Collelungo, is an old fortified village whose heart is enclosed inside the medieval castle. Located a few kilometers from San Venanzo, the town is renowned for its Madonna della Luce fresco, kept in the homonym Sanctuary. The small town, with its picturesque streets and medieval views, is surrounded by a pleasant natural landscape and is the ideal place for a relaxing visit.

History of the village

Collelungo di Orvieto was the old name for the village, mentioned in a Land Registry of 1292 as the old Villa collis longis. Since the 13th century, when it became an outpost of Orvieto, the castle was affected by the strong contrast and frequent disputes over the borders between the cities of Orvieto and Todi. Fortified in 1294, it belonged first to the Monaldeschi family, then to the Baglioni of Perugia, from whose hands it was snatched by Pope Paul III.

The town still maintains its defensive walls and towers, one of which has been transformed into a bell tower, where, according to the tradition, there was a guillotine used for official executions. A previous church located close the walls is dedicated to St. Matthias the Apostle (San Mattia Apostolo). Inside there are kept beautiful frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as the altar stone, a piece of art from the Lombard period. From this little church comes the precious fresco of the Madonna della Luce, now visible in the Sanctuary outside the castle walls.