Tessennano
Tessennano: a town among the Lazio hills
Hello friends, today I will talk about a small Italian municipality in the province of Viterbo in Lazio: Tessennano. With only 281 inhabitants, this town is located on the southern edges of the Volsini Mountains and boasts a predominantly hilly territory, where altitudes range between 387 and 121 meters above sea level.
Territory
The town is longitudinally crossed by the Cadutella ditch and the shorter Cappellaccio ditch, both tributaries of the Arrone stream. Despite its intense agricultural activity, Tessennano preserves some non-anthropized areas along the Cadutella ditch, around Poggio Teresino and along the Vallicelle.
Climate
Tessennano's climate belongs to zone D of the 1957 GR/G climatic classification.
History of Tessennano
The name of the town would derive from that of an Etruscan character, "Tesenna", with the addition of the suffix "-anus" indicating that he was the owner. In 1270, the town was under the authority of Tuscania and later granted to Nicola Orsini, despot of Epirus, but later Ranuccio Farnese the Elder, leader and main protagonist of the Farnese fortune, in 1422 obtained half of the countryside.
Subsequently, Tessennano became part of the Duchy of Castro, until 1649 when it became part of the administrative subdivisions of the modern-age Papal State. In 1788, Pope Pius VI granted the enfeoffment of agricultural lands to Marquis Giovan Battista Casali Patriarca and his descendants.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the flag of the town of Tessennano were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on June 24, 2003. The flag is a yellow cloth bordered in red.
What to visit in Tessennano
Religious architectures
Among the religious architectures we find the church of San Lorenzo, dating back to the 13th century, although the current building dates back to the 17th century, the church of San Felice of the 18th century and the Collegiate Church of Tessennano, appreciated for its imposing colonnade.
Civil architectures
The Baronial Palace, built by the Orsini family, is now the seat of the municipality.
Society
Demographic evolution
The population of Tessennano has always been small and, as of December 31, 2019, counted only 265 inhabitants.
Traditions and folklore
The "Procession of the Dead Christ", which takes place during the Easter holidays, is one of the main traditions of Tessennano.
Economy
Tessennano is part of a predominantly agricultural area and its economy is based on the cultivation of cereals, olives, and vineyards. In terms of companies, Tessennano in 2015 counted only 15 active businesses, with 19 employees.
In conclusion, Tessennano is a corner of tranquility among the Lazio hills, where one can enjoy the beauty of ancient buildings and the surrounding nature. A little gem to be discovered for those who love peace and quiet.
