Ronciglione | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Ronciglione | |
 A view of the medieval burg of Ronciglione | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Ronciglione  | |
  Ronciglione Location of Ronciglione in Italy  Ronciglione Ronciglione (Lazio) | |
| Coordinates: 42°17′N 12°12′E / 42.283°N 12.200°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Lazio |
| Province | Viterbo (VT) |
| Frazioni | Lago di Vico |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mario Mengoni |
| Area | |
| • Total | 52.28 km2 (20.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 441 m (1,447 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2014)[2] | |
| • Total | 8,715 |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Ronciglionesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 01037 |
| Dialing code | 0761 |
| Patron saint | St. Bartholomew |
| Saint day | August 24 |
| Website | Official website |
Ronciglione (locally Ronció) is a comune in the province of Viterbo, in the Italian region of Latium, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Viterbo. The city is located in the Cimini mountains, over two tuff scarps, on the SE slope of the former volcano crater now housing the Lake Vico.
It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3] The city's economy is based largely on agriculture, with production of nuts, chestnuts and wine.
The most ancient document mentioning Ronciglione dates to 1103. A historian from the 16th century Orvieto set its foundation around 1045, due to the Prefetti of Vico. Later it was a possession of the Anguillara, a Guelph family of Rome. Pope Paul II conquered it to the Papal States in 1465.
In 1526 Ronciglione became a possession of the Farnese, and lived its period of greatest splendour: its industries included manufacturing of copper, iron, paper, weapons and others. Ended in 1649 the Farnese seignory and bought back by Pope Innocent X, in 1728 it received the status of city by Pope Benedict XIII.
The Ronciglionesi took active part in the Roman Republic of 1798–99: the French troops, however, crushed the revolt and burnt the city on July 20, 1799.
The town's sights include:
Ronciglione is known for its Carnival. Established as a derivative of the Renaissance Carnival of Rome, it has typical "empty races" in which the horses are left to run without riders. The cities are divided into 9 contrades which contend for the "Palio of the Manna". The garden scenes of the 2007 film Silk featuring Keira Knightley were filmed on the grounds of Villa Lina.
Ronciglione is served by the SP1 Cimina provincial road, connecting it to SS2 Cassia national road which starts from Rome, and to Viterbo. SP35 provincial road connects the town to Caprarola and Capranica.
There is a station on the Orte-Civitavecchia railroad, which has been abandoned in 1995.
