It is part of the upper portion of Tuscia, bordering
Tuscany and Umbria. Prior to 1964, when the Via Cassia consular road was
still the main connection between Florence and Rome, Acquapendente was the
crossroads for the substantial transit that supported the economy of the
area's restaurants (some of which became famous), hotels and inns. During
the past centuries, the small city was also a favourite "statio"
or stopping point for pilgrims travelling on the Via Francigena on their way
to Rome and the coasts of Apulia to reach the Holy Land. The first historic
document dates to 964, when Oddone I built a castle there that then fell
into the hands of the Swabians. The most significant monument is the
cathedral of Santo Sepolcro, constructed around the year 1000 over the
votive chapel that Matilda of Westphalia ordered built with the same
dimensions as Christ's sepulchre. Consecrated in 1149 and reconstructed
several times, it was given the title of cathedral in 1649. Following damage
during World War II, much of it was rebuilt based on the plans of Vincenzo
Fasolo.
Inside the cathedral is the noteworthy altarpiece in the
right transept, a work in enamelled terracotta by Jacopo Beneventano (1522)
portraying the Eternal Father worshipped by angels; the wooden choir
(1685-1688) in the apse is attributed to artist Matteo Tedesco. The chapel
of St. Hermes venerates the memory of the patron saint, depicted by a wax
statue. There is a lovely fourteenth-century baptismal font under the
presbytery, between the two entry stairs.
The crypt dates to the second half of the tenth century,
and has nine aisles with twenty-two columns topped by richly-decorated
capitals. It was built over the original aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre that
is set in the middle, covered by a pyramid with a rectangular base.
According to tradition, it holds a stone relic that was bathed in the blood
of Christ.
The tower of Julia di Jacopo, located near the
church, marks the remains of the fortress built by Arrigo IV ( currently
used as a cultural and welcome centre). The clock tower (also known
as Barbarossa's tower) in the uppermost part of town was part of the
imperial castle that was held by the Swabians for many years. Also
noteworthy is the communal palace (with its large Neo-classical
portico). The monument in the middle of the square was erected in memory of
Fabrizio d'Acquapendente (1533-1619), who was born in this town and was
famous for his studies of anatomy. Acquapendente is an important departure
point for trips and excursions to the natural park reserve of Mount
Rufeno that stretches across the outlying areas.
The reserve covers an area of about 3000 hectares of land
-mainly woodlands -along the hillsides. It starts at an altitude of 200
meters above sea level (at the Paglia river) and goes up to an altitude of
700 meters (Mount Rufeno). Some of the farmhouses offer a bed-and-breakfast
service and meals made with typical local products.
I Pugnaloni
As tradition would have it, this event originated in 1166
when Acquapendente was ruled by one of Barbarossa’s tyrants. Two citizens
of the era supposedly said: "It is more likely that old dried - up
cherry tree to blossom than for our town to rid it - self of the invaders".
The sudden miraculous flowering of the cherry tree was welcomed as a divine
sign from Our Lady, giving the local population the strength and enthusiasm
to rebel. To commemorate this event, ribbons were once tied to the “pugnoli
(wooden sticks) used to drive oxen and to fight enemies. Today, they have
become “pugnaloni”, which are enormous mosaics that are composed mainly
of flowers whit a images about freedom. Late in the afternoon on the first
Sunday after 15th May, there is a procession to bring them from the
cathedral of Santo Sepolcro to the Palazzo Comunale. The “pugnaloni” (about
twenty in all), are created the night before by groups of young people
divided based on the city quarters. Following the procession is the
difficult task of selecting the best ones, which are awarded a prize. In
recent years the traditions as been estabilished of creating “mini-pugnaloni”,
which are done equally skilfully by children.
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