Giomici

Giomici is a little village between Valfabbrica and Casa Castaldo, once part of Gubbio’s defensive system along with Biscina, Caresto, Coccorano and other towns; before, it used to be a strategic site of the Byzantine Corridor along the defensive line against the Goths and the Lombards. Its role of primary importance is testified by the numerous battles and fights between neighboring municipalities that took place here in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Its name is often found in medieval documents: It was first mentioned by Frederick I, Barbarossa, in 1160, when the boundaries between Gubbio and Assisi were established; this is because during the war between Assisi and Gubbio, between 1140 and 1160, Giomici had been taken and looted by Assisi. With the afore-mentioned document, Barbarossa annexed Giomici to Gubbio again. In the mid-thirteenth century, Giomici was under the abbey of St. Donato di Pulpiano, in the territory of Gubbio, following a donation by Frederick I, who received the above abbey under his protection with a document of 1163. On November 14th 1211, Ottone IV donated some castles to the State of Gubbio, including Giomici.
In June 1240, the abbot of the convent of St. Donato, along with the Bishop of Gubbio, donated “Castrum Glomisci eius curiam totam, com hominibus servitii et utilitatibus” (the castle of Giomici and all its pertinences and men) to Monaldo di Suppolino.
After the war with Perugia, in April 1258 Gubbio bought a building and a tower within Giomici from Monaldo di Suppolino. Despite this sale, Monaldo di Suoppolino’s descendants kept some possessions inside the castle, and several documents identify them as “Earles of Casa Castalda and Giomisci”.
During the wars between Perugia and Gubbio, Giomici was “handed over” several times but it was eventually annexed to Gubbio for many centuries.
Ser Guerriero di Gubbio in his chronicle tells the following event that occurred in Giomici in 1378: “...that year Senso de’ Gabrielli took over Giomici. Petruccio de Villamaiana had taken refuge in the tower and did not intend to give up; therefore, the tower was destroyed and Petruccio fell down with it, onto the roof of a house nearby...”
Around 1650, the Castle of Giomici and annexed territory, about 600 hectares, became property of the Vagni family, from Lunigiana (north of La Spezia), whose origins date back to 986, when Obizzo Vagni owned a castle that helped Arduino d’Ivrea fight Arrigo.
Several members of the Vagni family distinguished themselves in literature and science and held important seats in the army and clergy.
The extraordinary location of the Castle of Giomici along the Franciscan Trail of Peace between Assisi and Gubbio made it a strategic post on the “Byzantine Corridor”, from which the Roman-Christian culture could spread out to Continental and Eastern Europe; it is, therefore, a place of great historical and cultural relevance.
Since 1991, the Castle of Giomici has served as the headquarters of the Association for the Promotion and Management of the Peace Trail, supported by the municipalities of Assisi, Valfabbrica and Gubbio; it is aimed at creating a path between Assisi and Gubbio on the footsteps of St. Francis, a place to promote peace and a friendly relationship between men and man and nature. The Castle also hosts the “Peace Knights”, an association founded by the International Center for Peace between the Peoples of Assisi.
Since 2005, the castle has also been hosting an important event involving the cities of Assisi, Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio, Perugia and Valfabbrica, with a series of meetings with their partner cities in Europe to rediscover their common roots, including cultural events, seminars and games.
The main tower of the castle of Giomici, with its signs at the beginning of its ramps that allow walking it all the way to the top, perfectly symbolizes the symbiosis between architecture and nature.
Various facilities are available at and around the castle.
In the old village dating back to 1100, the owners restored buildings to welcome visitors and tourists, who can enjoy wonderful days in a natural and historical place.
Old farmhouses scattered throughout the territory are perfect for peaceful and quiet holidays among vineyards and pastures where wild horses and herds of Chianina cattle freely graze. The pace slows down around here. You can take time to walk or ride along amazing trails into secular woods and valleys where plenty of truffles grow, or simply relax in the shade of an old oak tree.
Mystical places and art cities of Umbria are just minutes away by car. The local cuisine is another highlight, relying on the quality of local products, notably wine and olive oil. You can buy these products as well as home-made honey and other specialties at a small shop within the Castle of Giomici.