Branching off Via Flaminia - Riano and Castelnuovo di Porto (original) (raw)
Introduction
XVIIIth century travellers had the choice of three roads to reach Rome: very few travelled along Via Aurelia: it was unhealthy and there were no interesting sites to see. Via Cassia was chosen by those who wanted to visit Siena, but brigands overran a stretch of the road near Acquapendente; the safest (but not the shortest) route between Florence and Rome was via Perugia, Assisi and Foligno. From this town travellers reached Rome along Via Flaminia.
(left) 1580 inscription at a staging post along Via Flaminia near Castelnuovo di Porto; (right) 1923 map of the area: Riano, Castelnuovo di Porto, Morlupo, Leprignano and Lucus Feroniae, an ancient Roman town with nearby Villa dei Volusii, are covered in this section; in addition the map shows Malborghetto(underlined in green), Monterotondo and Mentana (underlined in blue) which are covered in other sections
While we were alighting out of our Chaises to dine, at the Post House opposite to Castel nuovo, I observed the following Inscription, which is set into a Marble chased in the Wall, importing that the Inhabitants of this Place had, under Pope Gregory XIII, cleared and opened the Flaminian Road.
J. de Blainville - Travels trough Holland Germany Switzerland and Other Parts of Europe, but especially Italy - Translated by William Guthrie - 1743
This page deals with the small towns near the last stretch of Via Flaminia between Civita Castellana and the outskirts of Rome (Malborghetto).
An isolated tufa rock near Morlupo
Most XVIIIth century travellers found the last leg of Via Flaminia very boring and desolate. J. W. Goethe to the contrary was impressed by the landscape he saw: The streams tearing through this volcanic region have formed out of it hills and rocks, which, with their overhanging ledges, and other marked features of the landscape, furnish most glorious objects for the painter. (Italian Journey - October 28, 1786 - Translation by Charles Nisbet).
Inscription on a house of Castelnuovo di Porto
Grand Tour travellers were not the only users of Via Flaminia; during the Succession Wars (1701-1748) several armies followed this road to reach the Kingdom of Naples: in 1734, at the age of 18, [Don Carlos](Storia27.html#Clement XII), Duke of Parma, commander of a small army, led his troops along this route on their way to conquer that kingdom: he spent a night at Castelnuovo di Porto and the event was celebrated by a lengthy inscription.
In 1787 this stretch of Via Flaminia lost importance because [Pope Pius VI](Storia28.html#Pius VI)opened a new road between Civita Castellana and Monterosi(which is located along Via Cassia) and most travellers preferred to reach Rome by the new road.
Riano
Views of Castello Boncompagni Ludovisi
Riano is located on a small isolated tufa rock which has been fortified since the time of the ancient Romans. The medieval castle at its western end was turned into a palace by the Cesi, who acquired Riano in 1571. For many centuries Riano, similarly to Civitella S. Paolo and Leprignano, had belonged to Monastero di S. Paolo fuori le Mura.
Parish church (SS. Concezione): (left) bell tower; (right) detail of the 1738 ceiling: (left) coat of arms of a Cardinal Ruspoli (associated with the coat of arms of [Pope Clement XII](Storia27.html#Clement XII)); (right) coat of arms of the Boncompagni Ludovisi (added at a later period)
In 1710 the Cesi sold Riano to the Ruspoli who later on sold it to the Boncompagni Ludovisi: the owners of Riano are remembered by many coats of arms and by the names of the streets. You may wish to see a page with a list of the historical Roman families and their possessions.
(left) Main gate; (centre) coat of arms of the Ruspoli Cesi; (right) XVIIIth century fountain
In 1713 Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli placed his coat of arms on the only gate of Riano: it is associated with that of the Cesi (the previous owners): the two can be seen also in nearby Vignanello. In 1730 he built at the foot of the tufa rock a fountain which bears just his coat of arms: you can see it in the image used as background for this page.
Castelnuovo di Porto
View from Via Flaminia
The reference to Porto in the name of Castelnuovo is most likely due to the town being included in the diocese of Porto, which was held by a senior Cardinal. Castelnuovo was for many centuries a fiefdom of the Colonna, one of the few this powerful family had north of Rome.
(left) The castle; (upper right corner) coat of arms of [Pope Urban VIII](Storia24.html#Urban VIII); (lower right corner) inscription below a (lost) coat of arms of Pope Nicholas V
Towards the end of the XVIth century the Colonna had significant financial difficulties (more on this following this link) and Castelnuovo became a direct possession of Camera Apostolica, the body of the Papal State in charge of the fiscal system. This explains why in 1624 a coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII was placed on one of the side walls of the castle.
(left) Collegiata; (centre) its bell tower; (right) SS. Agostino e Antonio Abate
The Cardinals of Porto were keen on providing the inhabitants of Porto with well kept churches.
