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Micigliano

The small village of Micigliano, overlooked by Mount Terminillo, is nestled between the gorges of Velino. Connected upstream to the panoramic Sella di Leonessa, its municipality also includes the ancient Abbey of Saints Quirico and Giulitta located downstream along the Via Salaria.

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Population

115

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Area

37,8 km²

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Altitude

925 m

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Where is it?

With its 130 inhabitants Micigliano is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Rieti. It is located on the eastern side of Terminillo: its profile can be seen among the mountains from the State Road leading to L'Aquila, in the stretch winding above Antrodoco.

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Its origins?

The first mention of Micilianus dates back to the middle of the 10th century, in a document that recalls how, in 943, the Abbey of Farfa acquired some land "in locus qui nomatur Micilianus". Its foundation is probably due to the inhabitants of Vischiata Castle. Later it became part of the possessions of the Abbey of Saints Quirico and Giuditta whose territories were occupied in 1229 by Frederick II of Swabia. Certainly, already in the 14th century Micigliano existed as a fortified town that included a parish church. Subsequently, the village followed the same fate as the neighboring towns, ending up in the orbit of the Orsini and Colonna families until it was included in the Kingdom of Naples. The ecclesiastical fief was abolished at the beginning of the 19th century. During the nine years of French dominion, from 1806 to 1815, Micigliano became a free municipality within the province of Abruzzo Ulteriore II, district of Cittaducale. With the Restoration the village returned to the Bourbon dominion. In 1860, with the Unification of Italy, the village was included in the province of L'Aquila where it remained until 1927, when it passed to the newly established province of Rieti. On 28 March 1928, the Municipality of Micigliano was annexed to the municipality of Antrodoco, but it regained the status of autonomous body after the war, in 1947.

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What to see?

Micigliano has a well-preserved historic centre, whose streets converge towards the central square, overlooked by the parish church of San Biagio. However the people of Micigliano are particularly linked to the church of San Lorenzo which is located upstream of the village. Legend says that, in ancient times, a violent summer storm was destroying wheat crops, so the people invoked San Lorenzo and miraculously, on a hill above the village, the harvest was spared and found intact. The community elected San Lorenzo as patron saint of Micigliano and erected a church in his honour in the fields of the miracle. The church is a small single-nave building preserving behind the altar a fresco that depicts the deacon Lorenzo holding the grille, a symbol of martyrdom, flanked by St. Stephen. Downstream, practically at the entrance of the Velino gorges, stands the imposing Abbey of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, founded by the Benedictine monks in the first half of the 10th century, although more information is available only from the 11th and 12th centuries. The structure, renovated in the 1990s tank to public funds, still shows its fortified structure, with walls and a bell tower also used as a watchtower. The imposing Monte Terminillo exerts a strong attraction, especially for hikers and skiers. From Micigliano, following a direct road reopened in the 2000s, it is possible to each the Sebastiani refuge and the Sella di Leonessa.