Pietralunga

Pietralunga is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 35 km (22 mi) north of Perugia. Prehistoric remains have been found in the area of present-day Pietralunga, including a human-bone flute, hillforts, and worked stone objects. Nearby, the Umbrians founded a settlement known as Tufi. During the Roman period it reached its peak as Forum Julii Concupiensium, located near Ca' Bartolla, and in the age of Augustus it was raised to the status of municipium. It is also mentioned by Pliny the Elder in the Natural History. This town was destroyed during the barbarian invasions of Late Antiquity. Between the 6th and 7th centuries a new settlement was established on the present hilltop site under the name Plebs Tuphiae. In the 8th century the church of Santa Maria was constructed, along with a pentagonal Lombard fortress. The name later changed to Pratalonga, derived from the surrounding pasturelands. Between the 11th and 14th centuries Pietralunga functioned as a self-governing municipality, with its own statutes and land registry. In 1336 the inhabitants of Pietralunga submitted to Città di Castello, which later established it as a barony for administrative purposes; this arrangement lasted until its abolition in 1817. Prior to this period, the town was ruled by various local lords and by the counts Della Branca. On 11 September 1334 Giovanni di Lorenzo de Picardie traveled through Pietralunga as part of the Ax Miracle of the Holy Face of Lucca. A Benedictine nunnery was established in Pietralunga in the 13th century and later transferred to Città di Castello in 1574. In 1348 the Ubaldini attempted unsuccessfully to seize the territory from Città di Castello. Pietralunga obtained exemption from certain duties in 1383, and in 1402 it elected its own captain. King Ladislaus of Naples also attempted to take possession of the town, as did the Bracceschi in the early 15th century. In 1439 reinforcements of 1,600 soldiers were sent to enable the town to resist Niccolò Piccinino. In 1482 the forces of the Church occupied Pietralunga, but they were expelled by Giovanni Vitelli, who restored it to Città di Castello. In 1860 Pietralunga was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. In 1895 Pietralunga had a population of 4,125 inhabitants. Pietralunga is situated on the slopes of the Apennines, near the course of the Busso, a tributary of the Cantiano. It is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Città di Castello, 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Umbertide, 17 kilometres (11 mi) east of Gubbio, and 24 kilometres (15 mi) north of Cagli. The climate is temperate, and the prevailing winds are described as rather dry. The surrounding territory is crossed by the Carpina river and the Carpinella stream. Pietralunga borders the following municipalities: Apecchio, Cagli, Città di Castello, Gubbio, Montone, Umbertide. The municipality includes the frazioni of Castel Guelfo, Colle Antico, Corniole, San Biagio, San Faustino.

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Pietralunga is a stopover point on The Way of St Francis. You can reach Assisi in 5 days and Civitas Vaticana - Città del Vaticano in 17 days.