Montefalco

Sister cities

• Sainte-Eulalie

History

Adone Palmieri states that Montefalco was formerly called Falisco Umbro, or Falliene, and that it was a Roman municipium. He adds that it was destroyed in Sulla's civil war and later rebuilt, being known as Curcurione or Coccorano until 1249; after that it took the name Montefalco. He places the earlier settlement about from the present town. By 1240 the community had acknowledged imperial authority. Institutional structures associated with communal government are documented from the early 13th century, when the office of podestà was already in place. In 1270 the people's palace was built.

Geography

Montefalco lies to the northwest of Spoleto, in an area of hills and plains on the left side of the and south of Bevagna. Montefalco stands on the summit of a hill, with the Topino and the Maroggia running at its foot. Its horizon was described in the 19th century as so attractive that the town was called "the balcony of Umbria". In the surrounding countryside, the land rises in gentle slopes up to the city walls and is particularly rich in olive groves and orchards. The municipality includes the localities of Argentella, Belvedere, Borghetto, Camiano Grande, Camiano Piccolo, Casale, Cerrete, Colle Arfuso, Colle San Clemente, Cortignano, Fabbri, Fratta, Il Piano, Lasignano, Mercatello, Montefalco, Montepennino, Pietrauta, Poggetto, Rignano, San Luca, Turri, Turrita, Valle Cupa, Vecciano, Vigliano. In 2021, 1,869 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality. At the time, most of the population lived in Montefalco proper (1,258). The following localities had no recorded permanent residents: Convento San Fortunato, Gallo, Madonna della Stella.