Village - Le Terre dei Borghi Verdi

municipality

Otricoli

The town of Otricoli, has stood for more than two thousand years on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Tiber plain and the Archaeological Area of Ocriculum, which developed in the late Republican period.

Today’s territory, which with Calvi dell’Umbria is the most southerly in our region, includes the beautiful hamlet of Poggio di Otricoli and some defense structures along the Flaminia such as the Castello delle Formiche.

for over two thousand years

Otricoli, a strip of Umbria just a stone’s throw from Rome

It was precisely because of the presence of the Via Flaminia, traced over pre-existing older roads by the censor Gaius Flaminius Nepot in 220 B.C., and the presence of the Tiber and a river port-now called Porto dell’Olio-that Ocriculum first, and Otricoli later, had great fortune.

And it was in the early medieval period that the distinctive layout was built: the Borgo, with its characteristic arcades along the Via Flaminia that guarded inns, taverns and a post station; and the Castle protected by two gates, walls and towers.

It is precisely from Porta Major that one can enter the historic center rich in buildings ranging from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and churches such as the most important one, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which is located at the highest point of the hill perhaps at the site of the ancient acropolis and temple dedicated to the goddess Valentia, whose very ancient cult is attested by sources, and by the findings of epigraphs on site, as characteristic of Otricoli.

The opposite side overlooking the Tiber valley is dominated by the Porta San Severino and a splendid panorama that can be enjoyed all year round. The Palazzo Comunale houses one of the town’s two Antiquarium, a place where, through a number of artifacts, it is possible to reconstruct the entire history of Otricoli.

The charm of the history of one of Umbria’s oldest villages

It was probably the ancient Umbrians who built the first settlement identifying the Ocar (=the mountain) – as found in the Eugubine Tables – as the site of a settlement and an acropolis that can perhaps still be read in the structures of the basement of the Collegiate Church Santa Maria Assunta. Some sections of the walls, in the part that looks to San Vito are reputed to date back to the 4th century B.C. but it is: the necropolis, including that of Cerqua Cupa that speak of an even older human presence, such as the presence of architectural terracottas or ceramics also near the area of Ocriculum, which date the settlement to a time at least around the 7th century B.C.

Ocriculum in the Roman period

The first attestation of Ocriculum by classical authors comes with Titus Livy who – Ab Urbe Condita – IX, 41, 20 – tells how, after the Battle of Bevagna in 308 B.C. people of Otricoli were welcomed among the friends of Rome acquiring a fundamental role on the border with Umbria and Sabina and a junction point for trade along the Via Flaminia and across the Tiber through the Porto dell’Olio.

After the social war Ocriculum, by virtue of the lex Iulia was ascribed to the Arniensis tribe and became a municipality ruled by quattuorviri. The monuments that are preserved such as the Theater, Amphitheater, Baths, and Great Substitutions show a flourishing life based mainly on trade and agriculture. As in Narni they made it a suitable place for vacationing: we know that Milone, a friend of Cicero, and Pliny the Younger’s very rich mother-in-law Pompea Celerina owned a villa there.

It was in December 69 CE that Vespasian’s troops, led by Antony Prime, stopped at Ocriculum itself to celebrate the Saturnalia.

A.D. 168 is an important date in Otricoli tradition: this is the date, according to a vulgate related to this saint, Victor of Otricoli was martyred in Syria. Otricoli’s patron saint is celebrated on May 14, and the evening before is the evocative “Landing” at the Porto dell’Olio, which commemorates the return of the body to its native village. From the same tradition came the unmissable re-enactment event Ocriculum AD 168, which, every last weekend in May, returns the archaeological area to the time of Marcus Aurelius.

Otricoli had to be crossed by the armies of the Greeks and the Goths between 542 and 552: it is at this juncture that the tradition of the miraculous episode of the Ocriculum bishop Fulgenzio (co-patron along with St. Victor) who stopped Totila and saved the town from certain destruction fits in.

With the Lombard invasions it is believed that the town along the river was completely destroyed and preferred to the one on high ground that we will find in the first documents with the name castrum Utricoli only in the 8th century.

for over two thousand years

Otricoli, a strip of Umbria just a stone’s throw from Rome

The charm of the history of one of Umbria’s oldest villages

Ocriculum in the Roman period

It was in December 69 CE that Vespasian’s troops, led by Antony Prime, stopped at Ocriculum itself to celebrate the Saturnalia.

Otricoli’s history

Otricoli from the Middle Ages to the present

From the 8th century the castrum was part of the Roman Duchy as a castra specialia, in the 10th century a donation of private buildings to the Abbey of Farfa is recorded, between the 12th and 13th centuries the raids of the nearby town of Narni began, which destroyed the castle in 1215 but was forced by Pope Innocent III to rebuild the walls.

