Monte Castello di Vibio is a ''

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) in the

Province of Perugia The Province of Perugia ( it, Provincia di Perugia) is the larger of the two provinces in the Umbria region of Italy, comprising two-thirds of both the area and population of the region. Its capital is the city of Perugia. The province covered al ...

in the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

region

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

, located about 30 km south 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 ...

. Monte Castello di Vibio borders the following municipalities:

Fratta Todina Fratta Todina is a ''comune'' in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 30 km south of Perugia. Fratta Todina borders the following municipalities: Collazzone, Marsciano, Monte Castello di Vibio, San Venanzo, To ...

San Venanzo San Venanzo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Terni in the Italian region Umbria, located about southwest of Perugia and about northwest of Terni. San Venanzo borders the following municipalities: Ficulle, Fratta Todina, Marsci ...

Todi Todi () is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) of the province of Perugia (region of Umbria) in central Italy. It is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction. I ...

. It is a medieval, 15th century walled village of central Italy and sits in the Umbrian Hillside above the

Tiber The Tiber ( ; it, Tevere ; la, Tiberis) is the third-longest river in Italy and the longest in Central Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where it is joined by the Riv ...

Valley. home to the Montecastelesi people. The surrounding landscape is quilted with vineyards, olive groves and sunflower fields, and stitched in with rows of cypresses and umbrella pines.

Name

"Monte Castello" or Mountain Castle refers to the medieval fort structure of that villages that was built in the Umbrian hillside, while "Vibio" was added to the name in 1863 by Royal Decree of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II to distinguish it from other municipalities after the Unification of Italy. "Vibio" likely comes from an ancient, noble family of Perugia, Colonia Vibia Augusta Perusia and Roman emperor Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus.

Places of Interest

Host to a mix of medieval and renaissance buildings, landmarks and monuments that have been preserved over the centuries. Visitors can enjoy scenic views throughout the village and access to hiking trails within the surrounding valley. Notable sites include:

Teatro Della Concordia

Built in 1809, Teatro della Concordia is the smallest theatre ''all'italiana'' in the world and was designed in the shape of a bell.

Church of Santa Illuminata

Also known as "The Crucifix" because of the 15th century wooden statue that resides in it. Constructed on a small, pre-existing church in 1839 by the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...

.The vault was frescoed by Luigi Agretti, who decorated the Teatro Della Concordia in 1892.

Church of the Madonna delle Carceri

Ancient stone church with fresco decorated interior, erected in 1505 under the name of Madonna delle Grazie.

Church of the Saints Filippo and Giacomo

Small neoclassical style church erected in 1808 by Mons. Francesco Gazzoli, as the site of the old sacristy Oratorio del Pio Suffragio. It contains three naves and a semicircular apse. The interior of the church is painted by artists Nicola Benvenuti and Mario Barveris.

Porta Tramontana and Torre di Porta Maggio

A medieval towers and the two main gates of the wall surrounding the village. Part of the Historical Museum, includes artifacts and heirlooms such as weapons, friezes, noble coats of arms, cadastral maps and other archeological finds from the Roman period. The restored interior and staircase allow access to panoramic views of the Mid-Tiber valley.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele

Scenic vantage point that gives panoramic views of southern Umbria, as well as the Lazio and Abruzzo mountains.

Hiking Trails

Situated above the Tiver Valley, Monte Castello di Vibio has access to the Sistema Territoriale di Interesse Naturalistico Ambientale (S.T.I.N.A.), which includes three protected natural areas in the mountain community of Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana, as well as the Middle Tiber Valley River Park.

International Center for the Arts

Monte Castello di Vibio is home to the International Center for the Arts. Founded in 1994, the institution hosts artists, researchers, musicians and academics during the summer and fall months each year. Programming includes retreats, workshops, sommelier courses, festivals, performances and other cultural programming to visitors. They have welcomed some of the most respected artists and thinkers in the world, including William Bailey, Andrew Forge, Ruth Miller,

Sandro Chia Sandro Chia (born 20 April 1946) is an Italian painter and sculptor. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he was, with Francesco Clemente, Enzo Cucchi, Nicola De Maria, and Mimmo Paladino, a principal member of the Italian Neo-Expressionist movemen ...

John Spike John Thomas Spike (born November 8, 1951, in New York City) is an American art historian, curator, and author, specializing in the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. He is also a contemporary art critic and past director of the Florence Bien ...

and

Wayne Thiebaud Morton Wayne Thiebaud ( ; November 15, 1920 – December 25, 2021) was an American painter known for his colorful works depicting commonplace objects—pies, lipsticks, paint cans, ice cream cones, pastries, and hot dogs—as well as for his la ...

Olive Oil

One of the most appreciated products of Monte Castello di Vibio is olive oil. In fact, this land is inserted in "Extra virgin olive oil DOP Umbria" and the head office is in Trevi. The most part of Montecastello’s hills, from century traditions, are cultivated with care and passion with olive tree. This tree produces a quality olive oil and is a pleasure feature of landscape.

References

External links

Official website International School of Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monte Castello Di Vibio Hilltowns in Umbria Cities and towns in Umbria