Colfiorito

Colfiorito
—  Frazione  —
Colfiorito Location of Colfiorito in Italy
Coordinates: 43°01′35″N 12°53′24″E / 43.02639°N 12.89°E / 43.02639; 12.89Coordinates: 43°01′35″N 12°53′24″E / 43.02639°N 12.89°E / 43.02639; 12.89
Country	Italy
Region	Umbria
Province	Perugia
Comune	Foligno
Elevation	760 m (2,493 ft)
Population (2001) approx.
- Total	5,000
Demonym
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code

Colfiorito is a village in Umbria, central Italy, a frazione of the comune of Foligno.

Geography

It is located on a plateau at 760 m over the sea level, on the road from Foligno to Macerata, which houses a total of c. 5,000 inhabitants (part of it is under the jurisdiction of Serravalle di Chienti, Marche).

History

In the plateau tombs from the 10th century BC and a Iron Age village (9th century BC) have been found. In 178 BC existed here the Roman city of Plestia, which had a forum, a temple and other edifices. In the 5th century AD it had a bishop of its own. The town was abandoned in the 10th century: the site is now marked by the church of Santa Maria in Plestia. The area was repopulated by the comune of Foligno, who built here the castle (1269) from which originated the modern village.

Colfiorito was heavily damaged by the earthquake which rocked Umbria and Marche on September 26, 1997.

Main sights

• Church of Santa Maria in Plestia (5th century - see description here).
• Castle of Colfiorito.
• Castelliere of Monte Orve.
• Archaeological Museum of the Umbri Plestini

Notes and references