Alviano, in medieval documents, is known as "Albianum", toponym that indicates possession, the agricultural fund of a "gens". In this case it's a praedial toponym that recalls the "praedium" of the "gens albia" that here it had a possession with rural Villa.
It's considered that the first settlement of the albiana Villa or praedium albianum should be sought on the hill between Lugnano in Teverina and Alviano, where it's still present the toponym "the Villa". Continuing our historic fast flight respect to Alviano, we recall that, towards the end of the X century, the Longobards and then the "Comites", have come from Germany to following the Emperor Ottone III began to help along the Via Tiberina, prejudice, subsequently, linked to its local baronage, as the Alviano, the Orsini, the Colonna, the Gaetani.
The Alviano obtained the title of "Orvieto Noble" and with Orvieto split the events, alliances and struggles with the town of Todi, Amelia and with all the castles of Tiberina.
The beginning of the XIII century, they appear officially between the "Domicelli" of Orvieto.
Spoleto, with the strong expansion of its Duchy, does not leave space to other feudal lords that, to safeguard the autonomy of their feuds, prefer to have contacts with Orvieto and Todi, rather than with the Duchy of Spoleto.
The 13th of November, 1290 the Alviano involved with all the Orvieto nobility the blessing and the laying of the first stone of the Orvieto Cathedral and contribute to the realization of the factory with abundant offers.
In 1300, Offreduccio and Giannotto of Alviano, with the competition of Ugolino, make an act of submission to Orvieto, to have protection against Todi respect to their property of Alviano, Guardea and Giove.
In 1301, the noble Ugolinuccio of Alviano is elected Authority of Orvieto.
This centre in the Amerino reached the maximun of the splendor in the time of Bartolomeo of Alviano, that between 1400 and 1500 was known throughout Europe for its companies to war as Captain of Ventura and for its relations with the most powerful families of the time.
Thanks to Bartolomeo which must the reconstruction and the enlargement of the ancient fortress built around the year 1000 from the Offredo Count. In 1654 the fortress was acquired by woman Olimpia Maidalchini-Pamphili, sister in law of Innocent X , for 265,000 escudos. Woman Olimpia remained popular in the imagination for the legends linked to its licentious customs.
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