Borgo Petroro is located in the ancient Castle of Petroro, on top of a hill a few miles from the town of Todi, on the road to Foligno.
Its history goes back a long way: it was part of a defensive line in the Todi area in the 13th century, but long before that it had been inhabited by the “gens Petreja”, which dates back to the Roman Age, when it was built as a “Castrum” of the mighty “Tuder municipium”. In a population census dated 1290, Petroro Castle, which is situated along one of the main arterial roads branching out from the Via Flaminia, counted up to 60 families and around 300 inhabitants, and was the only fortified location of the “plebato di Santa Maria di Due Santi”, dedicated to the protection of the villas in the area. Set in a context of great artistic and religious importance, because of the presence of many holy places such as the Romanesque churches of San Epimaco and Gordiano, San Salvatore, Santa Maria, San Martino and Sant’Antimo, Petroro also served as a retreat for pilgrims. Furthermore, it is on one of the “Jerusalem Ways”, as established by the presence of the Hospital of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The Benedictine church of St. Martin can be found within the castle’s perimeter. In the 16th century it had the dignity of a cardinal’s commendam entrusted to Cardinal Riario, also titular of Sassovivo, nephew of Pope Julius II. Then, in 1711, it passed to the Opera Pia di Santa Maria della Consolazione, to which it still belongs. It is recalled that in 1499, at the time of the Todi of the Guelphs, a frightful massacre was perpetrated in the castle, when the followers of the Ghibelline Altobello Chiaravalle took refuge there, hunted by the troops of Cesare Borgia, the Orsini, the Vitelli of Città di Castello and Ludovico degli Atti da Todi. The manor was only saved from destruction by a measure of the general council in 1493, which offered Todi citizenship to its inhabitants in exchange for 93 gold ducats to be paid. Thanks to an important bequest by Francesco Maria Ridolfi, the building became the property of the Opera Pia della Consolazione di Todi, established in 1527 with donations from the faithful who flocked to Todi to venerate the image of the Augusta Vergine in the temple designed by architect Bramante Lazzari.
The entrance door is a beautiful arched construction surmounted by the stone coat of arms depicting an eagle, symbol of the city of Todi, dating back to 1577.
Mid-19th century land registers document a bakery and an oil mill, the millstone of which remains in the village square. The palace, formerly the seat of the Ranieri family, is a 16th-century keep that dominates the other buildings in the village, and was later the seat of the agricultural administration of the Congregazione di Carità.
The millstone bears witness to life in the last centuries, as the castle became an abbey and managed the land of the surrounding properties. The millstone was part of an oil mill located in the main building of the castle. It was driven by a pair of oxen and remained in use until the early 20th century.
Now the castle of Borgo Petroro has returned to open its doors to welcome our guests and show off all its beauty and charm after an impressive renovation.
It is a pleasure to welcome you at Borgo Petroro!
