Art and culture
History
Alviano is a small, typically Umbrian medieval village, located on a hill in the Valle del Tevere not far from the Amerino hills, surrounded by gullies, which form extensive fan-shaped systems of great charm. The village, surrounded by defensive walls, still has its clear medieval urban imprint, characterized by a compact shape with a rather dense but regular road network, which has remained almost totally unchanged despite the reconstruction of various building complexes.
It owes its name to the Alviano family, of which it became a fief during the 10th century, and under whose rule it became an important economic and military centre. The first documented settlement of the current urban nucleus dates back to 996, when Count Offredo, who came to Italy in the wake of Emperor Otto III, built the Castle of Alviano. The family that took the name of the fiefdom, one of the most powerful in the area, descended from the Count. During the struggles between the Papacy and the Empire, the Church, aware of the strategic function of the castle, granted the territory of Alviano the quality of "Status".
This center of Amerino reached the peak of its notoriety and splendor at the time of Bartolomeo d'Alviano, whose name between the 15th and 16th centuries was famous throughout Europe both for his war exploits, as a captain of fortune, both for his relationships with the most powerful families of the time. It is to Bartolomeo that we owe the reconstruction and expansion of the ancient fortified castle, devastated by the raids of the Amerini and Chiaravalle in 1492. With the expansion works it will become a fortress and Renaissance noble residence, still showing today the characteristics of a defensive bulwark and residential building. In 1654 the fortress was purchased for 265 thousand scudi by Donna Olimpia Maidalchini-Pamphili, sister-in-law of Innocent, remained in the popular imagination due to the legends linked to its licentious customs.
The Castle, with a large courtyard and a chapel with 17th century frescoes, houses the museum which illustrates the history of the municipality, the Alvianese peasant civilization and dedicates a section to the Umbrian captains of fortune where Bartolomeo clearly stands out.
Alviano is one of the municipalities that are part of the Tiber River Park, which extends for approximately 50km reaching the Naturalistic Oasis, approximately 900 hectares, of great importance for the conservation of nature and the territory.