The diatribes with Narni continued in the following years, and so did the close relationship with the Papal States, which used the castle of Otricoli, as well as those of the neighboring towns of Stroncone and San Gemini as outposts to control the border territory.

In 1416 Otricoli, and other castles, were occupied by the forces of Braccio da Montone and later by those of other captains of fortune.

Between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century Cardinal Bernardino Carvajal became governor of Otricoli: it was in those years that he had the Collegiate Church renovated and, probably, donated the Prioral Palace.

With the beginning of the 18th century began the endless troop crossings through the territory, with the end began the archaeological excavations, by Pius VI, that today enrich the Pio Clementina Wing of the Vatican Museums.

With the Roman Republic of 1798 the territory of Otricoli was involved in the battle between the French and the Neapolitans.

On March 17, 1861, the proclamation of the new Kingdom of Italy took place and Otricoli became part, with the rest of Umbria, of the Italian state. Since 1927 the town has been part of the province of Terni.

points of interest

What to see in Otricoli and its territory

The characteristic village with the arcades, then the climb that leads to the historic center, the alleys and squares, breathtaking views then the buildings that tell the story of a place as ancient as it is fascinating, this is Otricoli that expands in its territory, where the Tiber acts as a border, to points of interest of absolute value.

The Archaeological Area of Ocriculum open year-round and free admission with the possibility of requesting guided tours, is one of the most important in central Italy.

The castle of Poggio di Otricoli and the paths that wind through it one of the most evocative experiences to be had.

A tour of the historic center of Otricoli

Leaving the car in one of the many parking lots in the lower village, the town welcomes tourists in the shadow of the arches that draw the arcades of the ancient Borgo once filled with inns and now with bars and restaurants.

The beginning of the tour through the historic center of Otricoli starts from the medieval tower and the climb (called “seliciata”) that leads to the Porta Maggiore monument that divides the village from the castle. Past the two entrances on the right is the ancient medieval bakery followed by the bulk of Palazzo Erculei (later Ruiz de Cardenas), on the left is the Palazzo del Comune complex with a small square and the municipal Antiquarium.

Once you turn onto Via Rosella, on the left, you can admire the entrance to one of Otricoli’s oldest structures: the Church of San Salvatore, which has frescoes inside dating from the 14th to 15th centuries.

The tour continues on Via Mazzini that skirts the main square (which we will return to later) and the Palazzo Floridi Basilj toward the very scenic square that overlooks the Ortera Gardens with a view from the open-air theater of the same name to the Tiber Valley.

Leaving Via Mazzini, following a characteristic alley, one enters a long portico integrated into the ancient medieval wall walkway where, from time to time, spaces with breathtaking views open up. Walking at a leisurely pace, we reach Porta San Severino, exiting from which a new panorama comes before us.

From here you go up and, from a new charming little square (called Il Pergolato), you reach loc. La Valle where you can enjoy the walls and the view from them.

Piazza della Repubblica is the central square of Otricoli. The base is built on an ancient design (now restored) using Tiber cobblestones overlooked by the ancient Collegiate Church of SS. Maria Assunta and the palaces of noble families: Palazzo Papi, Palazzo Vituzj Sacripante, Palazzo Floridi Basilj.

From the square, it is nice to walk back down the middle street, now Via Vittorio Emanule, where you can cross on the right the Church of St. Joseph of Leonessa and, above all, the monumental entrance – made with fill materials from Ocriculum – to the Squarti Perla Palace.

Finally, the tour of the historic center leads back to the arches to refresh and think about the next unmissable stop at Ocriculum.

The Archaeological Area of Ocriculum

Ocriculum is one of the most important and extensive archaeological areas in Italy. It can be freely accessed by leaving your car at the parking lot located along the Via Flaminia.

Although much would need to be excavated-the ancient floor in some places exceeds 5 meters in depth-from the areas where excavation has taken place and the public buildings that emerge imposingly, one understands the grandeur and beauty that this town hall must have had.

Beyond the entrance we come to a view of some of the funerary monuments that must have once adorned the ancient Via Flaminia. Our visit to the area begins at the Baths, which welcome us with their buildings, the largest of which – octagonal – held the large polychrome mosaic now in the Round Hall of the Vatican Museums. Continuing to a large pylon (which stands there to show us where the entrance to the city was) we can see the remains of the paving of the Flaminian Way on which stand two mausoleums and, just beyond, the remains of a nymphaeum.

