Montefiascone

Montefiascone
Comune
Comune di Montefiascone

Coat of arms
Montefiascone

Location of Montefiascone in Italy

Coordinates: 42°32′25″N 12°02′13″E / 42.54028°N 12.03694°E / 42.54028; 12.03694
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province / Metropolitan city Viterbo (VT)
Frazioni Le Coste, Le Grazie, Le Mosse, Zepponami
Government
  Mayor Luciano Cimarello (since May 2011)
Area
  Total 104 km2 (40 sq mi)
Elevation 590 m (1,940 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)[1]
  Total 13,712
  Density 130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Montefiasconesi or Falisci
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 01027
Dialing code 0761
Patron saint St. Margaret of Antioch
Saint day July 20
Website Official website
Grave of Bishop Fugger featured in Est! Est! Est! legend.

Montefiascone is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo, in Lazio, central Italy. It stands on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, about 100 km (60 mi) north of Rome.

History

The name of the city derives from that of the Falisci (Mons Faliscorum, "Mountain of the Falisci"). Later, it was controlled by the Etruscans. It was suggested that Montefiascone occupies the site of the Etruscan Temple called Fanum Voltumnae, at which the representatives of the twelve chief cities of Etruria met in the days of their independence. Under the Empire, the festival was held near Volsinii.

Cathedral of Montefiascone

The first documents mentioning Montefiascone are from 853 CE, when it belonged to the bishop of Tuscania. In 1058 and 1074 the Popes Stephen IX and Gregory VII, respectively, stopped here. In 1093 the fortress was besieged by Emperor Henry IV. The importance of the fortress was confirmed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's visit in 1185.

In the following two centuries, as a Papal possession, Montefiascone lived its period of highest splendour. The Castle was often residence of Popes, and was consequently enlarged and embellished. During Avignon Papacy, it was the main residence of the Papal legate Cardinal Albornoz. In 1463, however, it was already decaying, as in the words of by Pope Pius II. The decline increased after the plague of 1657 and the earthquake of 1697.

It became part of the new Kingdom of Italy in 1870. It was damaged by two Allied bombings in May 1944.

Main sights

References

  1. Population data from Istat
  2. Kennet, Wayland; Elizabeth Young (1990). Northern Lazio - an Unknown Italy. London: John Murray.

Sources

Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 


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