Village - Le Terre dei Borghi Verdi

municipality

Giove

Placed in a terracing at an altitude of 292 meters Giove dominates the left valley of Tevere with a view which goes from Orte to Orvieto with the cimini mountains in the background. The brown green rug of the countryside, the blond Tevere, the hills signed by vines and olive trees, are the traces of the Amerino territory, an oasis of peace and natural quiet. The Ducal Palace beside the village , the medieval style in any streets, any square and any church which it is cross in the village , is broken by the building development which , in the last forty years, has seen the village spread toward the direction of via Amerina.

where the name comes from

The history of Giove

We don’t know exactly where the name Giove come from:

some associate the topografy to the ancient Sanctuary of Olympia in Greece – headquarter of the famous Temple and the Statue of Zeus, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World – reinforcing the thesis with the narration of the reporter Zosimo who, talking about the downhill of Alarico in the V century AC , tells about the pilgrimage to the near 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘑𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴 from Narni to invoke the protection of Giove, where the God of the Christians had failed;
Some associate the name with the iugum , the game: the obligatory passage which seems to recall the place where the village is now.

where the name comes from

The history of Giove

We don’t know exactly where the name Giove come from:

some associate the topografy to the ancient Sanctuary of Olympia in Greece – headquarter of the famous Temple and the Statue of Zeus, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World – reinforcing the thesis with the narration of the reporter Zosimo who, talking about the downhill of Alarico in the V century AC , tells about the pilgrimage to the near 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘑𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴 from Narni to invoke the protection of Giove, where the God of the Christians had failed;
Some associate the name with the iugum , the game: the obligatory passage which seems to recall the place where the village is now.

an important place for the control of the Tevere

Giove and the Roman period

Is certain that the hills where Giove is now, became immediately an important place for the control of the Tevere, and for the passage of goods and people, and for the ancient via Amerina.

We don’t know if on the hill has ever existed a sanctuary dedicated to Giove, but archeological attestations of roman period, especially along the river where supposed to extend a fluvial port, doesn’t miss: walls, warehouses, brick, coins which gave placed even to the traditional story of San Valentino and on his martyrdom on the Tevere, where was afters built the Church of San Valentino ad Flumen of which today unfortunately there isn’t trace.

Interesting, in the Palombara area, a monumental Colombario, a particular tipologie of structure of roman sepolture dated between the I century BC and the I century AC.

Giove between Middle-age and Renaissance

Even if some people refer to a document of 1191 – about the exchange of some activities between Offreduccio di Buonconte of Alviano and Berardo di Pietro lord of the “Castle of Juvo”, probably refer to the Castle of Giove placed in Sellano, near Norcia – the first certain attestation which talks about the Castle of Giove is dated January 2, 1223.

Was in this date that Giove , a dispute between Amelia, Todi and Orvieto, passed to this last one with a sottimission act.

After the passage of Federico II and the victory of the Papacy, Giove, in 1248 passed to the people of Alviano, for be purchase after by the Caetani in 1301 and, in the period of the “Cattività di Avignone” start the war on the castles in the territory between the roman families of Ceatani, de Colonna , degli Orsini and of degli Alviano.

In a few years, there are then different characters like the same Federico from Montefeltro and between the end of 1400 and the beginning the 1500: Ferrante Farnese, Cesare Borgia and then the Farnese.

Until, in July 14, 1597, Giove passed definitely to Ciriaco and Asdrubale Mattei, becoming then a duchy.

points of interest

What see in Giove

The old town of Giove, maintains the classical medieval structure of which some part of the walls and some towers are preserved.

A walk in Giove: between the Palace and the old village

The Walk in the village of Giove starts outside the walls where is the imposing mass of Church of Santa Maria Assunta which almost seems to counterbalance the majestic Palazzo Ducale, today in restore, where is placed the Old Village where you can enter, from the part of the Belvedere of Giove, through a Porta in which stands the Christogram of San Bernardino.

Old Giove is said with its century history made of narrow streets, portals in stone, former churches and houses leaning against each other . Following the palace’s walls , in largo Michelangelo Buonarroti, affixed to what was the old building of the town hall, you can observe the characteristic and curious Tavola delle Misure.

Place of suggestion and tradition is the former Church of San Giovanni Vecchio in the past the most important religious structure of Giove placed on the panoramic Cento Tramonti square.

San Giovanni Vecchio, Edicola di San Giovanni Battista, Antico Mulino Oleario of Giove.

points of interest

What see in Giove

The old town of Giove, maintains the classical medieval structure of which some part of the walls and some towers are preserved.

A walk in Giove: between the Palace and the old village

Place of suggestion and tradition is the former Church of San Giovanni Vecchio in the past the most important religious structure of Giove placed on the panoramic Cento Tramonti square.

San Giovanni Vecchio, Edicola di San Giovanni Battista, Antico Mulino Oleario of Giove.

outside of the old village

What see outside of the walls of Giove

Outside of the old village, there are different points of interest of this beautiful village of the southern Umbria: the Chiesa della Madonna del Perugino, the Cappella di San Rocco today dedicated to the fallen with inside the frescos from the XVI century and the suggestive Convento Santa Maria del Bambin Gesù.

The Cammino of San Valentino

Inaugurated in 2019, the Cammino di San Valentino start from the hill and goes down toward the homonymous Porto with the possibility to visit the medieval Torricella and the roman Colombario.

outside of the old village

What see outside of the walls of Giove

The Cammino of San Valentino

experience the village

Events and traditions in Giove

Explore the events and traditions of the village.

Where to stay

Discover the accommodation facilities of the municipality.