Colfiorito
Encyclopedia
Colfiorito is a village in Umbria
, central Italy
, a frazione
of the comune
of Foligno
.
, which houses a total of c. 5,000 inhabitants (part of it is under the jurisdiction of Serravalle di Chienti
, Marche
).
and a Iron Age
village (9th century BC) have been found. In 178 BC
existed here the Roman city of Plestia, which had a forum, a temple and other edifices. In the 5th century AD it had a bishop of its own. The town was abandoned in the 10th century: the site is now marked by the church of Santa Maria in Plestia. The area was repopulated by the comune
of Foligno, who built here the castle (1269) from which originated the modern village.
Colfiorito was heavily damaged by the earthquake
which rocked Umbria and Marche on September 26, 1997.
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Foligno
Foligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
.
Geography
It is located on a plateau at 760 m over the sea level, on the road from Foligno to MacerataMacerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
, which houses a total of c. 5,000 inhabitants (part of it is under the jurisdiction of Serravalle di Chienti
Serravalle di Chienti
Serravalle di Chienti is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 80 km southwest of Ancona and about 50 km southwest of Macerata. It is crossed by the Chienti river...
, Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
).
History
In the plateau tombs from the 10th century BC10th century BC
The 10th century BC started the first day of 1000 BC and ended the last day of 901 BC.- Overview :This period followed the Bronze Age collapse in the Near East, and the century saw the Early Iron Age take hold there. The Greek Dark Ages which had come about in 1200 BC continued. The Neo-Assyrian...
and a Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
village (9th century BC) have been found. In 178 BC
178 BC
Year 178 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Vulso...
existed here the Roman city of Plestia, which had a forum, a temple and other edifices. In the 5th century AD it had a bishop of its own. The town was abandoned in the 10th century: the site is now marked by the church of Santa Maria in Plestia. The area was repopulated by the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Foligno, who built here the castle (1269) from which originated the modern village.
Colfiorito was heavily damaged by the earthquake
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake
The 1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake consisted of two earthquakes that occurred in the regions of Umbria and Marche, central Italy, in quick succession on the morning of September 26 1997....
which rocked Umbria and Marche on September 26, 1997.
Main sights
- Church of Santa Maria in Plestia (5th century - see description here).
- Castle of Colfiorito.
- Castelliere of Monte Orve.
- Archaeological Museum of the UmbriUmbriThe Umbri were an Italic people of ancient Italy. A region called Umbria still exists and is currently occupied by Italian speakers. It is somewhat smaller than the ancient Umbria....
Plestini