🏛️ Corchiano: The Ancient Fescennium, Cradle of History and Nature

Giano di Vico
Aug 22
3 min read

⏳ The Ancient Origins

Corchiano preserves millennia of history, with evidence of human presence dating back to the Paleolithic era.

🪨 Faliscan caves along the Rio Fratta (1916-1917) → cave shelters.

🪵 Neolithic (5000-6000 B.C.) → first agricultural settlements.

👥 Falisci (8th century B.C.) → necropolises spread throughout the territory.

🤝 Coexistence with the Etruscans, given the proximity of their lands.

🎭 The Myth of Fescennium

Corchiano is identified with the ancient Fescennium, a Faliscan city famous for the “Fescennine Verses”:

📖 Humorous and pungent compositions, recited during festivals.

🕺 Masks, dances, licentious satire → forerunners of Roman theater.

✍️ Cited by Livy and other Latin writers as the roots of Roman drama.

🛡️ The Roman Conquest and the Via Amerina

⚔️ 241 B.C. → Rome conquered the Faliscan territory and destroyed Fescennium.

🏛️ Foundation of Falerii Novi in the plains.

🛣️ Construction of the Via Amerina → strategic road connecting Rome to Umbria.

🌉 Still visible today: tagliate (rock-cut roads) and bridges at Tre Ponti and Cavo degli Zucchi.

🏰 The Middle Ages and the Rebirth

🐎 After the barbarian invasions → people returned to the cliffs around 1000 A.D.

📍 New name: Hortiano, possibly linked to the goddess Horta.

🏹 Led by captain Ranieri di Farolfo.

⚜️ The Farnese Era

1534 → included in the Duchy of Castro by Pope Paul III Farnese.
🏯 A new fortress was built (later destroyed, definitively demolished in 1979).
🌸 The Farnese coat of arms spread throughout the town → fountains, noble palaces, and portals.

⛪ Monuments and Artistic Heritage

The Historic Churches

✝️ San Biagio (16th c.): frescoes by Pancrazio Jacovetti, with attributions to Antonio da Viterbo the Elder.

🙏 Madonna del Soccorso (15th c.): imposing façade, Paradise Chapel frescoed by the Zuccari brothers.

🌹 Santa Maria del Rosario: different period portals, traces of ancient frescoes.

🌸 Madonna delle Grazie: baroque altar, fresco of the Madonna with Saints Biagio and Valentino.

The Natural Monuments

🌄 The Gorges of Corchiano → Natural Monument (2008), canyon carved by the Rio Fratta.

🌳 Pian Sant’Angelo → Natural Monument (2000).

🪨 Tagliata di San Egidio → deep road carved into tuff (10 m high), with Etruscan inscriptions.

⚱️ Necropolises and Archaeological Finds

Main Necropolises

🏺 Caprigliano (8th c. B.C.).

🪦 Vallone, Sant’Antonio, Madonna del Soccorso (4th-3rd c. B.C.).

🌲 Selva Fratta, Puntone del Ponte, La Lista.

Unique Finds (kept in the Town Hall)

🗿 The Fescennino: Roman sarcophagus fragment depicting the myth of Aeneas.

📜 Inscription of Caius Egnatius: only Roman epigraph related to hydraulic works.

🪔 Cult terracotta artifacts.

🔥 The Great Phallus: a tuff sculpture over 12 meters high.

🎉 Traditions and Festivals

🌟 The Living Nativity Scene (since 1970, 55th edition in 2024-25): a theatrical performance in the gorges, with music by Nicola Piovani and narration by Gigi Proietti.

🎭 Fescennino d’Oro (August): revival of the ancient verses with satirical performances.

✝️ San Biagio (Feb 2-3): patron saint celebrated with theater, music, and folk games.

🙏 Madonna delle Grazie (Sept 15): main patronal feast with procession and awards.

🌿 Corchiano Today: Nature and Culture

🏘️ Well-preserved medieval village, perched on a tuff plateau.

🌄 Unique landscapes over the Tiber Valley.

🌰 Rural economy → hazelnuts, vines, olives.

💧 Fertile land with springs, mild winters, and sunny summers.

Local Products

🌰 Fine hazelnuts

🍷 Local wine

🫒 Tuscia’s extra virgin olive oil

Nature Tourism

🚶 Hiking and trekking in the gorges.

📸 Nature photography.

🏺 Archaeotourism among necropolises and Etruscan roads.

🌿 Outdoor activities in unspoiled nature.

📌 In Summary

Corchiano is a village that intertwines millennia of history, living traditions, and unspoiled nature.

From the myth of Fescennium to the Living Nativity Scene, from Etruscan roads to monumental gorges, this small Tuscia town is a true treasure chest of culture, spirituality, and landscape.