufactured products found in this area. It is all set up in two rooms: the first introduces the history of the territory with the precious help of antique geographic maps and reproduction of sites (from XVI to XIX century) and a selection of objects from roman to modern times. The second room displays in a chronologic sequence antique and recent findings which witnesses the life in an area which centrality is due to the commercial exchanges, from prehistory to modern times. Sigillo The expanssion of Sigillo goes back to roman times, as the bridge on the Scirca stream evidences. Therefore Sigillo binds its history and its expansion through commerce, which took place on this important communication access, which connected Rome with the Adriatic. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it underwent many destructions and reconstructions until the XV century when it became part of the Papal State until the Unity of Italy. In the heart of the village one can visit, the church of Sant Agostino, where an Annunciation executed by Ippolito Borghesi in 1617 can be admired internally, in the cemetery othe church of ant'Anna some rescos from the Giotto period can be seen, then the antique oratory with votive frescos by Matteo da Gualdo. The Palazzo Comunale from the XII century with its neoclassical stile facade reconstructed in 1802. Since 1996, Sigillo is the headquarter and the entrance point of the natural regional park of Monte Cucco. It hosts exhibitions of historic-naturalistic findings and art collections tied to the territory. Monte Cucco Park Authentic naturalistic gem set on the north-east area of the province of Perugia (in the communes of: Sigillo; Scheggia and Pascelupo; Fossato di Vico; Costacciaro) on the borderline with the Marche with 10.480 hectares surface, protected area of Monte Cucco (1566 meters a.s.1). The entire highland complex is constituted by chalky stratification from marine sedimentary rock, it is rich of paleozoic era findings. The environmental and naturalistic heritage of Monte Cucco Park has a remarkable biodiversity not only thanks to its vegetation, as it has a widespread beech tree wood on the higher altitude but also with its fauna. In fact, as well as the normal animals that one may find in the entire area of the central Appennines, there is the presence of rare species such as the wolf the golden eagle and the eagle owl. In the higher parts of the water streams, river prawns and fario trout can be found. Moreover, the park offers, to its visitors, many sports among which: hiking, with about 120 kilometres trails (all of the park is covered by the Sentiero Italia); mounting bike; horseback riding; sports fishing; rafting; free flying and cross country ski. Costacciaro Costacciaro, located along the Via Flaminia, has kept its original medieval village structure, despite its development in the last decades. Costacciaro, unlike the neighbouring villages which are mostly from Roman origins, was built in 1250 by the citizens of Gubbio as a fortified centre for the defence of their Eastern territory. Of remarkable importance the rose window and the portal which embellish the facade of the church of San Francesco, which was built in XIV century and expanded in XVIII century. Internally, some frescos by Matteo da Gualdo can be admired. The Palazzo dell'Universita, the Rivellino and the antique oil mill are noteworthy. The city centre hosts, the "museo laboratorio del Parco del Monte Cucco", unique in its kind, where it shows what happens to the chalky masses of Monte Cucco and of the Umbrian- Marchigian Appenninies. Revealing the pathways that the rain water follow in the bowels of the earth of the mountains prior to come to light, nourishing the source and the layers of the plain. It is mostly conceived for children and youngsters, where the discovery and the acquisition of knowledge is taught through manual machines, instruments and three-dimensional models which are activated by the visitors.

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