Castel Rubello

Castel Rubello is situated on a hillock, a few kilometres south of Orvieto, close toPorano. 

Its construction stems from traffic-control reasons, as the castle overlooks the ancient Via Cassia, which was therefore dominated by its walls and, in particular, by its main 40-metre-high tower, the so-called “Maschio”. 

There are no certain dates related to its foundation, due to its name changing throughout the time and to the lack of archive documents, before 1200; however, judging by the state of the walls as well as by its architectural elements, it can be approximately estimated that the castle dates back to the 12th century. In the “Piviere di San Fortunato” (an old version of the current land register), Carpenter (pg 6 and on) individuated, with absolute certainty, the original chore of “Villa Podii”, which is nowadays a tiny, enclosed village, together with “Villa Porrani” and “Villa Canale”. The same structure can also be found under the name of Castel Ribello (as Ceccarelli called it, pg. 18) as well as in the 1297 parish land register, with reference to the tithe payments (Sella, pgs 801-916). 

Later on, the Castle became a possession of the Monaldeschi family, who took refuge there in 1345, before gaining the entrance to the city of Orvieto, of which they previously were the Lords (Fumi, 1884, pg. 501). The Castle remained a shelter for exiles until 1420, when the Pope Martino V allowed special privileges to the inhabitants of Castel Rubello and Porano, including the exemption from paying the ” heads and acres tax, as a reward for the damages suffered under the war” (Fumi, 1884, pg. 677). 

The Monaldeschi family re-gained possession of Orvieto in 1437, thanks to Gentile della Sala (Gentile Monaldeschi della Vipera) who, in agreement with Pietro Ramponi, the Civical Rector of the Patrimony, entered in in Orvieto with Ugolino da Montemarte, Ranuccio da Castel di Piero as well as other “Mercorini”, slaughtering the members of the opposing faction, the “Muffati”. As a result of this battle, over 60 people died and numerous houses were burnt.