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Orte
Comune in Lazio, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Orte is a town, comune, former Catholic bishopric and Latin titular see in the province of Viterbo, in the central Italian region of Lazio, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Rome and about 24 kilometres (15 mi) east of Viterbo.
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Geography
Orte is situated in the Tiber Valley on a high tuff cliff, encircled to North and East from a handle of the Tevere river. It is an important road and rail hub.
History
The Etruscans inhabited the area from the 6th century BC and called it Hurta,[4] as testified by the findings in a necropolis nearby, now preserved in the Vatican Museums. Two major battles between Etruscans and Romans (310 and 283 BC) were fought nearby on the shores of the Vadimone lake. The Romans were victorious both times.
The Romans domination made it the municipality of Horta (also Hortanum).[5] Under the rule of Augustus, it received numerous public works. Because of its strategic position, Orte was occupied in succession by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines and the Lombards. During the late 9th to early 10th century, along with much of central Italy, Orte was also held or threatened by the Saracens.[6]
In the Middle Ages, the city was never seat of a fief, becoming a free comune under a podestà (elected magistrature). Later it became part of the Papal States.
George Dennis visited Orte in the 1840s. He describes it as picturesque, but having scarcely any visible Roman or Etruscan remnants.[7]
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Ecclesiastical history
Main Sights
- Cathedral of Orte
- San Francesco: baroque church
- San Silvestro, Orte
Events
- Sant'Egidio Abate's Day and Ottava of Sant'Egidio: from 31 August to the second Sunday in September. A Medieval festival with shows, fairs, conventions, seminaries of study, art exhibitions of art and archery competitions (the "Palio", contented by the archers of the Seven Contrade).
- Religious procession of Dead Christ: every Friday before Easter. A torchlight procession representing early religions orders ("Confraternity").
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Transport
Orte railway station, opened in 1865, forms part of the Florence–Rome railway and the Ancona–Orte railway. It is situated in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, in the locality of Orte Scalo, approximately two kilometres southeast of the town centre.
See also
References
Sources and external links
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