Chapter 22 - Errata and Updates September 18, 1940 XVIII -
I refer the hermit of the Church of Vallebona that towards the end of October last year, one evening caused a great storm with heavy thunder and lightning. All of a sudden, as eras gone to church, he heard a loud crash followed by a loud thud, what happened? A bolt of lightning had hit the highest tower of the old walled town of Vallebona that soared majestically into the garden of the Hermit and the top of it collapsed with a great noise.
1939 - To order Municipal Secretary Luigi Meloni has been removed the iron railings that surrounded the deep basin of the fountain in Rome near Via Garibaldi Square to be offered the metal to the country.
07/16/1941
Following orders from higher authorities, if necessary for the metal to the supreme necessity of Homeland War, the City of Orvinio, has today removed the two bronze drums placed in the tower above the clock Romana and the door bell of the belfry of the school building (former convent) adjacent to the Church of St. Mary of the Recommended.
few months later by the bus were taken to Rieti.
17/05/1942
E 'dead in Rome, owner of Cremonesi SEFilippo Castle Orvinio
In early 1943 the year 1943 the Castle has changed again Orvinio the owner, was purchased by the Marquis Roberto Malvezzi Camping (Pontifical Noble Guard) is said to have three million pounds and a half behind closed doors and including the farm.
order of the new owner, all the furnishings and interior design of the forming Castle Orvinio, were brought to Rome and sold at public auction in the Gallery Giacomini Via Condotti in 1991 and just in the day March 9 to 20, for the story were sold (on 11) even the two beautiful and historic sedans outside of black leather with gilt arabesques and internally lined with crimson velvet, fringed with gold lace and the 600 to 700, belonging to the Barons Muti, at that time the owners of Castle Orvinio, for the sum of £ .700 each, I present.
June 1940
Fascist Italy (Head of State Benito Mussolini) was allied with Germany (National Socialist or Nazi) led by Adolf Hitler and Japan, declares war on France and England.
After early successes, rather ephemeral, they begin the military reversals that are fixed in the biggest disaster that Italy memories.
England and its allies occupy the first Italian East Africa (made from Somalia, Ethiopia e l’Eritrea) poi la Cirenaica e quindi la Tripolitania.
Gli Stati Uniti d’America, attaccati dal Giappone, scendono in campo a fianco dell’Inghilterra; lo stesso fa la Russia perché attaccata dalla Germania.
Siamo alla primavera del 1943. Mentre la Russia si incarica di stritolare i tedeschi, gli anglosassoni occupano le isole italiane di Lampedusa e Pantelleria, sentinelle avanzate nel mare Mediterraneo; successivamente viene la volta della Sicilia incominciando dalla costa meridionale e quindi attraverso lo Stretto di Messina avviene l’invasione della nostra martoriata penisola incominciando dalla Calabria.
25 luglio 1943
L’Italia è stremata per i terribili colpi ricevuti nonché for the suffering and unimaginable restrictions that have been submitted.
His Majesty Vittorio Emanuele III di Savoia, King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia ed'Albania is arrested (in Rome at the Villa Savoia) Mussolini, after having sacked from his post as head of government, naming as his successor, Marshal d ' Italy Pietro Badoglio.
September 8, 1943
SE Marshal Badoglio, after careful examination of the Italian tragic situation, in agreement with Sovereign, calls on the Anglo-Saxons and the Russians to the peace that is accepted by the unconditional surrender of Italy (unfortunately there ' is nothing else to do).
While almost all aviation and beyond one hundred thousand units of our Navy are delivered to the English ports of the island of Malta, the rest of our glorious army remained in Italy, through treason and deceitful arts with the use of weapons is also disarmed and dispersed by the German armies which were scattered almost everywhere on Italian soil.
In less than a week, the Teutons (which are always worthy descendants of Attila and imitators) have been able to pulverize our army occupied northern and central Italy, including Rome.
September 1943
Orvinio is occupied by the Germans towards the end of September 1943 by about sixty men between graded ranks.
The German command in his dwelling house cav. No. Armando Alessi (top floor of the building Morelli in Piazza Garibaldi), while the troops seized the farm of the Marquis Malvezzi.
then occupy the Granarone Castle, the whole neighborhood of Villini el'autorimessa Ricci Pompey to the main road near Carpinetto.
