The Castello di Morgnano is located in the district of Morgnano-Santa Croce, at eight kilometers from the historic center of the city of Spoleto in the province of Perugia.

It stands on the top of a hill at about 400 meters above sea level and looks like an important historical presence with its 12 meter high walls.

It was subjected, between the 70s and 80s, to a series of interventions aimed more at building speculation than at restoring its original state. Inside the city walls, the ancient village, partially collapsed, was rebuilt by tracing the original grounds and volumes, however using the construction methods in use in those years. Renovation works are currently underway aimed at restoring identity to the place by regenerating its original function at the service of the community and developing a space capable of attracting people to the area.

HISTORY

The presence of a settlement on the Morgnano hill dates back to ancient times. A gravestone found near the castle dates back to Ancient Romans times and was later transferred to the modern church of San Giovanni at the foot of the hill. However, the documents that have so far been analyzed by the historical archives show the presence of a stable settlement on the hill since the 13th century. From the extracted documents we know that in 1279 the Villa di Morgnano (Morgnano's village), then the “villa aperta” (without walls) had 27 fires (families) with a wealth of 3011 pounds. In 1359, despite the plague of 1348, the number of fires rose to 34 (about 200 people). It was at the end of the 14th century (around 1378) following frequent raids on the territory by armed companies, that the first castles surrounded by walls and fortifications were built throughout the Spoleto countryside and in the surrounding areas, including the castle of Morgnano. "Some of which had already been so in other times, and then either by rebellion or by suspicion reduced by the city or by the armies to open villas." Reading  the original documents relating to the sale of land in the area dating back to the second half of the 13th century, it can be assumed that a tower or fortification for military use already existed in Morgnano in the previous century and on this occasion it was incorporated into a real fortress of large dimensions able to accommodate the large population who lived in the villa when it was necessary. The hypothesis looks true if we consider that Morgnano, despite being part of the Spoleto countryside, developed on the border with the external territories that reached Todi, on a hill from which it was possible to enjoy a 360 degree view on the surrounding valley. Even today the view of Spoleto, Spello, Trevi, Assisi and Montefalco is a fascinating prerogative of the site.