Italy, Poggio Mirteto

Poggio Mirteto is located on a 'hill' which dominates the surrounding area in a countryside full of an evergreen tree with white flowers: the 'myrtle'. Its history dates from the Sabine and Roman periods highlighted by the legend of "The Rape of the Sabine Women" which demonstrates the close connection between the two peoples. During the Roman period this area was full of rustic villas. After a period of neglect, Poggio Mirteto reappeared for the first time in the registers of the Abbey of Farda in 988. In the fifteenth century it successfully resisted the Neapolitan troops led by the Alfonso, Duke of Calabria. Among his vassals were the Farnese families, Orsini, Mattei and Bonaccorsi. In 1816 it became district capital of the Papal States. In 1837 it received the title of city by Pope Gregory XVI.