Situated at the heart of the Monti Sibillini, the town, on whose site signs of
human presence date back to the prehistoric period, began to develop in the 5th
century B.C. in the context of the Sabine culture. It was in fact towards the
end of the 5th century that the phase involving the frequentation of an
important sanctuary near the Forca d’Ancarano began.
It was situated in an area
bordering two separate territories, the Umbrian one and the Sabine one. Various
ancient writers mention the town of Nursia in their works; these
include Virgil, who relates that Ufens, the condottiere of the Nursini, fought
alongside Turnus against Aeneas. In 205 B. C. Nursia, which was allied
to Rome in the war against Hannibal, sent
troops of volunteers to the aid of
Scipio’s army.
With the Roman conquest, the town was first a praefectura and
then a municipium of the Regio IV Sabina ascribed to the Quirina tribe. Norcia was the birthplace of various illustrious personages such as
Vespasia Polla, the mother of Vespasian, and Sertorius.
Town:
- Civic collection
- Cryptoporticus
Environs: Cascia: remains of a Roman-Italic temple at Villa San
Silvestro
Courtesy of Umbria 2000
