The town was born in 1228 out of an escape: some people of Arrone left rather than live under Rainald of Urslingen, who ruled the Valnerina for Frederick II, and fortified themselves on this hill. On 7 September of that year they submitted to Spoleto, paying twenty-six lucchesi a year for each household.
The name they earned later: having held out against Spoleto's arms, they won exemption from tribute, and in 1290 the town became Montefranco, from those franchises. The statutes came in 1258; in 1522 Montefranco joined the other castles of the Valnerina in the revolt against Spoleto. The 1,289 residents live on a spur among olive groves, with the Nera below.
Orvieto
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Next up: Saint Peter and Saint Bernardino, patrons of a town along the Valnerina tramway, Thursday 29 April
Nearest airport: Perugia San Francesco, 59 km away
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📅 Every year, on 29 April (Saint Peter) and 20 May (Saint Bernardino)
Montefranco celebrates Saint Peter on 29 April and Saint Bernardino on 20 May, with the church dedicated to him; the town, crossed by the Valnerina road, was served between 1909 and 1960 by the Terni-Ferentillo tramway, crucial to the valley's industrialisation.
A white wine carved into Etruscan tufa history, toasted by Garibaldi's Thousand: Orvieto has held Denominazione di Origine Controllata status since 1971.
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The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
