Soriano nel Cimino

Likely of Etruscan origin as the ancient “Surrina vetus”, the first settlement of Soriano nel Cimino was handed over by the Benedictine monks to the Guastapane and Pandolfo families. Later, after being accused of heresy, ceded the town to the nephew of pope Nicholas III Orso Orsini who built the castle in 1277-1279.

From the XIII to the XV century, Soriano was ruled by a succession of noble families and Lords appointed by the various popes up until 1435, the year which saw the decapitation of Giacomo di Vico in the "Duomo".

Giacomo was the last in line of the di Vico Prefects, as a result of which the town returned to church rule. Pope Innocent VIII appointed the Spaniard Didaco Carvajal as keeper of the castle who became a popular figure among local people. It was during this period that an event occurred which is still commemorated today during the annual Chestnut Festival.

On the 7^th of November 1489, count Pietro Paolo Nardini, baron of the nearby town of Vignanello, together with members of his court, was the guest of Carvajal for the night. The guests, safe in the knowledge that they would not be discovered, killed Didaco di Carvajal and, from one of the castle towers, and lit a torch to signal their army to occupy Soriano.

Fortunately, the signal was seen and the population flocked together to repel the invaders. The captured traitors were thrown to their death from the top of the castle tower. On hearing of the loyalty of the Sorianese people, pope Innocent VIII proclaimed the "Bolla d'Oro" which granted the population fruit and provisions and authorised the addition of the word “Fidelitas” to the town’s coat-of-arms.

In the ten years that followed, Soriano fell under the rule of a number of different families: Della Rovere, Caraffa and Madruzzo up to the Altemps barons who were succeeded in 1715 by the Albani family.

After a series of successions, in 1848 the Albani family renounced their control and Soriano returned to direct rule by the Papal State. The Risorgimento period for Soriano was a troubled time and many Sorianese took part in the Battle of Bagnoregio in 1867. In 1870, Soriano and the nearby Viterbo were occupied by Italian troops on their way to Rome, and as such the town finally entered as being a part of the Italian State.

During the Second World War, no events of major importance took place in Soriano, whereas all those who died fighting the dictatorship are not forgotten.

With the fall of Fascism following the referendum of 1946, the town unanimously gave its consent for inclusion in the new Republic. The historic events and the numerous aristocratic families that ruled town have all left their indelible signs, above all in what could be described as the building that symbolises Soriano: The Rocca.

The Orsini Castle, an ancient stronghold enlarged in 1278, ringed by battlements and towered over by a massive keep that still dominates the surrounding landscape. Its powerful and severe architecture has not been altered to any great extent over the centuries apart from a few defensive and military type modifications.

The interior of the castle houses a precious altar in peperino stone from the ruined church of the “Santissima Trinità del Cimino”.

Other monuments include the once splendid Palazzo Chigi (formerly Albani) started in 1561 by Iacopo Barozzi “il Vignola” and then only partially completed in the XVIII century. The “palace” consists of two large buildings built against the rock of Monte Cimino with, in between, the beautiful Fontana Papacqua (water queen, Pope’s water or mother of water). The entire complex is of great artistic value and is a splendid example of sixteenth century mannerism and a perfect example of the efforts being made to preserve local culture and history.

The central group of the fountain is made up of figures of animals and satyrs, children and the god Pan. These are surmounted by a large figure of a woman with goat’s feet. At the end of a line of eleven gargoyles stands a figure of Moses who, surrounded by a number of Hebrews, makes water flow from a rock.

In the main square stands the eighteenth century neoclassic style “duomo” (Cathredral) , the Collegiate of San Nicola designed by Giulio Camporese. Instead of the usual peperino, other stone and bricks have been used for its construction. The elegant façade is flanked by two stocky bell-towers. Inside the church, which is in the form of a Greek cross, there is a small fifteenth century marble statue of Sant'Agostino and an interesting renaissance christening font.

The church of S. Agostino stands not far from the main square and forms part of the ex-convent of SS Trinità. Inside the church, a frescoed vault depicts the deification of the saint while an XIV century tablet of the Sienese school depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned. The church of Sant'Eutizio stands on the site of a previous place of worship and represents a fine example of eighteenth century restoration work, with its impressive medieval bell-tower. The interior houses a noteworthy tabernacle attributed to Andrea Bregno.

On the outskirts of the town stands the small XI century church of San Giorgio. The church, built in Romanesque style with peperino stone has a noteworthy semi-circular apse.

On the road to the nearby town of Vignanello, instead, there is an extensive archaeological zone with an Etruscan necropolis and the catacombs of Sant'Eutizio.

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