Dettaglio accomodation

The Panicaglia Castle is strategically located on a hill overlooking the valley, the Via Flaminia and the road to Assisi. For centuries it was owned by the Mancini family. When Pope Pius IX and his retinue had to flee Rome, the Mancini family offered refuge to one of his cardinals within the secure walls of the castle. The Mancini family also helped him escape when his hiding place was discovered by a spy. This led to the arrest of all the male Mancini's by the republican Garibaldi. They were locked up in the castle of Spoleto to be executed.

Restored to its former glory

In addition to the title conferred, a papal bull also established something special: for three generations, all Mancini sons who joined the Church could be called cardinals. The last of them was Giovanni Battista Mancini, father of Daniele Mancini, a well-known architect in the area. After his death in 2002, his wife Ing. Sabrina Guerra restored the village to its former glory after the 1997 earthquake had caused extensive damage. The bakery, which was demolished and rebuilt, once supplied bread to the local inhabitants and farmers of the Mancini family.

The women of the family then went to Anita Garibaldi to ask for mercy for the condemned. Moved by their story, they obtained their release. As a sign of gratitude for the risk taken by the Mancini family, the Pope gave them the title of 'Knights of the Papal States'. They added this title to the family coat of arms, which is still visible on the south-western façade.