A land of dominations and conquests, castles and fortifications, the Rieti region retains strong evidence of medieval times, such as the charming ancient village of Monte Antuni on Lake Turano, or the medieval gates of Leonessa. The Mura experience aims to stimulate visitors to immerse themselves in the history of this land, retracing its exploits and battles.
Regarding the accessibility and usability of the places, it is advisable to consult the institutional sites. Especially in the municipalities of Accumoli and Amatrice, special attention is advised as some of the places indicated are still in the red zone to this day.
Accumoli
The Palace of the Potesta with the 12th century civic tower, a typical medieval public building, was the seat of the municipal offices of Accumoli until the 2016 earthquake. The complex will be subject to seismic improvement interventions, aimed at restoring the usability of the buildings, also in function of a new public destination.
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Accumoli’s town wall was the town’s most mighty medieval monument. It had four fortified gates with guard towers and made the center of Accumuli almost impregnable. As early as the 19th century it was in a dilapidated state; today, only a few remains after the devastating 2016 earthquake.
Amatrice
In the middle of Corso Umberto I in Amatrice stands the civic tower whose existence is documented as early as the thirteenth century. With a rectangular plan, the tower, a true symbol of Amatrice, is entirely made of sandstone and is about 25 meters high. It is currently supported by steel tie rods and wooden beams.
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Evidence of the medieval town of Amatrice were the ancient gateways and sections of the ancient walls. Almost entirely collapsed following the 2016 earthquake. Today, a design for their recovery is being initiated.
Ascrea
Starting from Ascrea, following a path immersed in the woods, you can reach the ancient village of Mirandella. Just Ascrea would have originated from this ancient settlement: with its strategic position from the top of Mount Filone, Mirandella offered a complete view of the Turano valley and the surrounding area. However, towards the end of the 14th century, the residential nucleus decided to move further down and found Ascrea, whose territory was acquired by the noble Mareri family, which still today gives its name to the main square. Today in Mirandella you can admire the ruins of some houses, and of a rectangular building, perhaps the ancient church.
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Antrodoco
Located on the plateau of the same name, about 10 km from Antrodoco, you can admire the remains of the ancient Piscignola Castle. The castle belonged to the noble De Nardis family from L’Aquila, and was one of those who participated in the foundation of the city of L’Aquila in 1254. The toponym derives from the Latin term bagna meaning “fish nursery”, and recalled the stone coat of arms of the castle characterized by some fish, unfortunately stolen in 1980. Starting from the 15th century, the castle began a phase of decline, and today it is in a state of abandonment, so much so that it is mostly used as a shelter from the herds of cows and horses that populate the plateau.
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Castel di Tora
Connected to Castel di Tora by a thin isthmus in the Turano lake is the ancient abandoned village of Monte Antuni. The village was born in the 11th century, when the Guidoneschis donated the possessions of the Castrum Antoni to the Farfa Abbey. The village was then in the hands of various families who dominated the area. Monte Antuni was heavily bombed in 1944 and definitively abandoned. Some restoration work began in 1999 and today we can recognize Palazzo Del Drago, the last owner family, the defensive walls of the village and many of the residential buildings.
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Cittaducale
Cittaducale with its elliptical plan preserves intact the typical urban conformation of the late Middle Ages, which followed the model of the ancient Roman castrum, built around two main streets perpendicular to each other, with the square in the center. Significant medieval testimonies are also the Angevin Tower with Porta Napoli, an example of a very well-preserved defensive tower guarding the main entrance to the city.
Contigliano
In Contigliano it is possible to observe the ancient nucleus of the town, surrounded by medieval walls. Particularly noteworthy are the two gates that open along the walls: the Porta dei Santi to the south-west, dating back to the 13th century, retaining the original wooden portal, and the Porta Codarda to the north-east. The names of the doors are significant, they served to distinguish the entrance door to the town “dei Santi”, and the escape door “Codarda”.
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Fiamignano
A short drive from Fiamignano leads to the Rocca di Poggio Poponesco fortress. These are the ruins of the ancient castle around which, following the Saracen invasions, the first settlement developed around the 9th century. The castle was part of the fief of Rainaldo di Sinibaldo, then belonged to the Mareri and Colonna families. Later the village was rebuilt further down, where Fiamignano still stands today. Legend has it that in the castle of Poggio Poponesco St. Chelidonia, an important protagonist in the spread of Christianity in the lands of Rieti, was born about 1077.
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Fiamignano
On the Rascino plateau about 20 km from Fiamignano stand the ruins of the ancient Rascino Castle. The castle from its commanding position, set about 1250 meters above sea level, offers a wide view of the plateau and surrounding mountains. The name Rascino derives perhaps from the Latin word “Raxis,” meaning in fact “back of the mountain.” The castle, whose foundation dates to 1083, was part of the L’Aquila area until the 15th century when it was ceded to Petrella di Cicoli. The castle underwent a long process of depopulation and is now in the state of ruins, the walls and some fortifications can be recognized.
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Leonessa
In Leonessa you can see the remains of the ancient city walls that defended the town in the Middle Ages. Two doors open along it, the Porta Spoletina built in the 14th century and facing Spoleto to the north, characteristic for its crenellated tower in pink stone; and the Porta Aquilana, built in the 13th century and facing L’Aquila, to the east.
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Leonessa
Starting from Leonessa and following a path on foot you reach Mount Tilia, about 1200 m high, dominated by the Angioina Tower: an ancient medieval observation tower. The polygonal-based fortification was commissioned by Charles of Anjou around 1278 and was built on the site of an older tower. The tower has now been restored but is still in a state of ruin. It probably must have been part of a wall that surrounded the castle of Ripa di Corno, now disappeared, to the west of the current nucleus of Leonessa. The tower has a polygonal base.
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Posta
Machilone Castle was located in the present territory of the municipality of Posta. It was built at the behest of King Charles of Anjou in the 10th century as a fortification to guard the strategic crossroads, between the Velino, Tronto and Aterno valleys. The castle was entrusted to the lords of Machilone, who made the fief very rich and powerful. Because of this, in 1294, the castle and all the villages belonging to the fief were besieged by the Aquilans and razed to the ground. There are few visible remains of the ancient castle, on the hill where today the Municipality of Posta has affixed a memorial plaque.
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Posta
The Porta della Gabella was the ‘most important entrance to the town of Posta, where duty was paid on goods brought in to be sold at the local market. One had to stop there, the point was a “stakeout”…hence the name Posta. The frescoes visible today were restored in 2019, and probably date back to 1577.
The lunette depicts the two patron saints of Posta: St. Rufina and St. Felix, the latter recognizable by the accompanying dragon.
On the arch are the sums of duties to be paid for each individual commodity transported. The Porta della Gabella is an important testimony to the life of trade at that time and the customs of local medieval society.
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Scandriglia
Halfway up the mountain that rises above Scandriglia is the former convent and church of San Nicola, at about 650 meters above sea level. Today abandoned, the complex was built at the behest of the minor Capuchin Franciscan order around 1530, on the pre-existing medieval church of San Nicola, dating back to the 13th century. The convent housed up to 22 monks, had a library and several workshops. By virtue of the suppression law of 19 June 1866, the convent became state property and was closed. The Church remained open and officiated for worship by the Capuchins until 1888. When the last custodian died in that year, the convent lost its religious purpose.
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Registered office: Via Manzoni 10, 02100 Rieti
c.o. V^comunità montana
Tax code: 01235650577