Behind the Baths rise the Great Substitutions, perhaps the most characteristic monument of the place, to which the remains of the Roman Theater lean to the side. Further downstream the Oil Port-which in ancient times was located elsewhere-dominated by the fine figure of the Church of St. Victor.

The tour of the archaeological area concludes, on the way back, with a visit to the remains of the Roman Amphitheater, which must have held a fair number of spectators and hosted munera, games with gladiators and animals.

The territory of the municipality and Poggio di Otricoli

The territory of the Municipality of Otricoli is divided into two large areas: that around the built-up area, where it is interesting to visit the Castello delle Formiche also known as Castellaccio; and that around Poggio di Otricoli, a castle on the borders of Calvi dell’Umbria and Narni.

points of interest

What to see in Otricoli and its territory

The Archaeological Area of Ocriculum open year-round and free admission with the possibility of requesting guided tours, is one of the most important in central Italy.

The castle of Poggio di Otricoli and the paths that wind through it one of the most evocative experiences to be had.

A tour of the historic center of Otricoli

From here you go up and, from a new charming little square (called Il Pergolato), you reach loc. La Valle where you can enjoy the walls and the view from them.

Finally, the tour of the historic center leads back to the arches to refresh and think about the next unmissable stop at Ocriculum.

The Archaeological Area of Ocriculum

Ocriculum is one of the most important and extensive archaeological areas in Italy. It can be freely accessed by leaving your car at the parking lot located along the Via Flaminia.

The territory of the municipality and Poggio di Otricoli

territory

Routes and Walks

Spiritual, naturalistic, sporting: several walks and bicycle rides can be enjoyed in the Otricoli area:

Trail 645 Poggio – Aravecchia – Intersection 646 a trail of about 5 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to Aravecchia with an ascent of about 350 mt.
Trail 646 Poggio – Cross of St. Valentine a trail of about 4.2 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to the Cross of St. Valentine in the municipality of Narni with ascension of about 250 mt.
Trail 647 Poggio – Intersection 656 a trail of about 3.2 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to the intersection with trail 656 with ascent of about 150 m.
Trail 648 Ocriculum – Poggio is a splendid trail that starts from the Archaeological Area of Ocriculum, passes through Otricoli and then arrives at Poggio di Otricoli through a picturesque hilly country path. Hiking trail of 9.5 km with ascent of 200 mt.
Trail 649 Ocriculum – Guadamello is a beautiful trail that starts from the Archaeological Area of Ocriculum walks the plains along the Tiber Valley and then ascends toward San Vito and finally reaches the village of Guadamello. Hiking trail of 8 km with ascent of 360 mt.

In addition to the CAI trails, we point out the Otricoli-Ocriculum Tourist Ring that goes from the historic center of Otricoli to the 6-km Archaeological Area of Ocriculum that starts from a visit to the historic center to reach Ocriculum and its places of interest and then returns.

territory

Routes and Walks

Spiritual, naturalistic, sporting: several walks and bicycle rides can be enjoyed in the Otricoli area:

Trail 645 Poggio – Aravecchia – Intersection 646 a trail of about 5 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to Aravecchia with an ascent of about 350 mt.
Trail 646 Poggio – Cross of St. Valentine a trail of about 4.2 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to the Cross of St. Valentine in the municipality of Narni with ascension of about 250 mt.
Trail 647 Poggio – Intersection 656 a trail of about 3.2 km hiking difficulty, which from Poggio di Otricoli climbs to the intersection with trail 656 with ascent of about 150 m.
Trail 648 Ocriculum – Poggio is a splendid trail that starts from the Archaeological Area of Ocriculum, passes through Otricoli and then arrives at Poggio di Otricoli through a picturesque hilly country path. Hiking trail of 9.5 km with ascent of 200 mt.
Trail 649 Ocriculum – Guadamello is a beautiful trail that starts from the Archaeological Area of Ocriculum walks the plains along the Tiber Valley and then ascends toward San Vito and finally reaches the village of Guadamello. Hiking trail of 8 km with ascent of 360 mt.

experience the village

Events and traditions in Otricoli

There are several interesting events throughout the year and especially between spring and summer that enliven the Otricoli area.

The most heartfelt spiritual feast is that of St. Victor, which is celebrated from the evening of May 13, with the evocative “Landing” at Porto dell’Olio, and throughout the following week; the most important event is the re-enactment event that takes place on the last weekend of May in the archaeological area Ocriculum AD 168.

Characteristic is Vinotricolando, which hosts local and national wineries among the streets of the historic center.

Beautiful, in mid-July, are the Medieval Days that transform the castle of Poggio di Otricoli into a magic of medieval costumes and performances.

Where to stay

Discover the accommodation facilities of the municipality.