Altitude 522 m (1,710 feet). 4,200 inhabitants
It owes its
origin and its name to the mines of alum (used for tanning leather and color
fabrics) discovered in 1462 by Giovanni di Castro
In the
sixteenth century the exploitation and trade of alum was given to Agostino
Chigi (1466/1520) who built the village of Monte
Roncone which later became Allumiere, workers' dwellings (interesting precursor
of social housing) and an aqueduct
Agostino
Chigi had about 20,000 people working for him and used Porto Ercole as his own
private harbor for about 100 ships that would export alum throughout all of
Europe
It was not
only the largest mine but also one of the largest pre-industrial and commercial
companies in Europe
At the time
of Pope St. Pius V Ghislieri (1566/72) the mines financed the war against the
Turks. They are still in efficiency albeit with reduced activity
Palace
of the Apostolic Chamber
Built at
the end of the sixteenth century for Gregory XIII Boncompagni (1572/85)
It hosted
some popes
On the
first floor there is the MUSEO CIVICO (Civic Museum) with 4,000 pieces of which
1,500 exhibited, with three sections: archaeological (Villanovan biconical
vases, Etruscan tombs kits and items from the Villa Fontanaccia), naturalistic
and mineralogical
Hermitage
of Our Lady of Grace
Near the Parco della Rimembranza (Memorial Park)
below the summit of Monte Le Grazie (616 meters - 2,000 feet) the highest
elevation of the MONTI DELLA TOLFA
At the
altitude of 359 m (1,168 feet) is the CHURCH OF THE TRINITY, hermitage where,
according to tradition, St. Augustine would have dictated his rule
Sanctuary of
Cibona
1647 Domenico Castelli (1582/1657). Outside Allumiere. It retains a much
venerated image of the Virgin Mary
Roman
Villa of the Fontanaccia
Near Monte
Tolfaccia (580 m), southeast of Allumiere
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