Città di Castello

Sister cities

• Ramallah

History

In the 9th–8th century BC the area of Città di Castello was largely outside Etruscan influence. From the 7th century BC it was linked to the Adriatic regions through Apennine passes, while other trade routes connected it with coastal Etruria and extended as far as central Europe. Città di Castello corresponds to the ancient Umbrian city of Tifernum Tiberinum, distinguished in antiquity from Tifernum Metaurense. During the Diocletianic period it was included in the province of Tuscia et Umbria under direct Roman administration. Christianity spread during this phase. Eubodio is given as the first bishop of Tifernum. With the rise of the communal age, the citizens asserted their liberties, at times under imperial protection and at others under papal authority. The city was governed successively by consuls and podestàs and, as it grew in power, became divided by the conflicts between Guelph and Ghibelline factions, alternately rebelling against or submitting to the emperor or the Church depending on which faction prevailed. The city subsequently returned to stable papal control. In the late 18th century Città di Castello was the first Umbrian city to adopt Jacobin revolutionary statutes. Cisalpine troops entered the city, followed by the French, and it was annexed to the Napoleonic Empire, with a brief interlude under the Roman Republic. It was later occupied by Austro-Aretine troops, which restored papal power. On 11 September 1860 Città di Castello was freed from papal rule, and in 1860 it joined the Kingdom of Italy by plebiscite. In the 1890s, Città di Castello had a population of 24,491 inhabitants.

Geography

Città di Castello is situated between Umbria and the Tuscan border, at an elevation of 317 meters above sea level. The municipality includes the localities of Armanni, Badia Petroia, Badiali, Baucca, Belvedere, Bivio Canoscio, Bivio Lugnano, Bonsciano, Breccione, Campersalle-Canalicchia, Cavine di Sopra, Cerbara, Cinquemiglia, Cinquevie, Città di Castello, Col di Chio, Cornetto, Croce di Castiglione, Fabbri, Fabrecce, Falerno, Fraccano, Giove di Sopra, Grumale, Lerchi, Lugnano, Martignano, Marzocchi, Mezzavia, Molinello, Molino dei Lunghi, Morra, Muccignano, Nuvole, Olmitello, Palazzone, Passerina, Petrelle, Piandana, Picchetto, Piosina, Pistrino, Ponte d'Avorio, Promano, Ripole, Ronti, San Leo Bastia, San Maiano, San Pietro a Monte, San Secondo, Santa Lucia, Santo Stefano del Piano, Scarzola, Segapeli, Sterpeto, Tassinara, Terme di Fontecchio, Titta, Trestina, Trito, Uppiano, Userna, Vallurbana, Volterrano. In 2021, 5,253 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality. Until the abolition of feudalism, Città di Castello exercised baronial rights over the castle of Monte Ruperto. In 1274, the men of Monte Ruperto formally recognized the authority of Città di Castello and agreed to pay an annual census of five soldi per hearth. In 1278 Pope Nicholas III ordered that Monte Ruperto be restored to the Church as part of the possessions of , threatening excommunication for those who held it. Città di Castello opposed the claim, maintaining that Monte Ruperto had always belonged to its district; this claim prevailed.