A common place name in central Italy derived from the word “civitas”; it often indicates a walled, hillside settlement.

The name has led some to identify Civita as the ancient Roman town of Carsulae as some archaeological finds prove (cf. Valle Fuina).  In reality Carsulae was identified south of Civita in a place closer to Rieti.

The settlement today appears to be a rural village built in a circle on the hill; the morphology and position of the town suggest it was originally fortified: a castle that later became a village, perhaps in the 16th century. Civita is undoubtedly placed in a strategic position at the convergence of the roads from Cascia and Norcia that ran south towards the Trento valley and the fact that another four castles stood nearby Civita was of extreme importance; traces of the four, Scala dei Signori, Rèncine, Terra Rossa and Torrato have since been lost. Around this latter settlement on the slopes of the mountain of the same name to the west of Civita there used to be nine churches in the Middle Ages that have since disappeared. Amongst these was the church of San Lorenzo ad Portulas, mentioned by Gregorio Magno and destroyed by the Longobards.  These ancient remains confirm it as an important and thriving area at least up to the 13th and 14th  centuries that inexorably declined, as the agriculture in the area did not suit the harsh environment.

Nowadays the fame of Civita is linked to the Roveja, a type of wild pea that has been preserved thanks to the work and passion of a group of women in the village who are dedicated to the rediscovery of the traditional flavours of Umbria. Today the Roveja of Civita di Cascia is a Slow food stronghold to protect the biodiversity of the crops.