Proceno has historically been a walled town, entirely surrounded by fortifications that once stretched for about three kilometers. Along the patrol walkway (camminamento di ronda), there were small outposts known as cappannelli—covered guard stations placed at regular intervals for surveillance.
Access to the town was possible through only three gates: Porta della Ripa, Porta San Martino, and Porta del Bottino. Each was guarded and closed at night. The limited number of entrances highlights the town’s strategic importance and its defensive needs.
Origin and transformations of the walls
It is difficult to establish precisely the exact period of construction of the walls, destroyed, rebuilt, neglected and then reinforced several times. It is believed that the first wall dates back to the 10th century, contemporary with the construction of the first fortress. The most recent sections were rebuilt between the 15th and 16th centuries, in an era of renewed military tensions.
An important testimony is a 17th century plan preserved at the Vatican Library, made by Pietro Paolo Drei and Antonio Alemanni . It highlights the " Fortino fatto di novo " and the demolished portico in front of the Church of the Madonna del Giglio, probably knocked down to ensure better defensive visibility of the roads coming from Acquapendente and the Paglia valley.
Defensive function and decline
As described in 1462 by Pope Pius II Piccolomini , Proceno was a " nobile oppidum et vix expugnabile, altis undique rupibus cinctum ", that is, a fortified city difficult to conquer, protected by high cliffs on all sides. This defensive system was updated during the War of Castro (1641-1649), a conflict between the Farnese and the Papal States.
With the advent of modern artillery , the walls lost their primary defensive function, but continued to exert a symbolic presence and define the historical identity of the village.
Where
Corso Regina Margherita, 2, 01020 Proceno VT, Italia
