Montorio Romano
Welcome to Montorio Romano
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Montorio Romano, a municipality in Lazio with approximately 2150 inhabitants. Located in the metropolitan city of Rome, this small town is full of history and stunning natural landscapes. Let's discover it together!
Physical geography
Territory
Montorio Romano is located at an altitude of 575 meters above sea level, around the Lucretili mountains. The highest peaks in the area are Mount Pelato at 900 meters and Mount Calvario at 800 meters.
Climate
The climate in Montorio Romano is generally warm and mild, with significant rainfall throughout the year, even in the driest month. According to the Köppen and Geiger climate classification, this municipality has been classified as Cfa, and the average temperature is 12.8 °C. The average annual rainfall reaches 848 mm.
Origins of the name
The name "Montorio" comes from the Latin Mons Aureus and has been used since the 9th century. It is believed that the name refers to the yellow-gold color of the Gianicolo tuff, typical in some areas of the municipality such as the Pantane, where the plowed land reveals this characteristic color. However, it is not very clear where the name actually comes from, and over time, the town was also called ''Montorio di Romagna'' or ''Montorio de Romania.'' In the eighteenth century, the official name of the municipality became Montorio Romano.
History
The history of Montorio Romano begins in the 9th century when "Mons Aureus" is mentioned as a property of Abbot Pertone and the Santa Maria in Farfa monastery. From the records of the 11th century, it can be seen that "Mons Aureus" was no longer a small and uncultivated village but a small fortified populated center, called castrum or podium, located in a strategic and inaccessible position to enemies.
According to local legends, Montorio Romano was built by exiles. This legend suggests that a group of exiled men chose to settle on a hill, Montorio Romano, where they began to build houses. Over the centuries, the municipality was contested by Farfa, Rome, and noble houses.
In the 14th century, Montorio Romano is mentioned in the list of the salt monopoly that it should have bought from Rome. The Roman nobles became aware of the existence of the municipality and secured control of the mill, now known as mola, considered a source of profit but also very dangerous, as it was often attacked by thieves and hungry people.
In 1480, Montorio Romano is referred to as "a country that yields little" compared to neighboring municipalities such as Palombara Sabina and Moricone. Among the nobles who ruled Montorio Romano were the Savelli, Orsini, and Barberini.
In 1869, the founder of the populist church Giurisdavidismo, David Lazzaretti, chose the old Romanesque hermitage of Sant'Angelo as a place of retreat for his eremitic life.
Conclusions
I hope that this brief overview of the history and geography of Montorio Romano has been useful and interesting for you. If you are in the area, I strongly recommend visiting this small municipality to learn more about its history and enjoy its wonderful natural landscapes. You won't regret it!
