Montecchio: Castle History, Museums and Forests

Montecchio combines a fortified village, Umbrian-Etruscan traces and dense forests into a destination that places cultural and natural interests side by side. The Montecchio area is covered by dense forests and relatively untouched wooded areas.

Castle History in the Historic Centre

The historic centre of Montecchio is a fortified rural village dating from the 11th century. At the heart of the medieval castle stands the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, just a few steps from Porta Nova. For centuries, the tower was the only entrance to the castle. The entrance consists of a full-centred stone arch beneath a three-storey tower; at the top there was a battlement walk with a projecting parapet. For visitors interested in culture, the appeal lies in the combination of the village layout, religious architecture and defensive architecture.

Necropolis and Archaeological Discoveries

The Umbrian-Etruscan necropolis of Vallone San Lorenzo lies between Montecchio and Baschi in the Parco Fluviale del Tevere. It can be reached by car or on foot and has a car park; the access path to the necropolises can only be covered on foot. This means that the site brings together a scenic setting and an archaeological theme, while the different access conditions should be clearly taken into account.

Two facilities in Tenaglie offer further archaeological insight. The Antiquarium Comunale di Tenaglie in Tenaglie, a small hamlet a few kilometres from Montecchio town centre, displays grave goods such as fibulae, rings, swords, pottery and bucchero ware. A 3D reconstruction of a tomb discovered during a recent excavation can also be seen there. The AMAT – Tenaglie Archaeological Museum houses grave goods from the Umbrian-Etruscan necropolis of the San Lorenzo Valley.

Short Walks and Wooded Landscapes

In Montecchio, Melezzole and Tenaglie, there is a short town walk through lanes, squares, towers and fountains. These walks place a different emphasis from viewing the castle and necropolis: they direct attention to the small-scale character of the settlements and make historical details accessible at various stages. Together with the wooded areas, this creates a choice between discovering the towns and observing the landscape.

The Castello di Corbara and Castello di Prodo castles are located in the area around Montecchio. The nearby surroundings of Montecchio also include the mountains Monte Croce di Serra, Monte Citernella, Monte Castellaro and Monte Bello. In the wider regional area around Montecchio are the Museum Dell'Opera del Duomo Orvieto and the "E. Greco" Museum - Orvieto. When choosing a holiday apartment in Montecchio, you can therefore weigh up whether your interest lies more in the fortified village, the archaeological themes, the short walks or the wooded landscape.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

More destination pages for planning your trip: Otricoli, Vigne, Benano, Coppe, Acqualoreto, Montegabbione, Rotecastello and San Carlo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Terni.