The village of Porzano

Porzano belongs to a group of small hilltop villages that dot the valley crossed by the Serra stream, which together constitute a heritage of considerable historical and landscape value.

The most important historical period in Porzano’s history - as for the other villages in the area - is the Middle Ages during which its fortified structure was built in keeping with its strategic position close to a main road that connected Terni and Spoleto. Of the medieval layout it maintains the walls,two mighty towers and the two gates,the southern one of which has a fresco. The origin of the toponym - Porzano would derive from the predial toponym Porcianus - suggests that the site on which the Castle was built, one of the first in this area to become part of the extended feud of Terre Arnolfe, used to be a rural settlement in Roman times. From this period are some archaeological finds found on the site, including a memorial stone and a capital,which can be seen in the church of San Fortunato.

The memorial stone was reused in the construction of the church bell tower while the capital serves as a holy water stoup. The early building of San Fortunato was smaller than the current one,being formed by a single nave to which the two lateral ones were added during the sixteenth century in order to accommodate a greater number of faithful as a result of the increased population. The bell tower that flanks the simple facade is part of the medieval construction. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes, of which the one on the apse, from the 17th century,portrays San Fortunato.

Every year during the Christmas period the village of Porzano becomes the evocative setting of Living Nativity enactment staged by locals.

 

Revised Google translation