Città di Castello: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Città di Castello is a town in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. The town and its environs have a population of around 38,500 (circa 2000). It is located on the upper part of the flood plain of the River Tiber.

The town's Etruscan name was Tiferno, and the Romans knew it as Tifernum Tiberis. It was largely destroyed during the Ostrogoth campaign under their king Totila. The town was subsequently rebuilt and renamed first Castrum Felicitatis and later Civitas Castelli. It was controlled first by the church, and later by the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Later it became the domain of the Vitelli family (for whom Antonio Sangallo built an extensive palace), before Cesare Borgia had the patrianch of the Vitellis strangled and Città di Castello added to the papal possessions.

Famous inhabitants

• Pliny the Younger
• Actress Monica Bellucci was born there in 1968.