Bastardo: Mining History and Roman Traces

For a trip to Bastardo, the town’s history offers a special focus: mining, remembrance and Roman traces are among the themes that can shape your stay. The evidence ranges from the Church of Santa Barbara and former transport routes to a Roman villa near Toccioli and a bridge in Cavallara. Each place and event tells a different chapter of the story.

Mining History and Remembrance

The Church of Santa Barbara is dedicated to the patron saint of miners and was built by miners in the 1930s. A memorial plaque made in 1937 recalls the history of mining. Another plaque lists miners who died in accidents or from work-related illnesses. Together, the church and plaques give the subject a personal dimension: they connect memories of working in the mines with remembrance of the people who lost their lives there.

Transport routes are also part of this chapter. A 17-kilometre cableway for transporting the mineral extracted from the mines of Bastardo was not built until after the Second World War and remained in operation until 1955. That same year, the mines of Bastardo were closed. A mining railway carried lignite from the Fontivecchie and Acquarossa mines along the Puglia valley to Bastardo. The cableway and mining railway represent different aspects of historical transport; the details also point to the mines and valleys connected with Bastardo.

The memory of mining is also reflected in the Feast of Saint Barbara for miners. A historical account from 2012 reports that the municipality of Giano dell'Umbria revived the festival to keep the memory of local mining history alive. This describes a revival at that time and does not necessarily mean that the celebration is accessible today.

Roman Traces and Ancient Routes

An ancient Roman villa is being excavated at Toccioli. It lies near the ancient course of the Flaminia Vetus, which climbs uphill from Bastardo towards Montecchio. Excavations at the Villa di Rufione uncovered 18 rooms, including two rooms in the bath complex. This number gives a concrete impression of the extent of the excavated building, while the bath rooms highlight a distinctive part of the findings.

In Cavallara, near Bastardo, stands the Roman bridge Ponte del Diavolo. It adds a structure from the Roman period to the area’s archaeological attractions. The villa near Toccioli and the bridge in Cavallara are different points of interest: one leads to an excavated residential building, the other to a surviving bridge.

In the wider regional area, the Via Flaminia Vetus was used in the Middle Ages by pilgrims and travellers as an alternative to the Via Flaminia Nova, which passed through Spoleto. The history of the route therefore extends beyond its ancient course. To put these historical themes in context, it helps to distinguish between the archaeological route near Toccioli and its medieval use in the wider area.

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Pro Loco di Bastardo organises cultural, recreational and social events. Its aim is to involve the community and promote local traditions. One annual event is the Fiera di San Francesco: it takes place on the first Sunday in October in the centre of Bastardo. If you’re planning your trip around the fair, check the information for the relevant dates in advance.

Several kinds of history come together in Bastardo: remembrance of the miners, archaeological evidence from Roman times, and traditions that play a part in community life. You can give each of these themes a different priority when planning your trip, rather than treating them as one sightseeing route.

Discover more destinations: Calzolaro, Castiglione Del Lago, Santo Stefano dei Piccioni, Fighille, Nocera Umbra, Cerbara, Tuoro Sul Trasimeno, San Feliciano.

For the wider travel overview: Perugia.