Allerona village
It is most likely that the first settlements in the area go back to the Etruscan times, however, in the ancient village of Allerona remain traces of the Roman Civilisation and, to be exact, of the ancient roads Via Cassia and Via Traiana Nova; the pavement and two military columns being a testament to that.
In the Middle Ages, Allerona, controlled by the Monaldeschi and Filippeschi families, was a feudal castle, an important bulwark of the municipality of Orvieto from the town of Chiusi. Nowadays, from the ancient castle, remain the walls and the two entrance doors named Del Sole and Della Luna.
The town of Orvieto
Whether the Etruscan city of Velzna relates to the ancient town of Oinarea or not, etymologically its name “the city where the wine flows” bears witness to how the fame of the wine produced in Orvieto had already reached the shores of Greece in the ancient times.
The Etruscans dug caves in massive tuffaceous rocks where Orvieto stands today and developed a winemaking system for the production of a distinctive wine with unique characteristics – aromatic, fragrant and golden yellow in colour.
Today, Orvieto still takes pride in its noble drink. On the tuff cliff, where the city stands, rises its majestic Duomo (Cathedral), the construction of which was begun in 1290 by Pope Niccolò IV, in order to provide a suitable location for the Corporal of the Miracle of Bolsena.
Designed in the Romanesque style by an unknown artist, possibly Arnolfo di Cambio, it can be seen in all its glory from the top of Poggio Lupo.
The Park of Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana
The park encompasses three protected natural areas separated from one another, however, they are all part of a vaster area – the Mountain Community of Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana. The largest area is called Allerona-Selva di Meana and it includes the park of Villalba.
Park of Villalba
At the border between Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany, only 5 km from Poggio Lupo Farm as the crow flies, before our eyes opens a spectacular view that reminds us of enchanted forests, ancient legends, a perfect natural rhythm of life. Such is the Natural Park of Villalba, which covers 200 hectares of woodland and which is located within the state forest of Selva di Meana. The environment here is characterised by hills, whose altitude reaches 680 metres above sea level, as well as high forests which mainly consist of quercine (oak) type of trees accompanied by such rare specimens as maple, beech, ash and chestnut. Furthermore, it is also possible to distinguish rare and precious plants here such as Dictamnus and more than thirty different species of wild orchids. In the heart of the park, there is a breath-taking village of San Pietro Acquaeortus occupied by Benedictine monks in the past. According to a source, the name of the area comes from a legend which dates back to the passage of St. Peter. Even today, in the surrounding vegetation, it is possible to find such essences and plants as elderberry, melissa and oregano, once grown by monks to be used in officinal and medicinal preparations.