Citerna

Citerna
Comune
Comune di Citerna
View of Citerna
Coat of arms
Citerna Location of Citerna in Italy Citerna Citerna (Umbria)
Coordinates: 43.498136°N 12.116458°E / 43.498136; 12.116458
Country	Italy
Region	Umbria
Province	Perugia
Frazioni	Fighille, Pistrino, Atena, Ca' de Conte, Canciolo, Fontanelle, La Fornace, Mancino, Petriolo, Pistrino di Mezzo, Pistrino di Sopra, Quartiere, San Romano, Sant'Antonio
Government
• Mayor	Giuliana Falaschi
Area
• Total	24.20 km2 (9.34 sq mi)
Elevation	480 m (1,570 ft)
Population  (1 January 2025)
• Total	3,400
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Demonym	Citernesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	06010
Dialing code	075
Patron saint	Archangel Michael
Saint day	May 8
Website	Official website

Citerna is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 50 km northwest of Perugia.

It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

History

According to local tradition, the present settlement was founded by populations fleeing their enemies. Having first settled near the river Sovara, they later chose a higher position, which they called Civitas Sobarie.

The castle of Citerna is recorded in the 11th–12th century, when it was held by the Marquises del Colle, later known as the Marquises of Monte Santa Maria, among whom were Guidone and Uguccione da Citerna, lords of numerous fiefs and castles in the territory of Perugia.

From 1215 it was repeatedly compelled to submit to Città di Castello and became involved in ongoing military struggles. In the early 13th century it was seized by the forces of Monteauto. Control later passed, in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, to the Tarlati di Pietramala of Arezzo.

During the early 15th century rule shifted to the Malatesta family of Rimini. By 1447 it was under Sigismondo Malatesta, former commander of the papal army. In the mid-15th century Sigismondo relinquished it, and the territory was incorporated into the Papal State. From 1464 it was subject to the Governor of Città di Castello through a commissioner.

The Vitelli family took control in 1482 after their exile from Città di Castello. In 1519 Pope Leo X granted the territory to the Vitelli as a marquisate, and their rule continued until 1584. A papal privilege of 1543 confirmed the judicial authority of the local commissioner. In the late 16th century the community statutes were revised and updated on the basis of a 1518 model; these statutes received formal approval from Pope Clement VIII on 6 February 1603.

The First War of Castro (1643–1644) caused severe damage to the population and territory.

In the late 18th century, under French rule, the community was established as an autonomous municipality within the Department of Trasimeno. Papal authority was restored in 1814, and jurisdiction returned to Città di Castello. In 1817 the community was recognized as a municipality attached to the governor's residence of Città di Castello. Judicial powers were transferred on 21 December 1827 to locally appointed magistrates, but the office of magistrate was suppressed on 5 July 1831 following uprisings.

In July 1849 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his wife Anita were received in Citerna. On the hill known as Colle delle Felcaie, Garibaldi remained for three days in 1849 after leaving Rome; a monument in the form of a spire was erected there by the inhabitants in 1883.

In September 1860 the territory was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

In 1895 Citerna had 2,589 inhabitants.

Geography

Citerna stands on an elevated hill at the confluence of the Cerfone and Sovara streams, which flow into the Tiber not far away. From the summit there is an extensive view over the Tiber valley, reaching as far as the mountains of La Verna and those of Gubbio and Assisi. At the top of the town are the remains of the ancient fortress.

To the north the hill descends steeply, opening into a natural amphitheatre. The town is enclosed by walls of irregular elliptical form and has two gates: Porta Romana to the east and Porta Fiorentina to the west.

The territory is crossed throughout its length by the winding river Sovara. The surrounding mountains shelter the interior of the municipality from severe atmospheric changes.

Città di Castello lies to the east at a distance of 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi), Sansepolcro to the north at 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi), San Giustino to the north-east at 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi), and Anghiari to the north-west at 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi). Monte Santa Maria lies to the south-east at 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi), and Lippiano to the south-east at 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi). Arezzo is 18 miles (29 km) away.

The municipality is divided into eleven hamlets, including San Michele Arcangelo, San Giacomo, Carsuga, Colle San Martino, Fighille, Pistrino, Petriolo, San Croce, San Fista, San Romano, and Santo Stefano di Pistrino.

Economy

In the mid-19th century the territory was described as very fertile, with highly developed agriculture. Agricultural produce exceeded local needs, and there was significant trade in livestock and cereals. The surrounding hills abounded in olives, fruit and grapes producing good wines.

The area also produced vegetables, notably large turnips grown after the grain and hemp harvests, which served both as food for the poor and as fodder for livestock.

The principal natural products were cereals, wine and tobacco. Livestock breeding prospered, as did the silk industry based on sericulture.

Religion and culture

The Church of the Crocifisso has an entrance of notable architectural sculpture bearing the date 1532. In the presbytery is a fresco depicting the Virgin with Jesus, Saint Francis and Saint Bernardino, attributed to the school of Perugino. The cloister dates to the 13th century. Among the works formerly noted there were a Crucifixion attributed to Spinello Aretino and an oil painting of the Crucifixion at the high altar described as a fine composition by Pomarancio.

The Church of San Francesco contains, in the left transept, a wooden crucifix surrounded by frescoes attributed to Raffaellino del Colle. Other works recorded include a Deposition by Alessandro Forzori of Arezzo, signed and dated 1508; a Deposition from the Cross by Pomarancio; and a glazed terracotta Madonna and Child by the Della Robbia workshop. In the Oratory of the Conception there is a glazed terracotta high relief of the Madonna and Child from the school of the Della Robbia.

In the surrounding area stands the church of the Minori Osservanti, which contains a Crucifixion by Pomarancio at the high altar, dated 1570 and bearing the name of the commissioner, Ciatius Petri Meozii. Above the refectory door is a Head of an Angel in the manner of Piero della Francesca.

Below the town, on a small hill in a pleasant position, is the villa known as Il Giardino, property of the noble family Carleschi-Torriani-Tavanti.

In the mid-19th century the municipality contained several religious communities, including the monastery of Santa Elisabetta. The sanctuary of La Verna, associated with Saint Francis of Assisi, was visible from the surrounding heights.

Notable people

It is recorded that the smallpox vaccine was first introduced in Italy at Citerna, before the discovery of Jenner's vaccination, through the work of a physician named Peverini.

External links

• Official website