Collemancio: Medieval Village and Roman Remains

Collemancio offers different reasons to visit: the well-preserved fortified medieval village, its hilltop setting among woods and olive groves, and the Roman remains of Urvinum Hortense. A hiking route starts at Castello di Collemancio and leads to the ruins of the Roman city shortly after the start. When choosing a hotel destination, it may therefore be important to consider whether you want to focus your stay primarily on the village’s appearance, archaeology, or hiking.

A fortified hilltop village

Collemancio is a well-preserved example of a fortified medieval village. It stands on a hilltop and is surrounded by woods and olive groves. The fortified layout and the surrounding landscape are two distinct aspects of the destination: its historic character comes from the medieval village, while the hills, woods, and olive groves provide the scenic setting. If you are looking for a place with a distinct character for your stay, you can weigh these two aspects when choosing, rather than deciding based on a single building alone.

Temple and archaeological site of Urvinum Hortense

A temple dating from the 2nd century BC once stood along the road axis of Urvinum Hortense. At the archaeological site, a rectangular temple podium is visible, measuring 23.80 × 17.80 metres. Its sides differ in length by six metres; mathematically, the rectangular area is about 424 square metres. This gives a clearer sense of the scale of the visible podium than the shape description alone. The temple’s history and the podium’s dimensions provide different points of reference for understanding the Roman remains.

Palazzetto and Antiquarium

Two dates mark distinct milestones: the Palazzetto del Podestà was built in the 14th century, while the Antiquarium Urvinum Hortense has been housed there since 2003. The Antiquarium contains materials from research in the area and from the ongoing excavations at Urvinum Hortense. The history of the Palazzetto building and the archaeological work at Urvinum Hortense therefore represent different periods. The Palazzetto also contains a fresco of the Madonna between Saints Sebastian and Roch. This specific religious subject adds another art-historical aspect to the building’s history.

Church of Santo Stefano and frescoes

The Church of Santo Stefano in Collemancio has a single-nave layout and well-preserved frescoes. “Single-nave” means that the nave consists of one aisle; the term describes the layout of the space. The frescoes draw attention to another aspect of the church: its wall paintings. While the Palazzetto features a specific Madonna motif with Saints Sebastian and Roch, Santo Stefano is characterised by its well-preserved frescoes and single-nave layout.

Hiking route and directions

The “Collemancio e la valle del torrente Sambro” hiking route starts at Castello di Collemancio and leads to the ruins of the Roman city of Urvinum Hortense shortly after the start. This makes the archaeological site an early point along the route. If you are planning the hike, check local conditions in advance. Collemancio-Pomonte can be reached via roads from Cannara, Bevagna, and Bettona. These three directions can help when planning your journey; check local road conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Ferriera, San Leo Bastia, Campi, Casamaggiore, Castiglione Del Lago, Cenerente, Spello, Fossato Di Vico.

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