For those of you who have viewed previous posts, I’ve decided to take a different approach. Rather than post individual grandparents, I’m going to post the family name and some of the history. I think that will be more meaningful, especially with my Italian readers. I’m hoping if you have the same last name, it may prompt you explore your roots. As it get’s to cumbersome to print all the generations, I will do 5 or 6 levels of descendants, beginning with the most prominent member
For the Montefeltro’s I am starting with Frederico, my 15th great grandfather
Descendant chart for Frederico
Frederico da Montefeltro Duke of Urbino
Montefeltro Family, noble family of Urbino, a city in the Italian Marches, southeast of Florence, that rose to become a ruling dynasty and produced several outstanding political and military leaders from the 13th to the 16th century. Descendants of an older noble family, they took their name from the ancient town of Mons Feretri, later San Leo, where they first rose to prominence.
By 1234 the family ruled Urbino. During the remainder of the 13th and early 14th centuries the family was prominent on the Ghibelline (imperial) side in the struggle between emperor and pope. Guido da Montefeltro, mentioned in Dante’s Inferno, fought against the Guelf (papal) party in Romagna and Tuscany before submitting to Pope Boniface VIII in 1295; he died a Franciscan monk in 1298. His son Federigo sustained the Ghibelline cause in north central Italy and ruled Urbino until 1322, when he was killed in an insurrection. His son Nolfo temporarily recovered Urbino but in the end lost it to the papal party.
Nolfo’s grandson Antonio (died 1403) recovered the family power once more (1377) and even extended it to neighbouring towns, making peace with the pope, who named him vicar, a title he successfully passed on to his son Guidantonio (died 1443). The latter’s marriage to a daughter of the papal-related Colonna family cemented the new alliance, and papal support assisted the Montefeltro in resisting the Malatesta family, lords of Rimini. Guidantonio’s illegitimate son Federico (1422–82) became an outstanding military leader, captaining the papal army against the Malatesta and his own against the pope, and suppressing a revolt in Volterra as a mercenary in the pay of Lorenzo de’ Medici. He spent his war profits on monumental building, on a library, and on art. Pope Sixtus IV made him duke of Urbino in 1474. Federico’s son Guidobaldo was the last ruling Montefeltro; dispossessed by Cesare Borgia in 1502, he recovered his state, but being without heirs adopted his nephew Francesco Maria della Rovere, into whose family Urbino then passed. His court, a notable centre of culture, is commemorated in Baldassare Castiglione’s Il cortegiano (1528).
Calabria to Sicily – Swordfish in Scilla, the Ferry, and Catania Feast
Click here to join out Facebook group A Morning Departure and a Brilliant Detour After a quick breakfast and some last-minute packing, we loaded up the bus and prepared for the long trek south to Catania, Sicily. But this wasn’t just a simple travel day—we had a fantastic bonus built into the itinerary! Having visited the area several years ago, I had suggested to Phil from Phil~italy that we make a detour to Scilla on
Coastal Heights, Sweets, and the Cliffside Beauty of Tropea
Click here to join out Facebook group Winding Mountain Roads and Arriving on the Coast We set off from Lamezia Terme for a roughly two-hour drive down to the famous coastal town of Tropea. Most of the journey was smooth sailing along the autostrada, but as we neared the coast, the road gave way to a dramatic series of twists and turns, winding right down the mountainside toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a hot,
Lamezia Terme – Norman King and Castle Heights
Click here to join out Facebook group A Relaxed Morning in Lamezia Terme We took full advantage of a free morning in Lamezia Terme by taking a leisurely stroll down the main high street. Wandering in and out of local shops is always one of the best ways to get a feel for everyday Italian life. Along the way, we stumbled upon Italy’s equivalent of a dollar store—and, naturally, we couldn’t resist going in! We
Deep in Calabria: Lanificio Leo, Platania, and Sunday Feast
Click here to join out Facebook group Artisanal Heritage at Lanificio Leo We knew Day 6 was going to be action-packed right from the start! We kicked off the morning with a 60-minute scenic bus ride through the mountain landscapes to Soveria Mannelli to visit Lanificio Leo. Lanificio Leo is a remarkable 150-year-old historic wool mill that has been lovingly revived by the original owner’s grandson. Before exploring the facility, we watched a fascinating RAI
On to Calabria: Scenic Drives, and Feasting in a Cave
Click here to join out Facebook group Best-Laid Plans and Italian Train Realities We started our fifth day in Italy with another wonderful breakfast at the hotel, full of excitement because we had a free morning planned. The highlight was supposed to be a long-awaited reunion with Antonia, an old friend from grammar school who moved to Italy seven years ago. We had been planning this meet-up for weeks, but just as we were finishing
Capri: Navigating Lines, Finding Budget Bites, and Farewell Naples
Click here to join out Facebook group From Chaos at the Dock to the Island of Capri Day 4 kicked off with another delicious, relaxing breakfast at our hotel before we boarded a short bus ride down to the port to catch the ferry to Capri. Arriving at the port was typical Italian chaos—where lines are treated more as a gentle suggestion than a strict requirement! Thankfully, Phil Micali from Phil~italy had everything completely under
