Hispanopedia WikiPorano is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Terni in the Italian region of Umbria, located about 50 km southwest of Perugia and about 45 km northwest of Terni.
Etymology
The name Porano derives from the Latin poranum, in turn from porro, meaning "further ahead" or "outpost", in reference to its position.[3]
History
The area shows evidence of a significant Etruscan center, notably through the Golini and Hescana tombs. Porano is first recorded in the 12th century as a rural settlement, while by the mid-14th century it is attested as a fortified settlement.[3]
In the Middle Ages it was a fortified place of sufficient importance to be contested during the conflicts that affected the territory of Orvieto. In 1219 and again in 1313 it fell into the hands of the Ghibellines, and suffered damage during those struggles.[4] In 1316 Porano suffered considerable damage during conflicts involving the Ghibellines, as part of broader civil strife.[5]
During the 14th century it was held by the Avveduti family, important landowners in the area. In the early 15th century, following the passage of Ladislaus of Anjou, Porano remained under the jurisdiction of Orvieto together with Castel Rubello.[3]
During the Napoleonic period it was included in the Department of Trasimeno. After the Restoration it returned to the district of Orvieto within the Delegation of Viterbo.[3]
In 1860 the town was occupied by Captain Masi and the Cacciatori del Tevere.[3]
In 1895 Porano had a population of 1,112 inhabitants.[4]
Geography
Porano is situated on a plateau south of Orvieto at an elevation of 444 metres (1,457 ft) above sea level, at a distance of about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city.[4] The territory is predominantly volcanic in character.[5]
Mulberry, olive, pine and cypress trees grow successfully in the area. The territory is also noted for its chestnuts.[5]
Castel Rubello is part of the municipality.[5]
Porano borders the following municipalities: Lubriano, Orvieto.
Economy
In the 19th century agriculture formed the basis of the local economy. In addition to crop production and viticulture, lime burning employed a portion of the population.[5] The town was reportedly a seasonal retreat for wealthy families from elsewhere.[5]
Religion and culture
San Biagio
The church of San Biagio, mentioned as early as the 13th century, has undergone numerous alterations and today differs significantly from its original form. It preserves frescoes of the 14th century, including representations of Saint Blaise and the Annunciation, as well as a marble stoup dated 1608 by Rutilio Laurenzi.[6] On either side of the high altar are two frescoes depicting Saint Francis and Saint Sebastian, the latter dated 1465.[4]
The church also houses a relic associated with Fra' Paolo da Porano, consisting of the Franciscan emblem from his habit, transferred from the nearby convent of San Crispino where he was buried.[6] In the sacristy there is a parish cross, formerly covered with enamels, dating to the 15th century. One side depicts the Crucifix with the Virgin, Saint John, and Mary Magdalene; the other shows Saints Biagio and Paul together with two prophets.[4]
Villa Paolina and Park
Villa Paolina, also known as Villa del Corniolo, is a large complex set along the road from Porano toward Bagnoregio. It stands within a historic park of about 9 hectares (22 acres).[6]
The villa was built in 1706 at the initiative of the marquis Giovan Battista Gualtiero on the site of a pre-existing monastic structure, intended as a summer residence for prelates. From 1874 the complex underwent transformations under the Viti Mariani family and later passed to the Casini family. Since the 1980s it has belonged to the Province of Terni.[6]
The complex consists of a central building with two lateral wings, accessed by a terrace connected to the gardens by a double semicircular staircase. The interiors include decorated halls in 19th-century style and a gallery with grotesque decoration. Auxiliary structures include a lemon house, a farmhouse, and a semicircular exedra.[6]
Castel Rubello
El castillo de Rubello, situado en una colina de 430 metros (1410 pies) , data del siglo XIII y alcanzó su forma actual a principios del siglo XIV. Consta de dos complejos conectados: uno formado por edificios agrupados y una iglesia, defendido naturalmente por terreno rocoso y una gran torre cuadrada, y otro organizado alrededor de un edificio residencial con estructuras circundantes que forman un patio. [ 6 ]
El castillo fue disputado en el siglo XIV entre las familias Malcorini y Muffati, y en el siglo XV entre Ladislao de Anjou y el municipio de Orvieto. Desde mediados del siglo XVI perteneció a la familia Valenti, pasando posteriormente a la familia Avveduti. [ 6 ]
En 1701, Castel Rubello era un dominio feudal de los Avveduti. En 1803, pasó a manos de la baronesa Valenti. En 1816, pertenecía a los jesuitas , con el barón Luigi Salvatori como arrendatario. [ 7 ]
Arqueología
La tumba de la familia Hescanas es una cámara subterránea excavada en la toba de una pequeña colina boscosa, al pie de la cual fluye el arroyo Montacchione. La tumba perteneció a la aristocrática familia Hescanas, activa a finales del siglo IV a. C., y está decorada con pinturas murales que representan el banquete funerario, un tema común en la época. [ 6 ]
El hipogeo tiene planta cuadrada y está precedido por un corredor de unos 16 metros (52 pies) de largo, que desciende suavemente hacia la entrada, a la que se accede a través de una doble puerta. En el interior, un banco recorre las paredes, sosteniendo objetos funerarios, incluidos sarcófagos en peperino y urnas. Una inscripción con el nombre Vel Heschnas identifica a la familia. [ 6 ]
Las paredes estaban originalmente decoradas con un friso pintado , ahora en gran parte perdido. Entre las escenas que se conservan se encuentran la del difunto viajando en un carro hacia el más allá, figuras participando en rituales o interacciones sociales, y una escena de banquete. Una inscripción pintada incluía el término zil , que indica un magistrado comparable a un pretor . La tumba, aunque data de finales del siglo IV a. C., muestra evidencia de uso continuado en períodos posteriores. [ 6 ]
ciudades gemelas
Caudrot , Francia
Referencias
- ↑ «Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 de octubre de 2011» . Instituto Nacional Italiano de Estadística . Consultado el 16 de marzo de 2019 .
- ↑ "Población residente por edad, sexo y estado civil al 1 de enero de 2025" . Istat . Consultado el 15 de febrero de 2026 .
- 12345"Comune di Porano". Sistema Informativo Unificato per le Soprintendenze Archivistiche (in Italian). Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- 12345Strafforello, Gustavo (1895). La patria; geografia dell'Italia. Provincia di Perugia. Unione Tipografico-Editrice. p. 179.
- 123456Palmieri, Adone (1858). Topografia statistica dello Stato Pontificio. Vol. 4. Tipografia Forense. p. 151.
- 12345678910"Attrattori turistici". Open Data Umbria. Regione Umbria. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is under a CC BY 4.0 license. - ↑De Dominicis, Claudio. "Feudi e feudatari dello stato pontificio. Indici dei feudi, delle diocesi e dei feudatari"(PDF). Accademia Moroniana. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
External links
- Official website
Media related to Porano at Wikimedia Commons
- Cities and towns in Umbria
- Municipalities of the Province of Terni
- Hilltowns in Umbria
- Populated places first mentioned in the 12th century
- Umbria geography stubs