Umbria travel:
Towns of Etruscan origin

Archeology Itinerary: Towns of Sabine origin

Umbrian territories of the Sabine Population

Norcia - Nursia

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

© 1997-2010 Enrico Massetti
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