The village of Braccio Fortebraccio
On a hill in the upper Tiber valley, between Umbertide and Città di Castello, at about 480 metres, Montone is a small fortified medieval village, one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia", with stone houses, narrow lanes, gates and walls, and splendid views over the valley and the green hills covered with woods. It is the birthplace of one of the most famous condottieri of the Italian Renaissance: Andrea Fortebracci, known as Braccio da Montone (1368-1424), a mercenary captain who, at the head of his troops, conquered Perugia and became its lord, ruling over a large part of central Italy and even threatening Rome, until he died in battle at L'Aquila.
In the former Franciscan church of San Francesco, now the Museo di San Francesco, you can see works of art from the village's churches, including a painted processional banner, the "Gonfalone" by Bartolomeo Caporali, of 1482, which depicts the Madonna protecting Montone, with a view of the village, and a beautiful wooden Deposition group of the thirteenth century; the church also preserves frescoes of the fifteenth century. The most precious treasure of the village is a relic, the Holy Thorn, believed to be a thorn of Christ's crown, which was brought here by Carlo Fortebracci, son of Braccio, after a victory in the fifteenth century, and which is exhibited every year on Easter Monday and celebrated in August with the Donazione della Santa Spina, a festival with a historical procession, archery competitions and medieval taverns. In summer, Montone hosts the Umbria Film Festival, an international film festival with open-air screenings in the square.
Tip: in August, attend the historical re-enactment of the Santa Spina; enjoy dinner in the village square on summer evenings.
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