Historical background

The origins of the settlement are a lost in the mists of time and are connected with a legend which says that the village was built on the remains of the ancient city of Batia or Vazia or Varia.

The first definite evidence for the village indicates however that it was part of the last wave of fortifications undertaken during the medieval period. Scattered settlements in the area began to group together around the late medieval churches of S.Elena and S.Nicola in Lumbriculo, cited in a document of 1153 when certain privileges were passed by Pope Anastasio IV to the Bishop of Rieti, Dodon. The De Romania family were lords of the castle which passed, in the second half of the fifteenth century, to the Cesarini family, who ruled until the seventeenth century when the castle passed to the Mattei. In 1739 the Lante della Rovere succeeded to the Mattei, and sold it to the Muti Bussi; in 1777 it passed to the Menafoglio family and then to the Roman patrician Amanzio Lepri. It's history after 1785 is somewhat intricate, it was assigned to the Braschi Onesti but later returned to the Lepri.

Things to see

The picturesque main village has grown up along a mountainous ridge which dominates, in a series of beautiful views, the valley of Turano and the Salaria road to Rome. The hamlets are scattered lower down the mountainside, forming part of a lovely landscape. In the higher part of the main village is the bell tower of the Parish Church dedicated to S.Salvatore. Not far from the village is the Church of S.Elena, built during the eighth century, whose simple design reflects a period of strong religious faith. Also close by is the Monastery of S. Nicola, built during the late medieval period on the foundations of a church of the same name, by the Frati Minori. At the edges of the district of Belmonte you can find it the remains of a Roman bridge, Ponte Romano, a large structure in polygonal work, built to cross a valley.

Feast days, festivals and other events in Belmonte

In July, Feast of S.Antonio.
15th August, Feast of the Assunta in the hamlet of Terze Ville.
August 15/16/17/18 at Belmonte, Turchetto Festival, or Sagra del Turchetto, a diamond shaped hazelnut cake, typical of the village.
The second Sunday of September, Feast of S.Croce, patron saint of the village, a very popular local festival, enlivened by music and fireworks.