Costacciaro

Costacciaro is considered a settlement of ancient origin, contrary to earlier historians who dated its foundation to the 13th century. Local archival evidence suggests a more remote origin.^[3]

Around 1250 the castle of Costacciaro was built or enlarged and fortified by the commune of Gubbio as part of its territorial defense system. During the medieval period a captain and a notary were appointed by Gubbio, while a local mayor was elected within the community.^[4]

In 1379 the inhabitants rebelled against the bishop of Gubbio, and the castle became a center for exiles. Peace was concluded in 1383, when the bishop guaranteed protection to the settlement. The following year, in 1384, the community submitted to Antonio II da Montefeltro.^[4]

Throughout the medieval and early modern periods the site played a strategic military role as a transit center along the Via Flaminia, benefiting from its position on this important communication route. In the 15th century its territory was organized into administrative subdivisions known as ville and vocaboli.^[4]

On 5 January 1798 the community swore an oath of loyalty to the Cisalpine Government during the Napoleonic era. In the same year an irredentist revolt led by members of the Bernabei family broke out but was suppressed.^[4]

In the 1850s, Costaccaro had a population of 1,636 inhabitants.^[5] In 1860 the settlement was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. On 23 December of that year it was transferred from the Province of Urbino to the Province of Umbria.^[4]

The town is situated on a hill at the foot of Mount Cucco, at an elevation of about 500 metres above sea level. It lies approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Gubbio and 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of Fabriano.^[3]

Mount Cucco rises above the town to a height of about 1,500 metres. Its well-known stalactite caves, long regarded as a natural curiosity, attracted the attention of scholars and visitors in the 19th century. They were described by Counts Girolamo and Forte Gabrielli, members of a prominent local noble family. About 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the town, in the direction of Sigillo, lie the remains of a bridge over the Scirca stream, traditionally identified as an Etruscan structure later restored under the Roman consul Flaminius.^[3]

Costacciaro borders the following municipalities: Fabriano, Gubbio, Sassoferrato, Scheggia e Pascelupo, Sigillo. The town was founded around 1250 by the commune of Gubbio as a stronghold against the nearby fortress of Sigillo, held by the commune of Perugia.

In the mid-19th century, the local economy was based primarily on agriculture. Cereals were cultivated, and pastureland was abundant. The wine produced in the area was especially esteemed according to contemporary accounts.^[5]