Ghost Town of Monterano
Part 1 on Psychic Archaeology Are you ready to journey through time, to ancient and fascinating places, physically AND metaphysically?.
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When I sent Sandie the coordinates of this location she knew nothing about it, other than it was in Italy. After Sandie sent me her report on her remote visit based on the coordinates I sent her, I revealed to her the actual place she visited…the place where WE are right now: the Ghost Town of Monterano.
Every place has a story….and we are here today to tell you the story of Monterano and discover its history AND mystery.
Surrounded by a pristine landscape in the region of Tuscia about 1 hour from Rome, Monterano, is one of Italy’s most prominent ancient “Ghost Towns”.
Monterano has a commanding view of an impressive natural reserve that spans across 1,000 acres between Tolfa Mountains and Sabatini Mountains. Made up of hilly forests, ravines, meadows, pastures, and of course volcanic springs, rocks and vegetation, it’s no wonder this place right here has been chosen by settlers for thousands of years, since the pre-historic eras.
The town’s official documented history began with the fall of the Roman Empire and the onset of the middle ages sometime during the 6th century. The village progressed and evolved over the centuries into “Monterano” as we know it today, through the ups and downs of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras until it met its abrupt and final demise.
So now we’ll follow what Sandie reported in her remote visit from Nevada to see if I can find the places physically that Sandie saw metaphysically!
This is gonna be a challenge….I’ve never done this before! But I’m also excited about what we’ll discover!
Sandie Remote Visit Report: 1
I’m seeing like a ladder effect on a hill side or ruin which looks very dark yellow, like mustard yellow. And I see many arches set into a circular structure. And the area is full of weeds And it seems I’m slipping on wet and oily cobble stones or bricks, of the pathway I’m walking on… I’m doing a lot of slipping. It seems when I rub my fingers across the stones, the stones catch my fingers like it’s rough.
Our Physical Visit:
To arrive at the ghost town of Monterano you have to make your way along a bumpy dirt road until you reach a clearing. One of the first things you will notice are these beautiful arches that belong to an old aqueduct.
It looks like a Roman aqueduct, doesn’t it? However, this just borrowed technology from the ancient Romans as this aqueduct was built during the 16th century to carry water from the nearby territory of Oriolo to the growing township of Monterano. Nowhere near as massive and long as the ancient Roman aqueducts which are still visible in Rome as well as in the Park of the Aqueducts, the medieval and Renaissance aqueducts were smaller and shorter. Largely underground, what remains of the above ground portion of this aqueduct is still impressive.
Arches continue to be seen in other structures in Monterano as we further explore the ghost town.
To the left of the aqueduct, if you look up, you will see the beginning of the ruins of Monterano, situated on top of the tuffa cliff. As you find throughout Italy, most ancient and medieval people settled on top of hills where they were least vulnerable from the onslaught of attacks that plagued those distant times.
On this side of the ancient town is one of the 2 surviving main entry gates, Porta Gradella. Almost hidden by brambles and weeds, it’s easy to overlook from the main path below. Through this gateway passed via Gradella which connected the town’s main square to Valley Fosse Bicione below.
Looking down you will notice that this ancient road was paved with large stones, possibly recovered from the nearby ancient Roman road Via Clodia. Somewhat round and eroded by time, they are – under wet conditions and if you are not careful….slippery.
Monterano stands on a hill of tufa rock, a type of coarse volcanic limestone that is abundant in Italy, and particularly easy to use as it’s softer than other harder stones such as granite, making it an ideal building material from Etruscan tombs carved directly into the tufa rock, to blocks of tufa used in construction such as in many of the building structures in Monterano. With a surface similar to pumice stone, it has a rough texture that can never be polished to a smooth finish similar to travertine or marble.
Does it feel rough when you run your hand against it? You bet!
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Sandie’s Remote Visit Report: 2
I’m hearing music. Minstrels. Were minstrels performing played in this area? I’m hearing, like, stringed instruments, like a small string instrument…a flute… and soft percussion maybe like hand clapping or drum. And it’s interesting too because I’m hearing bleating of sheep too!
Our Physical Visit:
Minstrels and lutes…this describes the type of music that one would have heard during the Medieval and Renaissance eras when Monterano was at its peak.
To just focus on Monterano during the Medieval and Renaissance eras would not give it justice. This place has been populated for thousands of years before it met it’s final demise….and it passed through the hands of many vibrant civilizations that have impacted it greatly one way or another.
