Description

From the mediaeval Latin “campi(y)us” meaning “reduced to a field” “pasture”, this settlement, built in Roman times, consists of two separate parts, Campi Vecchio and Campi Nuovo, which repeat the layout of the castle-town, in this case a fair distance apart as the more modern Campi has been moved further down the valley. 

 

Campi Vecchio

A hill castle along an ancient road that linked Norcia with Visso and its existence is also confirmed by the presence along the path of the old church of San Biagio (today in ruins), where the cross of Petrus was found and which is now preserved in the vicarage of Campi Nuovo.

It was built on the site where the valley below widened which encouraged agriculture and in the 12th and 13th centuries the settlement struck important relationships with nearby villages, as is shown by the standing of parish conferred on the church of Santa Maria (nowadays called San Salvatore).

During the transformation of the settlement in the 13th century with the building of some new castles and the fortification of numerous existing towns, Campi became one of the largest castles in the Campiano Valley, together with Preci. Today it appears uninhabited (due also to the recent earthquakes) but the size of the town walls that are almost totally recognisable, the remaining buildings that include not only ruins of the fortress but also of numerous churches within, gives a clear idea of its importance. 

The town plan is extremely interesting, as it has a road running through from one side to the other following level, perfectly parallel stretches shortened by short slopes.  The 3-level terraced buildings have access both from below (on this level we find storerooms, cellars or cattle sheds) and from above from the road to access the living quarters, as in the typical houses built on a slope.  At least two gates can be identified in the walls, both placed halfway along the castle at its steepest point, presumably on the site of the old road halfway down the hillside.

Of special interest is the southern gate which groups together the imposing structure of the church of Sant’Andrea.

 

Campi Nuovo 

With the main road running alongside and stretching out towards Todiano, the settlement of Campi Nuovo stands in a place that has been constantly inhabited since Roman times, as the presence of archaeological finds have proved.

The nearby working mill underlines the agricultural and commercial function of the village that stretches over a vast area, creating small groups of houses in contrast with the compact structure of the castle.

 

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