Onano: the village, the fortress, and the "sacred legume." - DMO La Francigena e le Vie del Gusto in Tuscia

Onano: the village, the fortress, and the “sacred legume.”

A few kilometers from Lake Bolsena, Onano is a small medieval village with charming alleys and squares. The village, with ancient origins, was inhabited by the Umbrians first and later by the Etruscans.

The village, the fortress, and the "sacred legume."

The current inhabited center of Onano is the result of four groups of inhabitants that emerged during Roman occupation and were unified from the Middle Ages onwards. Since then, the inhabited center has been the scene of conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, and later contested between local dignitaries and the Papacy. The numerous historical dominions have left behind valuable artistic and architectural evidence, such as the Monaldeschi Castle, which, after hosting Giuseppe Garibaldi and Pio XII before he became pope, now houses the offices of the town’s municipality.

Despite being a small town, Onano is rich in religious monuments like the Church of Santa Maria della Conciliazione, which houses the remains of the town’s patrons, and the Church of Madonna delle Grazie, adorned with frescoes from the Sienese school.

Dating back to the late 15th century is the Church of Madonna del Piano, which currently retains only a portion of the frescoes that once adorned its interior walls due to bombing during World War II.

The Church of Madonna della Fontana, also known as Madonna del Soccorso, boasts splendid 16th-century frescoes. Over the centuries, it has undergone various renovations.

From a century later is the Church of Madonna della Santissima Trinità, unique for the underground spring that flowed beneath the altar, believed by the faithful to be miraculous.

The history and traditions of Onano also revolve around the products of the land. Typical of these areas and dating back to the 16th century is the lentil. Consumed by the papal court since the 1600s, the ‘lenticchia dei papi’ (pope’s lentil) has even participated in international exhibitions. Its cultivation is practiced only in the volcanic soils of Onano. It is highly flavorful and light brown in color.

Events in Onano

Every year, in the first decade of August, a festival is dedicated to it. Among other events in Onano, we note: the Sacred Representation of the Passion of Christ, the Spring Festival (at the end of May), and the Living Nativity Scene.