The town’s name, Monterano has distant origins as well….its name from the ancient times through the middle ages was Manturanum, with some suspecting the name came from the Etruscan goddess of death or afterlife, Manturna.
So let’s take a journey back in time.. waay back!
“Pre-Historic Epochs”
Based on stone artifacts discovered in the nearby Tolfa Mountains, the earliest known evidence of human presence in the area goes back to the Middle Paleolithic age, about 1000,000 years ago….and the earliest archaeological evidence of human presence in the Monterano region dates back to the Neolithic or “New Stone Age” era that practiced farming and agriculture, and created other technological advancements such as pottery.
And so these pre-historic civilizations advanced through the Bronze Age and the Iron Age all the way up to the highly advanced yet mysterious indigenous civilization…the Etruscans!
“The Etruscan Era”
The Etruscans were a highly advanced civilization that ruled over Etruria – primarily central Italy – from around 7th century BC to 3rd century BC when the Etruscan city states were conquered by the Romans and became part of Rome during the expansion of the ancient Roman Republic throughout the Italian peninsula.
During the Etruscan civilization, especially 7th and 6th centuries BC that witnessed a period of the greatest commercial, social, economical, engineering, and political advancements, may have been the last time Manturanum experienced such a height of advancement for more than 1,500 years!
We will return to this fascinating Pre-Roman civilization later on the show as we discover some amazing things they left behind for us to explore!
“Ancient Rome”In the early 300’s BC, the now conquered Manturanum fell apart as the Romans re-routed the existing Etruscan roadway for both political and practical reasons, and in their attempt to reach other towns of greater interest, the Romans diverted the routes too far from Manturanum.
Villages like Manturanum, found themselves too far from the main routes necessary for transport and commerce, and were dealt a deadly blow as they eventually lost importance and were ultimately depopulated as new villages began to take shape alongside the new main roads.
The annihilation of conquered villages and the creation of new fortified settlements along major Roman roads seemed to have been a Roman strategy.
During the Roman Empire, the Manturanum region was placed under the control of nearby town of Forum Clodii, currently the area of Lake Bracciano, which became the town hall.
“Medieval Era, 6th -11thCentury”
During the 6th century AD the Roman empire fell completely, and the period of middle ages began with a re-population of Manturanum due to its steep hilltop elevation making it easier to defend from attacks by invading Germanic tribes. Fortified walls further protected the village.
During the tumultuous medieval era, people sought protection from looters and invaders, and local landlords were able to provide that with their small armies, in return for labor in the fields…and thus the feudal system was born creating a self sufficient centralized economy based primarily on agricultural and pastoral resources with a society made up of serfs, peasants and the bourgeois gathered tight around the family of the lord.
From the 6th to 11th century the bishop moved from Forum Clodii to the fortified Monterano to escape the brutality of the invading Longobards.
In the 11th century Monterano became the possession of the powerful abbey of Saint Paul in Rome, with a rise in construction, economic and social renewal in the region.
“Renaissance Era – 14th-17th Centuries”
After many ups and downs, by the 14th century Monterano became a fief of the Anguillara family.
From the 14th century onward Monterano came in possession of several families, including the famous Orsini whose presence is still visible in many castles and palaces throughout the region.
The 1500’s saw a surge in population as many emigrated here from different regions including Tuscany.
Monterano also became famous for its production of Alicante wine made from grapes growing on tufaceous and sulfurous ground, a wine that became a favorite of Popes Paul II and Paul III.
Music during this period is sometimes associated with “minstrel” music. Minstrels were medieval European groups who performed music with lyrics that told stories of real or imaginary events. Music from Medieval to Baroque eras used many plucked string instruments like the lute and percussion instruments like drums – as well as tambourines. Therefore, throughout Monterano’s history from 6th to 17th century, music using the lutes and drums existed.
Were there sheep in the area? Sure! As there were all sorts of farm animals. In fact, you wouldn’t be imagining things if you happen hear the bleeting of sheep around here nowadays…they are still around enjoying the pastures of this region. In Italy sheep graze freely on hills and valleys. Not only sheep, but you will often see horses here too – and some “butteri” – the Italian cowboys from the region of Maremma.
Monterano – During the 1600’sIn late 1600’s Pope Clement X (named Emilio Bonaventura Altieri) from the powerful Altieri family acquired Monterano along with other nearby estates from the Orsini family.
The Altieri brought glory to Monterano….the final glory in the town’s ancient lineage before it was abruptly brought to its knees.. and this time for good.
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For more information about Sandie LaNae, please visit her website at http://www.sandiespsychicstones.com/
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Bonus feature for this episode:
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