ALLUMIERE

Today it introduces itself as a smiling option of temperate climate, rich in forests and sure destination of those who prefere to refresh from the summer heat behind the shadow of centuries old beeches or friendly chestnuts that grow there indisturbed. its more than 4000 inhabitants live over the highest tops of Tolfa mountains  as - their own night since they are this miners town descendants, miner workers that thanks to their hard work, offered to european economy the possibility to get free from one of the heaviest dependance coming from east around 1400 : Mineral lighting that at that time was the foundation of a great part of the industrial work, from the leather lanning to the matenial assembly. Lighting was discovered by Giovarmi di Castro who promote the foundation of the fírst miner's nucleos, transfered to Roncone Mount's botton fífty year later by Agostino Chigi, This settlement give origin to Allumiere village, that surged in 1826 as a dignified independent town. The urban structures spread around the few building that this miners towenleft.

ALLUMIERE TOWN

TOLFA

It's the biggest living center area. 553 meters above sea level, at Fortress Mount height which semaining ruins, on top, witness of an altemated and tortured existance. On ancient times, two Tolfa areas were known. Old Tolfa fortified around its castle and New Tolfa, settle over Tolfaccia mounts, 10 kilometers away ad facing the seashore. The town preserves evocative remainders left since the primitive MiddIe Age installations outside the narrow walls remainders grow richer, small rinascimento styled building were construct afier Lightening discovery. The stern presence of Fortress Mount, masters the entire town, their hardness of the massive vulcano didn't scape to the eyes of the poet Annibal Caro, who dwelled in Tolfa for a while. The mount raises over a wide view from where man's glance can reach unsuspected distances, far enough to distinguish Saint Pietro's dome, and farther Roma, the castles or even the highest tops of Appennini chain of mountains.

TOLFA

TRADITION

Folklore is still alive and it plays a very special role since tied to old traditions being a genuine expression of popular essence, an all festivities and events. Don't miss August season : In Tolfa "Prosciutto" (ham) festival celebrated on the Sunday previous August Bank Holiday (Ferragosto  where other local typical products can be found. The "butteri" (horse shepherds) tournament begins the first Sunday of August and protracts with a vaniety of event all rnonth long. In Allumiere the manifestation with quarter's competìtion customs takes place on first Sunday after August bank Holiday. Bath Tolfa and Allumiere towns, organize during their Patron Saint Festivities, Tolfa (S: Egidio on September 1 st) and Allumiere (  Madonna delle grazie on September 8 th) : horse races, fíreworks, raffles at main squares, launching of aerostatic balloons "a braccio" street poets exibition, and more. The day before Christmas Eve, songs of the season can be heard on the streets of towns. On Eastern hold Friday, Tolfa's brotherhoods organize a suggestive custon procession- Many other events gather around tradition ad local costums such as : "La Ferrata" painting exhíbition usually hold at the second half of Iuly, then we have the"Ruzzelone" launching towards the end of may, both festivities celabrated in Allumiere. During all year the typical riders and the horse shephers can be seen in events such as cattle branding and other country festivities, corresponding to season cycles as "Autumn Festivity" in Allumiere.

PATRON SAINT FESTIVITIES

THE HISTORY

Etruscan people long dwell Tolfa mountains and Mignone Valley the essence of their presence is still alive today, remarkable ruins are spread all over.Sanctuaries, numerous and rich cemeteries indicate the grat number of village centersi connected one another trough wood paths which at certain points are still in use. Etruscan economical and commercial explotation of the area was well planned: Lumber from woods; products from agricolture and cattle breeding; minerals from excavation and artisan products were trade at the port markets of big coast cities such us Tarquinia but specially Agylla (Cervetenì) whose port was the solid shoulder that supported Etruscans wealth.Thanks to ultimated growing interest orn archeoloical rescarch, "Conserva's" cemetery was partially recovered.The entire village posses an important number of etruscans graves, but the biggest concentration locates over the high plateau that starts with the old customs-house and continues towards east up to meet the "eastern rock". Part of the discoveries were destinated to enrich Tolfa's civic Musean, now installed where the old Agostinian priests monastery was (Sughera loc.) and that remains open the whole week. Roman ruins are disceminated all over, here and there they are visible, trough forests and pastures, rests of Rornan paths deisigned with their characteristic pavements, walIs, wood signals and numbered borders that surround the whde town, to which popular fantasy assumes esoteric meanings (ex: the rock of the witch). Moreover, great number of earthenwares emerge in some coltivated lands, reveling the presence of rustic villages. In certain cases though the remaining wall structures, make us suppose the existance of imposing buildings.Middle ages have deeply signed the area, arranging the inhabitants town enclosures over high plateaus.A magnificent panorwnic view can be appieciated by vísiting the ruins Tolfaccia Mount (580 m.) is one highest tops ori the area. Easily crossed forest covers the ruffis of unfortunated New Tolfà which forts have been demolish, around states XIV century, due to strategic political reasons. After being subdue it started to depopulate.At New Tolfa's loops botton, excavation works are hold along a wide roman village area that make us expect unportant discoveries.Forgotten on the time, the big Abbey ruins, lays quìet almost as to witness the passage of pagan and Christians.Around 1000 -hundreds, the Abbey, built in the proximities of the horsemen Grasceta etruscan temple, used to master over the mignone.