Orte

Orte
—  Comune  —
Comune di Orte
Coat of arms
Orte Location of Orte in Italy
Coordinates: 42°27′37″N 12°23′11″E / 42.46028°N 12.38639°E / 42.46028; 12.38639Coordinates: 42°27′37″N 12°23′11″E / 42.46028°N 12.38639°E / 42.46028; 12.38639
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Viterbo (VT)
Frazioni	Orte Scalo
Government
- Mayor	Dino Primieri
Area
- Total	70.16 km2 (27.1 sq mi)
Elevation	132 m (433 ft)
Population (31 December 2006)
- Total	8,364
- Density	119.2/km2 (308.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Ortani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	01028
Dialing code	0761
Patron saint	St. Giles Abbot
Saint day	September 1
Website	Official website

Orte is a comune (municipality) in the province of Viterbo, in the Italian region Latium Lazio, located about 60 km north of Rome and about 24 km east of Viterbo. As of 31 December 2006, Orte had a population of 8,364.

The Romanesque bell tower of the church of San Silvestro, Orte.

Orte is situated in the Tiber valley on a high tuff cliff, encircled to North and East from a handle of the Tevere river. It is an important road and rail hub.

History

The Etruscans inhabited the area from the 6th century BC and called it *Hurta,^[1] as testified by the findings in a necropolis nearby, now preserved in the Vatican Museums. Orte was theatre of battles between Etruscans and Romans (310 and 283 BC), near the Vadimone lake, in both of which the Romans were victorious.

The Romans domination made it the municipality of Horta (also Hortanum).^[2] Under the rule of Augustus it received numerous public works. Subsequently, because of its strategic position, Orte was occupied by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines and the Lombards.

In the Middle Ages the city was never seat of a fief, becoming a free comune under a podestà.

Events

• Saint'Egidio Abate's Day and Ottava of Saint'Egidio: from 31 August to the second Sunday in September. A Medieval festival with shows, fairs, conventions, seminaries of study, art exhibitions of art and archery competitions (the "Palio", contented by the archers of the Seven Contrade).
• Religious procession of Dead Christ: every Friday before Easter. A torchlight procession representing early religions orders ("Confraternite").

Transport

Orte railway station, opened in 1865, forms part of the Florence–Rome railway and the Rome–Ancona railway. It is situated in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, in the locality of Orte Scalo, approximately two kilometres southeast of the town centre.

External links

• Orte.digitalmedia.it
• Ottovamedievale.it
• Hortae.it
• Comune.orte.vt.it

References

1. ^ Chiesa, Tarquinia: archeologia e prosopografia tra ellenismo e romanizzazione, 2006, p.267.
2. ^ John Murray, A dictionary of Greek and Roman geography, Volume 1, 1873, p.1091