It lies just off the SS 3 highway, the successor to the ancient Roman Via Flaminia, between Gualdo Tadino (7 km to the south), Sigillo (6 km north);Fabriano (15 km east) and Gubbio (20 km west) in Antiquity, a branch of the Via Flaminia may have traversed the town.
A rare bronze plaque with a brief inscription to the Dea Cupra in the ancient Umbrian language has been found in the territory of the comune, evidence of pre‑Roman habitation. Roman vestiges have been found as well, but not in quantities nor concentrations such as to warrant conclusively identifying Fossato with the ancient Helvillum, the site of which remains unknown: the other main candidate is Sigillo.
Fossato is known, however, to have been inhabited in the early Middle Ages, when it was the southernmost outpost of the Byzantine corridor, which its name seems to confirm: while fossato, meaning "ditch" in Italian, is not an uncommon placename, it is usually found on small creeks — but Fossato di Vico is on sharply sloping ground with no watercourse in the area, and it has therefore been proposed by local historians that the name is to be derived from Latin (and Byzantine Greek) fossatum, a ditch-fortified defensive work.
The specification "di Vico" was added to the name in 1862, to remember a noble of the Duchy of Spoleto. Fossato was part of the county of Nocera in the 9th century, and after the Vico it was a possession of the Bulgarelli family, who built the current castle. In 1386 it became a free commune, which was annexed to the Papal States in 1540.
Main sightsEdit
In the plain below, two Roman bridges are extant; both relate to the Via Flaminia.
The town walls date to the late Middle Ages and would be of no particular interest were it not for a covered rampart walk capable of accommodating wide carts: it was designed for supplying the town in case of a siege. A very ruined tower at the top of the town is lovingly preserved as the oldest structure, and is said by some to be Byzantine, but without evidence.
The main churches are S. Sebastiano, the 16th‑century parish church, damaged in the 1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake but almost immediately restored; S. Pietro, the former parish church, medieval; S. Benedetto, also medieval, with some frescoes; and La Piaggiola, a small votive chapel of uncertain use, but likely belonging to a penitential confraternity: on its walls are to be found the best medieval frescoes in town.
Also in the plain, mention should be made of the shrine of the Madonna della Ghea.
EconomyEdit
The economic engine of the comune is the frazione of Osteria del Gatto, in the plain below, with several factories (cheese, packaging materials). An unusual aspect of the town's economy is that the municipal government has taken advantage of the winds sweeping the Cima del Mutali to contract the construction of two windmills for electrical generation; Fossato is a net exporter of electrical energy, and the installation turns a profit used for the operations of local government.
ReferencesEdit
^"Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^"Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fossato di Vico.
fossato, vico, town, comune, umbria, province, perugia, italy, above, level, middle, slopes, mount, mutali, comunecomune, location, location, italyshow, italy, umbria, show, umbriacoordinates, 767countryitalyregionumbriaprovinceperugia, frazioniborgo, fossato,. Fossato di Vico is a town and comune of Umbria in the province of Perugia in Italy at 581 m above sea level on the middle slopes of Mount Mutali Fossato di VicoComuneComune di Fossato di VicoLocation of Fossato di VicoFossato di VicoLocation of Fossato di Vico in ItalyShow map of ItalyFossato di VicoFossato di Vico Umbria Show map of UmbriaCoordinates 43 18 N 12 46 E 43 300 N 12 767 E 43 300 12 767CountryItalyRegionUmbriaProvincePerugia PG FrazioniBorgo di Fossato Colbassano Osteria del Gatto Palazzolo PurelloGovernment MayorMauro MonacelliArea 1 Total35 30 km2 13 63 sq mi Elevation581 m 1 906 ft Population 2007 2 Total2 744 Density78 km2 200 sq mi DemonymFossataniTime zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal code06022Dialing code075Patron saintSt SebastianSaint dayJanuary 20WebsiteOfficial websiteIt lies just off the SS 3 highway the successor to the ancient Roman Via Flaminia between Gualdo Tadino 7 km to the south Sigillo 6 km north Fabriano 15 km east and Gubbio 20 km west in Antiquity a branch of the Via Flaminia may have traversed the town Fossato di Vico Train Station Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 3 Economy 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditA rare bronze plaque with a brief inscription to the Dea Cupra in the ancient Umbrian language has been found in the territory of the comune evidence of pre Roman habitation Roman vestiges have been found as well but not in quantities nor concentrations such as to warrant conclusively identifying Fossato with the ancient Helvillum the site of which remains unknown the other main candidate is Sigillo Fossato is known however to have been inhabited in the early Middle Ages when it was the southernmost outpost of the Byzantine corridor which its name seems to confirm while fossato meaning ditch in Italian is not an uncommon placename it is usually found on small creeks but Fossato di Vico is on sharply sloping ground with no watercourse in the area and it has therefore been proposed by local historians that the name is to be derived from Latin and Byzantine Greek fossatum a ditch fortified defensive work The specification di Vico was added to the name in 1862 to remember a noble of the Duchy of Spoleto Fossato was part of the county of Nocera in the 9th century and after the Vico it was a possession of the Bulgarelli family who built the current castle In 1386 it became a free commune which was annexed to the Papal States in 1540 Main sights EditIn the plain below two Roman bridges are extant both relate to the Via Flaminia The town walls date to the late Middle Ages and would be of no particular interest were it not for a covered rampart walk capable of accommodating wide carts it was designed for supplying the town in case of a siege A very ruined tower at the top of the town is lovingly preserved as the oldest structure and is said by some to be Byzantine but without evidence The main churches are S Sebastiano the 16th century parish church damaged in the 1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake but almost immediately restored S Pietro the former parish church medieval S Benedetto also medieval with some frescoes and La Piaggiola a small votive chapel of uncertain use but likely belonging to a penitential confraternity on its walls are to be found the best medieval frescoes in town Also in the plain mention should be made of the shrine of the Madonna della Ghea Economy EditThe economic engine of the comune is the frazione of Osteria del Gatto in the plain below with several factories cheese packaging materials An unusual aspect of the town s economy is that the municipal government has taken advantage of the winds sweeping the Cima del Mutali to contract the construction of two windmills for electrical generation Fossato is a net exporter of electrical energy and the installation turns a profit used for the operations of local government References Edit Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011 Italian National Institute of Statistics Retrieved 16 March 2019 Popolazione Residente al 1 Gennaio 2018 Italian National Institute of Statistics Retrieved 16 March 2019 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fossato di Vico Pro Fossato the Pro Loco La Rumiola Thayer s Gazetteer of Umbria Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fossato di Vico amp oldid 1007763836, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
