Discover Monte Santa Maria Tiberina

Monte Santa Maria Tiberina sits on a scenic hill above a fertile plain crossed by the Aggia stream. Two distinct themes can help you plan your trip: the history of its buildings and the town, and trails connecting the town with the Umbrian and Tuscan landscape.

Hilltop Setting and Routes

Route 14 leads to Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, the highest point on this route. From the hill, you can see across the Umbrian and Tuscan valleys. This makes the route a distinct vantage point for the landscape around the town.

The “Feudi, Castelli e Ville. Sentieri Storici” project includes Monte Santa Maria Tiberina and offers historic routes that you can travel by car, bicycle, or on foot. General information boards are located in the towns; along the routes, hiking signs mark the way. Thus, both finding your way around town and following the signs along the trails are part of this route project.

Another connection is the Sentiero 153 SL: it links Monte Santa Maria Tiberina with Monterchi in Tuscany and is part of the multi-day Sentiero dei Laghi between Lake Trasimeno and Lake Montedoglio. Near the Sentiero 153 SL, a short detour leads to Arcalena, a small settlement with an old church. Check trail conditions and signage on site before planning this route.

Palazzo, Church, and Local History

The Marchesato of the Bourbon del Monte family was an imperial fief from 1250 to 1815. Palazzo Bourbon del Monte, also known as Castello or Palazzo Marchionale, was built between 1564 and 1614 on the structures of an earlier castle. The different names refer to this palazzo; Castello di Lippiano is a separate historic site.

Palazzo Bourbon del Monte is temporarily closed to the public for important restoration and improvement work. Check the municipality’s official announcements before planning a visit. The exhibition “Un feudo imperiale nel Centro Italia” is set up in three rooms on the ground floor. The archaeological section of Palazzo Museo Bourbon del Monte displays finds from the area dating from the Neolithic period to the 8th century AD.

Castello di Lippiano was a former residence of the Bourbon del Monte family. It is privately owned and is not normally open to visitors. From Piazza Umberto I, you can see the old circular bastion of the Castello. This viewpoint is therefore distinct from the interior rooms of the temporarily closed palazzo.

Monte Santa Maria Tiberina is home to the Church of Santa Maria and the Bourbon Chapel. The church was built in the early 11th century and has Romanesque origins. It contains a 16th-century octagonal sandstone baptismal font bearing the coat of arms of the Bourbon marquises of Monte Santa Maria. Marquis Gianbattista Bourbon del Monte had the Bourbon Chapel built in 1613. The town also has a religious tradition: during the Feast of the Ascension, the silver keys of the village are traditionally presented to the Virgin.

A fall tradition centers on the chestnut of Lippiano, a hamlet of Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. It is one of the gathered products celebrated at a forest festival in autumn.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

A scheduled bus service connects Monte Santa Maria Tiberina with Città di Castello. The service runs year-round, Monday through Saturday. If you plan to travel by bus, check the operator’s current timetable in advance.

From the north, reach the town via the E45, the Città di Castello exit, and then the “Montesca” provincial road toward Umbertide as far as the turnoff for Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. This gives you a named road route as well as the bus connection to Città di Castello to help plan your journey.

When planning your trip, it helps to consider the historic sites and routes as separate themes. The church and chapel offer insight into the history of the buildings; among the trails, the connection to Monterchi, the multi-day Sentiero dei Laghi, and the views along Route 14 are distinct options. This lets you choose your outings according to your interests without confusing the different routes.

Discover more destinations: Lippiano, Città Di Castello, Castelluccio, Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Corciano, Missiano Di Panicale, San Feliciano, Casalini Di Panicale.

Go to the main travel overview: Perugia.