Overview
Located on a tuff stone hill, Monterano overlooks the double valley formed by two rivers, the Mignone and the Bicione. Situated between the Tolfa mountains and the Sabatini mountains to the west of Lake Bracciano, this ancient town lies in the heart of a nature reserve, about 2 km from the comune of Canale Monterano.
Etruscan tombs, tiny caves and bubbling pools of water tell the anthropological and geological story of this land.
The story of Monterano begins in the Etruscan period, although little evidence remains from this era.
Under Roman rule from the 2nd century BC, Monterano flourished. During the Barbarian invasions, the town was extended and given new roads and solid walls.
Having become an episcopal seat, the village became the principal urban settlement in the Sabatina area, until the diocese was moved to Suri and Monterano fell into a slow and progressive decline, leaving it with very few inhabitants.
The town's rebirth came with the arrival of the Orsini family, who acquired the fief in the 16th century. It reached its pinnacle with the House of Altieri, a family whose most famous son was Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, who became
Pope Clement X in 1670, after which the village was enriched with remarkable works of art. The Church and Convent of San Bonaventura, the octagonal fountain and the façade of the Baronial Palace were built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Unfortunately, this new and vibrant artistic renaissance was short-lived.The death of Pope Clement X Altieri and the severe malaria epidemic that struck the area in 1770, dealt a harsh blow to the population and history of Monterano.
Having becoming part of theRoman Republic at the end of the 18th century, the long and turbulent history of Monterano came to an end when the village was torched and destroyed by the French army.
Among theruins testifying to the former glory of Monterano, there are monuments of significant architectural value such as the Baronial Palace, the Church and Convent of San Bonaventura, built to a design by Lorenzo Bernini, and an eclectic mix of buildings from different periods, immersed in a striking natural setting. These include Etruscan buildings, impressive Roman structures, medieval fortifications and the architectural splendour of the Renaissance period.
