Marsciano
Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about Marsciano, a beautiful Italian municipality located in the province of Perugia, in Umbria. Marsciano has a population of about 18,004 inhabitants and is the main center of the Nestore Valley and the Middle Tiber Valley. Furthermore, it is the 16th largest municipality in the regional territory and the 11th for the number of inhabitants.
Physical geography
Territory
The municipal territory of Marsciano extends over an area of 161.50 km² and the landscape is typical of Umbria, with gentle hills where many characteristic villages are located. Some of the most suggestive ones are Badiola, Compignano, Morcella, and Spina.
Hydrography
The municipality of Marsciano is crossed by the Nestore and Tiber rivers, which delimit the border with the municipality of Collazzone. The Nestore divides the municipal territory in two and collects the waters of the Caina, Genna, Fersinone, Calvana, Fossatone, and Rigo streams. Furthermore, the Fersinone and Calvana streams act as natural borders in several points with the municipality of San Venanzo and the province of Terni.
The Flood of 2012
On November 12, 2012, Marsciano was hit by a flood caused mainly by the Nestore river, which flooded the area of Viale Ponte Nestore making the access roads to the town impractical for about 16 hours and the remaining municipal territory. There were also many consequences on the surrounding territories, with serious damages to Mercatello, Compignano, and Morcella.
Climate
The climate of Marsciano is sub-littoral temperate with winters that are not excessively cold and high temperatures in summer. Rainfall is particularly abundant in autumn months.
Origin of the name
The name Marsciano derives from an ancient owner of the castle named Martianus or Marcius. The history of the medieval castle is linked to the Bulgarelli family, the first lords of the place and then called Di Marsciano.
History
Origins and Roman era
The territory of Marsciano has very ancient origins, as evidenced by the findings made in the area. During the Roman era, Marsciano was one of the main brick production centers in Umbria.
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, the history of Marsciano is intertwined with that of the Bulgarelli family, which dominated the territory until the end of the 14th century. In 1383, the castle of Marsciano was besieged and destroyed by Braccio Fortebraccio, lord of Perugia.
Renaissance
In the Renaissance, Marsciano became the summer residence of the Bishops of Perugia and the Governor of Campagna.
Contemporary era
During World War II, Marsciano suffered several damages and human losses, but managed to recover and become one of the main agricultural and industrial centers of Umbria.
Economy
Marsciano is one of the main agricultural and industrial centers of Umbria, with numerous medium-small companies. It is the largest municipality in the region for the production of coppo and brick, which is why it is called "Territorio del laterizio."
Culture
Monuments and places of interest
Marsciano boasts numerous monuments and places of interest, including the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Church of San Francesco, and the Teatro degli Illuminati.
Events
Marsciano hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year, including the Fiera di San Giovanni Battista, the Grape Festival, the San Rocco Festival, and the Bruschetta Festival.
In conclusion, Marsciano is a wonderful city to visit, rich in history, monuments, and natural beauty. I hope I made you appreciate this municipality and gave you the desire to visit it.