Notwithstanding that the Castle had been placed under the aegis of a neutral state of Vatican City and in spite of the entrances had been affixed to the tables Monitr visible colors of the Holy See, the Huns weds have not failed to invade the same , however, appear to have not caused serious damage.
After the occupation of Italy by German, our sovereign declares war on Germany and Japan, placing alongside its new Anglo-Saxon allies, Russia, China, Brazil and many other small countries to liberate our sacred ground by the Teutonic hordes.
June 17, 1944
Pressed by Italian troops and allied Orvinio the last German troops leave at five on Saturday, 17 giugno1944 heading towards Rieti after blown up with dynamite at the bridge three or chiavicotto said the collapse or booty and at five in the morning, the big bridge in the same location Grugnaleta (called Bridge Bear - manufacturer's name) overlooking the Sanctuary of Our Lady of SS.ma Vallebona.
Around 5.30, by the same heroes, the same fate has befallen the great bridge in the locality of Poggio Moiano Malpas.
the night before by the same method and by the same heroes, jumped in the air under the bridge and another bridge over Roccagiovine Percile Fotrani same location and was knocked down a retaining wall of the mountain resulting in landslides and obstruction of the road. Following the destruction
above, Orvinio remained completely isolated from both the Via Salaria and both the Tiburtina Valeria.
vicinori While the inhabitants of towns have suffered serious damage, especially license, and Poggio Percile Moiano, Orvinio buildings were saved miraculously.
Not a single building was destroyed or damaged seriamente, non ostane che il Castello, il palazzo Morelli, la casa Frezza e la casa Ricci fossero state tempestivamente minate.
Stante la precipitosa ritirata dei barbari, forse non hanno fatto in tempo ad appiccare il fuoco alle miccie.
Si può pertanto coscenziosamente escludere il Divino intervento della Madonna SS.ma di Vallebona?
Mi viene riferito che qualche giorno prima, Orvinio è stato visitato anche dal Maresciallo del Reich tedesco Kesserling Comandante in Capo delle truppe germaniche in Italia. (Roma è stata occupata dalla V Armata Americana e da reparti di bersaglieri ed alpini italiani il giorno 4 giugno 1944).
Solo il Sommo Iddio è stato testimone (e certamente sarà anche il Supremo Giudice inesorabile) of civilization to all peoples, committing countless executions, including mass deportations, and looting, destruction of entire villages and towns, harassment of any kind to the most refined arts had the most terrible atrocities and acts of cruelty made with real cynicism repulsive sparing neither women nor children, nor old, nor sick in bed and even nuns and priests. Even
Orvinio paid in person with two of its best sons and two young Alessi and some innocent boy who was passing in the street, shot for no reason. This
the Italians have to ponder and remember.
8-9-10
While the Germans in September 1943 by force and by fraud, are in charge of dissolving as quickly as possible the remains of the Glorious though unfortunate Italian Army after the defeat suffered in North Africa, was still strong more than thirty divisions, the same fate, unfortunately, was reserved posed to the six divisions to the defense of Rome.
If we exclude the value shown by some small department in the locality and other bodies, the weight (you can say the total) was supported by the ever loyal and unswerving never contradicted Division Grenadiers of Sardinia "(formerly the King's Guard) that was Albano was spread from Fiumicino.
The collision occurred in the vicinity of the City tremendous military in "Cecchignola" outside the Porta S. Paolo and the desperate fight lasted about 50 hours continuously.
The value of grenadiers was superior to all praise. The superb
Division faced the unequal struggle with the strength of only three thousand men, with no hope, and having endured beyond all human possibility in the face of overwhelming German forces, armed to the teeth and they did a hell-fire, day ten, without the support of guns, surrounded by several tanks, ammunition exhausted and without food for lack of supplies, having proved useless any further resistance, was overwhelmed, despite himself, to give up.
promptly but was done to rescue the most glorious onuste flags of glory and full of medals including gold.
The Germans came up with every means, from the flattery to threats, to come into possession of the glorious banners, but failed.
indomitable Division's losses were appalling and that is 1550 units (over 50%).
