Montefiascone is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo, in Lazio, central Italy. It stands on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, about 100 km (60 mi) north of Rome.
Montefiascone
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| Comune di Montefiascone | |
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Location of Montefiascone  | |
  Montefiascone Location of Montefiascone in Italy Show map of Italy Montefiascone Montefiascone (Lazio) Show map of Lazio | |
| Coordinates: 42°32′25″N 12°02′13″E / 42.54028°N 12.03694°E / 42.54028; 12.03694 | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Lazio |
| Province | Viterbo (VT) |
| Frazioni | Le Coste, Le Grazie, Le Mosse, Zepponami |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Giulia De Santis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 104.93 km2 (40.51 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 590 m (1,940 ft) |
| Population
(30 November 2017)[2]
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| • Total | 13,520 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Montefiasconesi or Falisci |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code |
01027
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| Dialing code | 0761 |
| Patron saint | St. Margaret of Antioch |
| Saint day | July 20 |
| Website | Official website |
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The name of the city derives from that of the Falisci (Mons Faliscorum, "Mountain of the Falisci"). Later, it was controlled by the Etruscans. It was suggested that Montefiascone occupies the site of the Etruscan Temple called Fanum Voltumnae, at which the representatives of the twelve chief cities of Etruria met in the days of their independence. Under the Empire, the festival was held near Volsinii.
The first documents mentioning Montefiascone are from 853 CE, when it belonged to the bishop of Tuscania. In 1058 and 1074 the Popes Stephen IX and Gregory VII, respectively, stopped here. In 1093 the fortress was besieged by Emperor Henry IV. The importance of the fortress was confirmed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's visit in 1185.
In the following two centuries, as a Papal possession, Montefiascone lived its period of highest splendour. The Castle was often residence of Popes, and was consequently enlarged and embellished. During Avignon Papacy, it was the main residence of the Papal legate Cardinal Albornoz. In 1463, however, it was already decaying, as in the words of by Pope Pius II. The decline increased after the plague of 1657 and the earthquake of 1697.
It became part of the new Kingdom of Italy in 1870. It was damaged by two Allied bombings in May 1944.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Montefiascone". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 765.