Citerna

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"). 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. 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 includes the localities of Atena, Canciolo, Citerna, Fighille, Fontanelle, La Fornace, Mancino, Pistrino, Pistrino di Mezzo, Pistrino di Sopra, San Romano. In 2021, 1,446 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality. At the time, most of the population lived in Pistrino (1,609). The following localities had no recorded permanent residents: Convento Zoccolanti, Petriolo, Quartiere, Sant'Antonio.

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Citerna is a stopover point on The Way of St Francis. You can reach Assisi in 7 days and Civitas Vaticana - Città del Vaticano in 19 days.