Lisciano Niccone

Echoes of the past. The memories of its ancient past are preserved among the ruins of the medieval castle and among the green valleys in the memory of hermits, towers and quaint villages.

The town centre that extends over Monte Castiglione, on the righthand side of the valley of the Niccone stream, is a crossroads of history, places of the soul and nature. An important strategic node for its geographical position along the roads that in the distant past led to Valtiberina, Trasimeno and Val di Chiana.

The hypogeum of Villa Sagraia and the fortified village of Bellona, ​​on top of Monte Murlo, attest to the prehistoric origins and the passage of the Etruscans. The paths immersed in the gentle Apennine nature, instead, link us to the places of worship, it is said that Saint Pier Damiani stopped  here.  There are traces of history marked by valiant battles, games of alliances and fierce reprisals. Like the Emblematic Invasion of of Hannibal. It is said that the Carthaginian leader, defeated the Romans in the clamorous battle of Trasimeno in 217 BC. and decided to punish the locals for the help they offered to the enemy by burning the surrounding territory.

Lisciano Niccone, during the Middle Ages was part of Perugia’s domains, it passed in 1500 under the control of the Pontifical State and followed a slow decadence. Today it only preserves the castle ruins from the eleventh century.

Its territory, surrounded by the hills of the Valtiberina, includes the hamlets of Pian di Marte, Reschio, San Martino, Val di Rosa, Santa Maria delle Corti, Le Crete, Le Crocicchie and Gosparini. A handful of inhabitants live here who retain the culture and traditions of the past. The peasant world with its rituals, festivals and cooking still survive today. The towers, castles, churches, abbeys and medieval villages scattered in the tranquility of secular woods are today a destination for tourists and religious itineraries. Like the one that embraces the Val Rosa, where the church of St. Nicholas is located, San Pier Damiani stood here in the 11th century and inside is an altarpiece by Eusebius from San Giorgio.

In Lisciano Niccone, visitors appreciate  the uncontaminated nature and slow rhythms shaped by nature. There are many walks to take as well as lots of art, culture and local products. For example, in Montecastiglione, in front of Lake Trasimeno, there is a park with eight hectares of pine forests.

Every year in the Church of San Francesco di Preggio the Preggio music festival is organised devoted to sacred and chamber music: an event that invites visitors from neighbouring countries. There is also a festival of the the local spaghetti traditionally seasoned with meat and parmesan sauces, and the chestnut festival that transforms the town into one large restaurant.