Monterchi

Monterchi is a small village, perched on top of a hill near Arezzo, in the upper Tiber Valley. The village is perched on an isolated hill, called in the past Mons Herculis (Mount Hercules).The story of Monterchi in the archaic period seems to date back to the culture of the ancient Umbrian. The river that runs across from Monterchi, the Cerfone, owes its name to the Umbrian god Cerfo-Cerfia, named in the famous Tables Euguvinae. The waters of the river were dedicated to this god and believed to be miraculous. Pilgrims from all the surrounding areas came for healing baths. The name "Mons Herculis" may be derived from a temple which was probably built on the hill (Hercules is the protector of waters).

Although many earthquakes throughout history have destroyed part of the village, you can clearly notice its medieval origins. The most important tourist attraction in Monterchi is the "Madonna del Parto", the famous fresco by Piero della Francesca painted between 1455 and 1465 in honor of his mother, Romana di Perino da Monterchi, native of the place. The fresco, originally assigned to the Chapel of "St Maria di Momentana", is now preserved in the Museo della Madonna del Parto by Piero della Francesca.