Precetto and Matterella Fortresses – Ferentillo
These two castles take their name from the villages below them which together form the Municipality of Ferentillo and which face eachother from the Sant’Angelo and Gabbio mountains, dominating the Nera Valley.
Precetto, a typical castle on a slope, is triangular shaped with a square watchtower at the top. It was founded by Liutprando in 740, but the real and proper fortress was built to oppose the Saracen invasions in 890. On the other side, Matterella presents a square keep with a cylinder –shaped rampart. The history of the two defence settlements is closely linked: both in fact, were raised to defend the Abbey of San Pietro in Valle (St. Peter in the Valley). At first, under the dominion of Spoleto, the two fortresses were disputed by the Trinci family from Spoleto in 1400. Then, at the end of the 15th century, they were controlled byNarni then again by Spoleto. In 1799, with the arrival of the French, the two castles were one of the strongholds of the insurgents: the French repression was violent and a tax of 7000 shields was impoesed on Ferentillo.

Umbriano – Ferentillo
It is a charming uninhabited village that can be reached by a footpath from Macenano near Ferentillo opposite the Abbey of San Pietro in Valle. Surrounded by vegetation and woods, the structure follows the curve of the rocks on which it stands. The tall square tower is prominent and the rampart and the Gothic door are remarkable. The fortification dominates the Nera and dates back to 890. It was built to defend the Abbey of San Pietro in Valle. Considering its strategic importance, the castle was further fortified in 1400 and 1570.

Nicciano
A tiny but clearly visible castle. The building, now a farm house, was one of the defence systems of the Ancaiano Valley, reachable from Ferentillo. Under Spoleto since the 12th century, it remained in the sphere of influence of this city even with the Pontificial State. The watchtower of the defence system is well preserved; this is square with a bracketed cornice at the top.

The Polino Fortress – Polino
Superb, even if only the Renaissance fortress remains of the original double-walled defence system, of a polygonal plant, enriched by two groups of cylinder-shaped towers.
In the Middle Ages, Polino (the smallest and highest Municipality, reachable from the Nera Valley with a road that leads from Arrone) had a relevant strategic importance as boundary between Rieti and Spoleto. The latter played a very important role in the history of this fortress, assigned to Spoleto in 1248 by Innocence IV. In the 15th century, it passed under the dominion of the Trincis of Foligno. However, in 1527, with the murder of the nobleman Andrea de Domo at the hand of the peasants, the fortress returned under Spoleto. Only in 1562 did Terni extend its dominions as far as Polino with the Castelli Family: a dominion that lasted until the French Republic.