History of Civita Castellana

The clay of the area around Civita Castellana, and the art of pottery made the economic fortune of the city, from the earliest times (X century BC). Indeed, the archaeological excavations of the necropolis unearthed many  materials, documenting a strong presence of art pottery such as vases called pottery clay "mixture", the finest geometric vessels  and proto-Corinthian and Attic vases; in fact, in pre-Roman times, “Civita Castellana” was the capital of the “Falisci”, skilled craftsmen, who were specialized in art pottery. The first traces of this civilization come from excavations of the ancient “Falerii Veteres”, which had trade relations with the entire Mediterranean basin.

As regards the ancient toponymy and etymology, studies have shown that sites of the “Falisci” “[...] traditionally mentioned by ancient sources are 'Falerii' and 'Fescennium'. It is well established the identification of 'Falerii Veteres' with Civita Castellana […]” (See D. Cavallo, “Amerina”, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato ["Amerina, Government Printing Office and Mint], 2004: 65). "Falerii", thus, was the ancient name of “Civita Castellana”; according to Professor Semerano, the foundations of Greek and Latin name are the same: "[...] The Greek 'Fàlernon Oros, Faléroi,' and Latin ' Falerii ', derived from Accadic the term ‘Ba 'al-eri’ (meaning 'lord of the place', 'ruler of the place') [...]" (See G. Semerano, “Le Origini della Cultura Europea” ["The Origins of European Culture"], Olschki , 1984: 601).

As regards the present name, “Civita Castellana”, it is explained very well by A. Nibby, who notes that "[...] Around 'Civita Castellana', in the Register of Pope Gregory II, was named the Monastery of ‘San Silverio’, on Mount Soratte, to which a fund was given a lease by that pope, called 'Canciano',  ‘ex corpore Massaae Castellianae patrimonii Tusciae' [‘Canciano’, taken from the body of a mass of Castles, belonging to the Tuscia ']. At that time, therefore, the funds in this area, belonging to the Roman Church, formed a 'mass', called 'Castellana', or 'Castelliana' for the many castles in it. However, the Roman 'Falerii' went into a desert, and people gathered on the ruins of Old 'Falerii', because it was a place most inaccessible and, therefore, safer in those days of continuous raids of the barbarians; and, in this place, gradually, between the ninth and tenth centuries, a city formed, which was called “Civitas [" city] Castellana”, a name which still owns it. In fact, since years 997 AD, in the acts of the Saints Abbondio and Abbondanzio, it was appointed Crescenziano, who was Bishop 'Civitatis Castellanae' [of 'Civita Castellana'] (See A. Nibby, “Analisi Storico, topografica, Antiquaria dei dintorni di Roma” [“Historical, topographical, and antiquarian analysis of the  surroundings of Rome”], Rome, 1848, Vol. II: 15).

The most valuable ancient findings are now in the National Museum, collecting the remains in the Faliscan zone, The “Falisci”, according to sources, were a warlike people, proud of their political independence, and who collided hard with the Romans. To effectively oppose the Roman invasion, the “Falisci” tightened alliance with the Etruscans, but they were badly defeated for the first time in 394 BC and then annihilated in 241 BC. The inhabitants, forced by the Romans to live somewhere less resistant to sieges, built a new city to the north, protected by high walls with 50 towers and they named it “Falerii Novi” [“The ‘New’ Falerii”]. Soon the area was favoured by the construction of major roads, such as the " Via Amerina", which reached "Falerii Novi" and Umbria.

This had made it easier to trade, but also the barbarian invasions, which in the case of "Falerii", represented a great danger, because the city did not possess adequate walls. The continuing siege forced the inhabitants to return to "Falerii Veteres", where they fortified the old castle, making it impregnable. In the twelfth century the city was surrounded by high walls and deep ravines, so that it was chosen as a refuge by the popes, who were forced to flee Rome during the barbarian invasions. With the Renaissance, Pope Alexander VI (1431-1503)  was built, around the old castle, an imposing fortress by Antonio Sangallo the Elder (1453-1534) in 1494; the work was completed under the pontificate of Julius II, who continued with Antonio Sangallo the Young (1484-1546).