These figures are sufficient in themselves to prove the value and the heroic conduct of the bold
Grenadiers.
Let them know the Italians (remember it and not forget) during the bitter struggle, the Grenadier Guards who fell prisoner of the Germans, these were first stripped, then shot and then thrown naked into the River Tiber: Any comment would spoil.
May 8, 1945
Allied armies operating in Italy, made up of American troops (5th Army), England (8th Army), Australian, Brazilian, Canadian, Indian, South African, French and Polish in addition to six divisions of the Italian Army and the competition of our Royal Air Force and Navy at the end of April 1945 the Germans had driven back the barbarians from Sicily to the Po Valley.
the night of May 3, 1945 in northern Italy still subject to the heel Teutonic occurred simultaneous general uprising of the bands of Italian patriots controlled and directed by General Raffaele Cadorna occupying almost the entire Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia high and a large part of Lombardy and Veneto, and the main city in the capture of many German units surprised by the unexpected simultaneous uprising. For that reason
commands to quickly flocked to race in support of the Italian patriots and occupied up to the Brenner pass without a fight and the day May 8, 1945 ended the country's expulsion from Italy of the barbarians invading Germans in one room of the Palazzo Reale Caserta where it was signed the unconditional surrender of the armed group operating in Italy Teutonic, in southern Austria and Lower Bavaria to Berdsgaden (fortress and refuge for Adolf Hitler.
For this event there were three days of festivities around the world starting with the battered London who suffered like few other cities.
September 24, 1947 In the company of Mr. Firmani, secretary of the Municipality of Orvinio, we went to Rieti in search of the bell of the Abbey Church of S. Maria del Piano. After
had granted us permission by the Chief Secretary of that hall, we have inspected the premises of the Civic Theatre, the Museum and the bell tower above the facade of the Palazzo Comunale, which was supposed to have been placed.
The research was crowned with complete success, because the sacred bronze was discovered in a remote corner of the stage at the Theatre Vespasian.
In an interview granted us by Prof. Sacchetti Sanetti Mayor of Rieti, that we confirmed that the bell of St. Maria del Plan Orvinio, is actually what is found on the premises of the Civic Theatre. The bell measures eighty centimeters in height, not including the crown, which serves to secure the strain and the diameter of the mouth is equal to the height that is 80 cm, thickness cent. Otto.
the top outer two rows are placed tutt'ingiro note:
Among Nucula Abba and the Blessed Virgin seated with the Holy Child in her womb the infant (reproducing the Madonna of Vallebona known since that time?)
Below an olive tree with branches, leaves and roots. Under the word
aquilanus there is a golden eagle to wings half-open crown with three bullets in his head (perhaps symbolizing the city of Aquila).
Under the fourth C of the date of the merger a small crucifix (about eight centimeters) to about eight inches from the dome of a festoon of flowers and angelic wings four equally spaced about five centimeters with garlands of flowers.
The rest of the exterior surface is completely smooth. The Municipality of
Orvinio has already started their practice at the Higher Authority, in order to regain possession of her bell, and we hope that the clearance, for a century been so long, do not wait too nice for the bell, from the elegant lines after so long a period of enforced silence, can with la sua squillante voce, placare il giusto risentimento di tutti gli Orviniensi per l’immeritato affronto commesso nell’aprile del 1849 dal Preside di Rieti sig. Raffaele Feoli.
Giugno 1948
(Vedere 1939) La cancellata della fontana, dopo essere stata divelta e gettata a terra nei retrostanti locali dei pubblici lavatoi, è rimasta colà per tutto il periodo della guerra ed oltre.
Con lodevole iniziativa, il Municipio di Orvinio, dopo averla fatta restaurare, la faceva ricollocare al proprio posto, degno corollario della monumentale fontana.
2 Giugno 1946
Giornata di lutto nazionale e di vergogna per l’Italia.
La coalizione dei partiti politici di estrema sinistra, capeggiati communists and socialists mergers, in conjunction with small parties of action and Republican town, to which is added at the last moment the party of Christian Democracy, (for now the strongest party, bears the brunt of its serious responsibility) has been imposed on the nation's institutional referendum, that the Italians had ruled, by a vote, if they prefer to continue and then confirm if you intend to be ruled by a monarchy, or prefer the Republican.
