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Commissioned in the 1300s by the powerful Orsini
family, the mediaeval Castello Guglielmi still dominates
the town with its loggia and battlements.
Two churches are worth seeing in the old centre:
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, a 15th Century church
containing relics of Saints Quirino and Candido,
the patron saints of Montalto, with the coat-of-arms
of Pope Pius VI Braschi above the portal in the
local travertine stone; Chiesa di Santa Croce, a
14th century church in piazza F. Guglielmi containing
the "Madonna della Vittoria" painting. |
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Pescia is a separate district of Montalto di Castro,
along the Aurelia (S.S. 1) right on the Tuscan border
(after the power station).
Pescia boasts excellent unspolit beaches and dunes (you
can walk all the way to Ansedonia, past the Burano Nature
Reserve). N.B.: the sand here is not quite as black
as the volcanic sand on the Montalto Marina beaches.
Along the modern Aurelia you're bound to have noticed
the former pontificial customs house - Palazzo del Chiarone
- with its arches, 90 odd rooms, a suite for the Pope,
stables and even a prison. Unfortunately it's now fallen
into disrepair and is up for sale.
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Built in the 1400s on the banks of the River
Fiora, the Torre is a typical example of a naval watchtower
(keeping a look-out for those Saracen pirates who used
to ravage the coast), while opposite is an imposing
building with an interesting flight of steps, once used
as a grain store. Behind this is a long stretch of Mediterranean
pine forest with picnic facilities and (further on,
after the camping site) a circuit of exercise benches
etc. for the fit (or would-be fit). There's even a great
aerial runway for the kids (and adults) to zip down...
Also behind the grain store is a free parking area for
RVs and caravans with drains and water on tap. Plans
are underfoot for the Fiora estuary to become a proper
marina for yachts etc. ...
Further on, just off the coast from the Punta delle
Murelle is the submerged Etruscan port of Regisvillae,
hugely responsible for the successful economy of the
ancient town of Vulci before the River Fiora started
to silt up.
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Versione Italiana
