Castel Rigone is a ''

frazione A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...

'' of the ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' (municipality) of

Passignano sul Trasimeno Passignano sul Trasimeno is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region of Umbria, located about 20 km northwest of Perugia. Passignano was home to a historic Italian airplane factory, the SAI Ambrosini, now ...

Umbria it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , ...

, central

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. As of 2001, it had 406 inhabitants, and is located 12 km from Passignano. According to tradition, the name derives from that of an

Ostrogoth The Ostrogoths ( la, Ostrogothi, Austrogothi) were a Roman-era Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Gothic kingdoms within the Roman Empire, based upon the large Gothic populations who ...

commander, Rigo, who in 543 had set here a base for the siege of

Perugia Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber, and of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part o ...

during the

Gothic Wars The Gothic Wars were a long series of conflicts between the Goths and the Roman Empire between the years 249 and 554. The main wars are detailed below. Gothic War (249–253) (Goths under Cniva against the Roman Empire) The War was probably in ...

. The village has a late 15th-century church (''Madonna del Miracoli''), built by a pupil of

Bramante Donato Bramante ( , , ; 1444 – 11 April 1514), born as Donato di Pascuccio d'Antonio and also known as Bramante Lazzari, was an Italian architect and painter. He introduced Renaissance architecture to Milan and the High Renaissance style ...

. It's the hometown of the Italian Fashion Designer

Brunello Cucinelli Brunello Cucinelli (; born 3 September 1953 in Castel Rigone) is an Italian luxury creative director and the chief executive of his eponymous made in Italy brand, Brunello Cucinelli. He donates 20% of his profits through the Brunello Cucinell ...

. CastelRigonePassignanoSulTrasimenoSantissimoSacramento2.jpg, Santissimo Sacramento CastelRigonePassignanoSulTrasimenoMadonnaDeiMiracoli2.jpg, Madonna dei Miracoli CastelRigonePassignanoSulTrasimenoSanBartolomeo4.jpg, San Bartolomeo

Economy and Events

Due to its excellent position on the high hills of

Trasimeno Lake Trasimeno ( , also ; it, Lago Trasimeno ; la, Trasumennus; ett, Tarśmina), also referred to as Trasimene ( ) or Thrasimene in English, is a lake in the province of Perugia, in the Umbria region of Italy on the border with Tuscany. Th ...

, the town is a tourist destination and has a strong development in

agritourism Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Types A 2018 article published in the ''Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development'' classified a ...

. The proximity of vast wooded areas also makes it ideal for trekking, horseback riding and bird watching enthusiasts. There is a small amusement park, currently in poor condition. The offer of services is completed by a minimarket, a pharmacy, a doctor's office, some ATMs, various bars and a mechanical workshop. Since the Middle Ages the village has been renowned for the treatment of respiratory diseases (Clinica La Castellana). The small hospital still exists (now the seat of an Archconfraternity built in the 15th century by the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John, Rhodes and Malta (Order of Malta) as an annex of their settlement and Castello di Magione (6 km) still owned of the order. Every year there is the

Festa dei Barbari Festa may refer to: *Feast day for a Christian saint, in Italian, Portuguese, Galician, and Maltese *Festa della Repubblica, the Italian National Day and Republic Day Music * ''Festa'' (album), by Ivete Sangalo, or the title song, 2001 * "Festa" ...

and the Giostra di Arrigo (since 1984), to commemorate the era of the

foundation. The historical processions in costume take place in the first week of August, coinciding with the Celtic festival of

Lughnasadh Lughnasadh or Lughnasa ( , ) is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Modern Irish it is called , in gd, Lùnastal, and in gv, ...

(in honor of the god Lugh, giver of abundance and wisdom). Also every year (since 1997) a very popular International Festival of Young Concert Players is held in July and August, with the participation of numerous national and international artists and high-level "ensembles", in the suggestive Piazza Sant'Agostino and in the Church of the Madonna of Miracles.

Notable People

(b.1953), Fashion Designer.

References

{{authority control Hilltowns in Umbria Frazioni of the Province of Perugia