Moreover, instead of waiting for a period of coolness, that the Italians had been able to cast their votes with more soundly, and after mature reflection, are drawn to deliberately, to make a short distance from the end of the terrible war lost, that is when the souls were exasperated by the defeat suffered undeservedly, and many continue in this state, the unjust and wicked and quite false propaganda, skillfully made by activists of these extremists. Add after then, that the Minister of Interior was a fervent republican and socialist Romita engineer who in cahoots with extremist cabal has maneuvered to the detriment of the Savoy monarchy so patently obscene and disgusting that is truly loved and well-liked by the vast majority of Italians are worthy of the name.
They did the same person to vote multiple times in different sections, the dead children, void valid ballots, accepted fake cards, replacement cards during the voting and ballots, intimidation at people, threatening letters, supervised and deceived voters to the booths where they were to tick the card, cards stolen and destroyed (the grocery market Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Rome we have been told by many, have wrapped their merchandise with stolen cards to the seats), seats and urns violated with the consent of agents of partisan Romita etc etc..
were excluded from voting in many ex-Fascists, former senators of the Italian Venezia Giulia, the Italian prisoners held outside Italy, the Italians of the Dodecanese Islands, those remaining in the Italian colony and all Italians abroad, as well as those trovavansi on ships in the seas of the world, knowing that their vote would go straight to the Monarchy.
Notwithstanding this, the radio reported that the trend of continually announcing elections throughout the kingdom, until about 23 o'clock, they said clearly that the Monarchy was still mainly on the republic.
Then for a few hours on the radio was silent, what had happened? And 'certainly have been given the necessary orders to accentuate the fraud, that the great small Romita was put in a position to announce the following official statement, namely: 10,719,284 votes
Monarchy Republic
12,717,923 votes
Votes 1,498,136 invalid.
These official data tailored in such a referendum!
Deacons posterity so that led to this monster of so-called republic of Masaniello.
We hope instead that, before long, can indirsi a new referendum by a free election, then I'm sure the Italians will give a right answer, for repair of onto suffered fatal coercively in June 2, 1946.
This is not to an idea, but only in the interests of all who loves Italy, as always, the House of Savoy and do not forget that we never had a united Italy if the Savoy monarchy at the beginning of the last century, had not raised the cry of pain of all Italians oppressed by the yoke of the various small states that were teeming in our troubled peninsula.
It should always be mindful that the Monarchy joins us from the Alps to Lilibeo, while the Republic divides us.
December 8, 1949 (see 1939 - 7/16/1941 to June 1948)
As has been done to replace the fence in the monumental fountain in Via Roma, so it was done to recover from the State of cast bronze titled, identical shape and weight to those seized the 10/07/1941.
The blessing of the sacred bronzes, before being relocated to the place where they were taken, took place today in the square before the church of S. Mary of the Recommended.
The baptism of the bell was imposed as the Angelus was conducted by the pastor of Orvinio Sarrocco Bishop Don Salvatore; godmother was Anna Sister of the Daughters of the Cross, Superior of the Convent of Orvinio. It 'was put back on its tower at 12 pm on 17.12.1949 speaking for the first time with his bronze voice, the people of Orvinio awaiting anxiously. The new bell weighs Kg.94; on the outside, the center has played an effigy of the Madonna of the Recommended SS.ma that surmounts the high altar of the church next the same name, with the writing of the old bell that is requisitioned AVE MARIA GRAZIA PLENA MDCVIII AD.
up toward the dome of the same five heads of winged cherubs with garlands.
Down at the mouth reads:
ABLATUM TEMPORE BELLI ADMCMXL MCMXLV-PUBLICO-RESTITUTUM SUMPTU MCMIL AD (ie 1949)
few days later were also put in place new timpani clock above the Porta Romana.
