Fossato di Vico

Famous for its wind farm and wrinkled land, where the ancient and the modern live together Fossato di Vico is made up of two portions: a linear flat section, constantly expanding, along the Via Flaminia, the other perched on top of the hill guarding the footsteps of past domination.

This fascinating ancient medieval village has suggestive stone vaulted vaults, a rare example of 13th-century castle architecture. The characteristic vaulted building with the clock tower and the ancient churches around, retain traces of artistic and historic treasures.

Fossato di Vico, for its strategic position along the Via Flaminia, recalls the clashes between the Goths and Byzantines and subsequent contests and domination throughout the Middle Ages. In the 12th century it belonged to the Counts of Nocera, before it passed to the Counts of Marsciano and then to Gubbio. In 1442 it resisted the assaults of the troops of Francesco Sforza, but in 1500 it was destroyed and plundered several times by Cesare Borgia and finally by the Duke of Urbino. Finally, in 1540, it became part of the State of the Church.

The historic centre features the typical medieval village design, boasting colossal structures such as the Municipal building, the Tower of the Fratelli Gricci, the Clock Tower and the Merlot Tower overhanging the front gate.

As defined by the historian Luigi Galassi, this is the city with fifty churches. Small temples excavated in the rock, such as the church of St. Peter that encloses French and Gothic elements, alternated with jewels of Renaissance art, such as the chapel of Piaggiola with the frescoes by Ottaviano Nelli or the abbey of St. Benedict, decreed  a national monument and frescoes from the Eugubina school and the portrait of Urbano V by Matteo da Gualdo.

The church of St. Sebastian, the monastery of Santa Maria del Fonte (13th century), a Benedictine nuns' community and the sanctuary of Madonna della Ghea.  In the open country are there are many sites and artefacts from Roman, Republican and Late Imperial times that can be admired in the municipal Antiquarium.  Along the path of Via Flaminia stands St. John's Bridge built by Augustus.

Partially embedded in the protected natural Park of Monte Cucco,  Fossato di Vico is rich in animal and plant species. Respect for the environment and the will to keep the territory as untouched as possible has resulted in the construction of the Cima Mutali wind farm, which has a study centre in which renewable energy is researched.

Every year, during the harvest, the winemakers present and compete with new and vintage wines during the event called “Le Cantine di San Martino". The daily life of the Middle Ages and its ancient traditions are repeated during the “Festa degli Statuti”, while its patron Saint Sebastian is celebrated on January 20th.