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Montone
Montone is an absolute delight. Hidden from major roads and protected by massive walls, Montone is rich in tradition and culture, preserving medieval Italy within its walls. Hardly ever mentioned in guidebooks, it is not flooded by tourists and retains a really special ambiance.
A fortified village was documented at Montone in 1121, although the castle and town would have been built some time before then - the nearby Aries Fortress dates from the 9th Century, and this is believed to be the starting point of the Fortebracci family’s building of the town. The village became a Commune in 1150.
Probably the high point in history for Montone was in the 15th Century when Andrea Braccio Fortebracci, also known as Braccio da Montone, conceived of the idea to create a single state in central Italy centred on Perugia. Unfortunately he died in battle in 1424, after clashing with the Pope, and then Montone, along with most of central Italy, came under papal rule. The Vitelli family, of Citta di Castello, governed Montone for a hundred years and then the town returned to papal rule until unification, except for a period in the 18th Century when the town joined the Cisalpine Republic.
Now, a wander around the quiet, narrow streets takes you back to the Middle Ages. The gothic style Chiesa of S. Francesco dates back to the early 14th Century and the oldest church is the Romanesque Pieve of S. Gregorio, from the 12th Century. The main square is a delightful place to sit and soak up the atmosphere whilst sipping a cappuccino at the café, before exploring the streets and sites.
Perhaps you would like to plan your stay at Sole e Luna to take in one of Montone’s many festivals and events. In early May there is an ironwork market and then the season really gets started with the Montone Umbria Film Festival in July. The Donazione della Santa Spina, when the town is transformed back to medieval times, is in August and in October is the Festa del Bosco, a market celebrating food and crafts.
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