November 21, 1949 The Municipality of
Orvinio 21:11:49 by order signed by 59 of Mr. Mayor. Valentino Tani ordered the population to provide within ten days of the removal of remains, buried within the Church of S. Maria del Piano and buried in New Cemetery in voc. Petriana in their family graves, after the deadline, the City has done so at their own expense to transport all the bones within the ossuary in the new town cemetery. Provvedimento meritorio.
Luglio 1951
La ditta F.lli Lorioli di Milano ha coniate diecimila medaglie da diciotto millimetri di diametro in onore della Madonna SS.ma di Vallebona con la scritta “Madonna SS.ma di Vallebona” mentre sul rovescio è riprodotto il monte di Vallebona con il sovrastante celebre Santuario e la grande torre nel prossimo orto dell’eremita con la leggenda “Santuario di Vallebona – Orvinio”.
Per averne qualche esemplare occorre rivolgersi al Parroco di Orvinio mediante una libera offerta a beneficio del Santuario stesso.
Estate 1951 e seguenti
Per allargare di alcuni metri il viale Roma dalla Piazza Garibaldi al piazzale antistante la Chiesa di S.Giacomo, è stato effettuato il taglio del monte e con il materiale di risulta si è colmata la conca delle Canapine (ex cava di argilla per le prossime antiche fornaci di laterizi) contigue al viale Roma; con tali movimenti di terra ne è risultato un immenso piazzale molto comodo per effettuarci delle partite di calcio, per effettuarvi la trebbiatura del grano e per il riposo dei numerosi villeggianti.
Nello stesso periodo sono stati rinnovati i selciati con le relative cordonate nell’intera Salita del Borgo, della cordonata che immette dal Corso Vanenti alla Porta dell’Arco e riattamento della maggior parte delle strade e piazze dei Rioni Casalino, Torricello e S.Giacomo, nonché la sistemazione del viale della Passeggiata con speciale riferimento al Tower, however, in my opinion, the work was not performed in a workmanlike manner and certainly the new pavement will resist a short time in comparison to those defeated, that have worked well for a period of centuries-old.
In the same period of time has been patched up the retaining wall of the little square in front of the Church of St. Mary of the Recommended, however, while the first of the retaining wall there was no shelter, have now been erected all'ingiro some stone pillars connected from metal pipes to crown the whole extent of the retaining wall itself.
January 1, 1951
were detached from District of Orvinio and aggregates to that of Rieti, the following municipalities with their fractions:
- Collalto
- Collegiove
- Marcetelli
- Nespolo
- Pagan
only to the jurisdiction of that agency and financial offices of Direct Taxes and the registry office, while that of the Magistrate's Court, will always belong to that of Orvin.
18-22 February 1953
From eyewitnesses I learned the details of the total collapse of the entire façade of the Abbey Church of S. Maria del Piano. On February 18, 1953
unexpectedly collapsed the front wall of the upper zone includes the artwork of the facade that is the culmination of the eardrum, the rose window, the window, the two pilasters with Corinthian capitals and their six arches with two plaques.
Around 11 o'clock the next Sunday, February 22, with a great noise suddenly ruined the rest of the facade to its foundations, including the portal, giving up to describe the pitiable spectacle that presented itself to my eyes when I went to see ruin . Therefore, I immediately rushed to the Superintendency of Monuments and excavations Lazio, Piazza S. Ignazio, including information on the disaster happened at St. Mary of the Plan, because a committee of engineers from the same Superintendent urged me, it made an inspection March 10, 1953, preparing a comprehensive report for the Ministry of higher Education.
On March 17, 1953 meeting in Town Hall, Orvinio dei rappresentanti della suddetta sovrintendenza, dell’Intendenza di Finanza di Rieti e del sindaco di Orvinio professore Goffredo Liguori per concordare la cessione gratuita di tutto il complesso di S.Maria del Piano, dal Comune di Orvinio verso lo Stato Italiano, giusta Deliberazione n.4 del 30 aprile 1953 del Consiglio Comunale di Orvinio, debitamente approvata dalla Autorità Tutoria; in detta Deliberazione il Comune di Orvinio ha posto a suo carico le spese di registrazione dell’atto di cessione.
