Postignano Castle

At a glance

Region: Umbria
Province: Perugia (PG)
Town: Sellano

Postignano is a castle village abandoned in the 1960s and later recovered through the restoration of more than sixty buildings.

History

A contested castrum

The village was founded between the 9th and 10th centuries as a castrum, that is a control post, along a road linking Spoleto, Foligno, Norcia and Assisi. Owned by the Trinci, it was long contested between Foligno and Spoleto, to which in 1429 it supplied means and soldiers for the war against the Ghibellines.

Abandonment and recovery

In the 20th century the village was depopulated; in 1963, after a landslide, the remaining families were evacuated. The first recovery projects (1994) were interrupted by the earthquake of 1997. In 2004 the Ministry of Cultural Heritage included it among the monuments of historical and cultural interest; from 2007, with regional funds, work resumed and ended with more than sixty buildings restored.

Layout

The name «castle» refers to the entire fortified settlement. In the upper part of the slope stands a tower used for observation. The church of San Lorenzo or of the Santissima Annunziata (probably 11th century, enlarged between the 15th and 16th centuries) preserves a 16th-century fresco attributed to Caldarola and today hosts presentations and concerts.

Where it is

Postignano is 3 km from Sellano, 35 km from Foligno and 70 km from Perugia. Village website: borgodipostignano.it (as given by Wikipedia).

Practical information

Tickets and where to buy them

Information on tickets and entry: to be confirmed. The village has been restored and has dedicated management: visiting and hospitality arrangements are to be confirmed on the village website.

Opening days and hours

To be confirmed with the municipality or the managing body.

Where to eat

To be confirmed: for restaurants and eateries it is best to enquire in the nearest town (Sellano).

Parking and services

To be confirmed.

Accessibility and other information

To be confirmed. With ruins or minor roads, accessibility for people with reduced mobility may be limited.

Opening hours, prices and services change often: before visiting, call the official number or check the castle’s website. Last checked: November 2026.

Sources: Wikipedia – Postignano (Sellano).