Sterpeto: Castle, Churches and Rural History

Sterpeto combines the history of a fortified settlement with a hilly landscape and an agriculturally shaped past. If you are choosing a place with architectural details and traces of history for your trip to Italy, your attention here will turn to the Castello di Sterpeto, churches and other buildings. The themes range from architectural history and faith to former agricultural practices.

The Castello di Sterpeto

The Castello di Sterpeto is first mentioned in a document dating from 1056. It has two entrance gates. The older gate has a round arch and is topped by a small tower. A preserved Marian Maestà can also be found at the gates. Visitors interested in architecture can pay particular attention here to the round arch, tower and image of the Virgin Mary.

Hillside Setting and Village Character

The castle stands on one of the hills around Assisi that slope down towards the Chiascio River. Sterpeto has the appearance of a walled village. A delicate greyish-yellow tone from sandstone and river pebbles predominates. The setting, walls and materials therefore shape the character of the place. Poggio Bucaione is an imposing palace on a rise between Sterpeto and Santa Tecla. Those wishing to consider the relationship between the settlement and the landscape will find the walled village of Sterpeto and the palace as two distinct architectural motifs here.

Agricultural Past

The former fief of Sterpeto was agriculturally oriented and included olive groves, grain fields, vineyards and orchards. Until the mid-20th century, silkworm farming was a communal activity among the inhabitants of Sterpeto. The history of the village therefore includes not only stone and walls, but also cultivation and communal work. If you would like to explore local history through specific activities, these themes draw attention to everyday life behind the built environment.

Churches and Chapels

The Church of Santa Maria degli Ancillotti was built on June 15, 1633, and dedicated to the Madonna by the Ancillotti family from Assisi. It was restored during the excavations for its foundations. In Sterpeto, the work included the church, the bell tower, and the house of the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary. Not far from the Castello di Sterpeto stands the Madonnuccia Chapel. If you would like to connect religious architecture with local history, this part of Sterpeto takes you from a dated church foundation to work on several buildings and another chapel.

Agriculture and Present-Day Accommodation Use

Another specific accommodation option is Agriturismo La Palazzetta di Assisi. It is located on a family-run farm covering 15 hectares, where olive oil is produced and fruit trees and grain are also cultivated. The Palombara dei Conti Fiumi at Agriturismo La Palazzetta di Assisi is now used as accommodation. This agriturismo therefore combines agricultural production with the present-day use of the Palombara as accommodation.

For further destinations, you can include Pian di Marte, Porto, Mercatello, Uppello, Chiugiana-La Commenda, Camerata, Bastia Umbra and Pilonico Materno in your travel plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.