Nel frattempo, in seguito al mio personale interessamento, avendo ottenuto dalla Direzione Generale delle Antichità e Belle Arti presso il Ministro della Pubblica Istruzione, un primo stanziamento di fondi sul bilancio 1953 di detto Ministero, the rate of five million lire, in early June 1953 it will have started long desired restoration starting from the tower (see Fig.22 and 23 to pag.62 A) bell.
The work will be long and patients and we hope to soon see the work accomplished so that the important and beautiful Abbey Church of S. Maria del Piano, the pride of the entire Orvinio and Sabina, back to its former glory as a brilliant jewel, its former glory.
S. Maria del Plan after the collapse of the facade of the Church took place on 18 and 22 February 1953.
S. Maria del Plan after the collapse
June 1953 - Work begins on the restoration of the bell tower of St. Maria del Piano
L'Osservatore Romano - December 24, 1954
The restoration of the bell tower of St. Maria del Piano in Orvinio
Tradition has it that the abbey of St. Maria del Piano near Orvinio was built by Emperor Charlemagne in gratitude to the Virgin for reported in those places a great victory over the Saracens in the march from Ancona to Rome where he would in the solemn coronation S. Peter. While paying any faith in what legend has flourished in a region that while he sees in his story the appearance of the Franks, one can not help but see examples and stylistic elements in the construction of the abbey, which is very close to the period approximate date and are narrated in the legend at least partly the abbey and the church with the bell tower for ages before the eleventh century.
However, the first document on S. Maria del Piano, dates back to 1015 and remembers how the magnates of the place gave the territory of Farfa in Sabina "in loco nominatur here to illa plana, est ubi ecclesia aedificata Vocabulaire Sancta Maria. " The importance of the abbey
touched the highest point in the Middle Ages, and then began to decline immediately after the Renaissance from grade to grade until it was abandoned in 1869, sold to the City of Orvinio, who created a small cemetery.
Through several centuries of complete abandonment of the three nuclei the wall structure suffered heavy damage, culminating months ago with the collapse in two days of beautiful facade of the church in the Romanesque style with lancet Abruzzo carved below the rose window and portal fifteenth overlapped a second time to the original style.
recently the only element which retains a certain integrity was the bell tower. Longitudinal lesions throughout its height it threatened the stability and did decide the prof. Ceschi, Superintendent of Monuments of Lazio, starting with the restoration of the surviving remnant of what was once a powerful and wealthy abbey.
The direction of the work was entrusted to engineer. John of Geso. After freeing the base of the tower by the thick wild vegetation clinging to the walls and after collecting and selecting the material lying around and fell from the tower itself, is to establish a strong bridge of service, all around the perimeter of the tower, and containing function, along with six alternate cerchiture iron to the top of the building, supports security in the event of any settling movements of the tower. Such moves are settling
feared when he was released from the interior of the tower material and debris from the roof and most were operated inside sbadacciature security in view of the total pulverization of the mortar between the blocks and hence the increased sensitivity of the walls to external and internal pressures. It was then resumed the work of the four walls of the tower piers, two of whom had a significant misalignments. In the delicate work was used all the original material found at the foot of the bell tower and represented in large part from Roman bricks and blocks, some of which bear incise scritture indubbiamente facenti parte di antiche lapidi scolpite nel periodo romano.
Successivamente si provvide a disostruire le aperture del campanile, le bifore e le trifore, ricollocando al proprio posto le originali colonnine e i capitelli rinvenuti nel materiale caduto e accumulatosi a terra e a ricostruire il tetto completamente mancante, a quattro pioventi, interpretando l’andamento di tutto lo stile. In questo modo nel novembre 1954 si pose termine al restauro del campanile iniziato nel giugno del 1953, ridonando allo antico monumento le suggestive caratteristiche proprie della sua epoca.
Della secolare abbazia benedettina, al di fuori del campanile non rimane che un insieme di mura decrepite e in rovina nell’insieme del quale a stento can be traced to fundamental architectural motifs. The bell tower stands restored and renewed its precise contours that stand at the base, on the uncertain whiteness of the ruins.
And the ancient abbey also expects to reach her the day of the miraculous resurrection to give back to the original tower is complete and for many decades to hand down to posterity the tradition that is half history, half legend, the king of the Franks, Charles Great.
