Cascia, located in Colle of Sant’Agostino, In the heart of Umbria’s mountains, is famous as the birthplace of Saint Rita. Its strategic position, nestled within the Apennine Mountains, has attracted visitors for centuries.
Founded several centuries before Rome, Cascia was inhabited by Italic populations. During the Roman era, it became a municipium under the name Carsula. After a violent earthquake, it was rebuilt with its current name and conquered in 533 by the Byzantine army led by Narses. Later, it became part of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto and, in the 10th century, declared itself as an independent republic with its own currency. In the 13th century, Cascia, a Ghibelline stronghold, allied with the Emperor and frequently clashed with Spoleto. In 1228, it came under the rule of Frederick II, but was again devastated by an earthquake in 1300 and later rebuilt. Due to its proximity to the Kingdom of Naples, it became a key stronghold of the Papal States, remaining under its control until its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
From 1381, Cascia’s history was shaped by the birth of Margherita Lotti, later known as Saint Rita of Cascia. After becoming a widow when her husband was murdered, she renounced vengeance to prevent further bloodshed and devoted herself to religious life in the Augustinian convent. Each year, on May 21, Cascia commemorates her death with a torchlight procession, while on May 22, the rose, symbol of the Saint, plays a central role in a historical reenactment retracing her life from Roccaporena to Cascia, and finally to the Augustinian convent, where her body is preserved.