The little town of Forano, originated as a village of the Sabine people around the 11th century BC and took the name of Forum Iani in the 8th century BC following the construction of a temple by the Romans, dedicated to the god Janus.
The medieval Castle of Forano (10th/11th centuries AD) was built on the ruins of a pre-existing Roman villa, as was the castle in the outlying village of Gavignano. The Savelli family owned the castle until 1599, when it was sold to the Strozzi family. It was said to have come into the hands of the Sauve family in the 19th century as a result of a gambling win.
The beautiful marble door, with columns acting as door jambs, topped by a round ashlar, attests to the antiquity of the building, which sits in the square near the Ducal Palace, while behind it there is the quaint, picturesque Old Forano quarter.
In 1308 the Castles of Forano and Collenero were given in fief to the S. Eustachio family. It was under these Roman nobles that the town underwent its first great urban transformation. The Parish Church (which collapsed in 1936) and a new defence tower facing east were built. The promotion of the artistic and historical heritage of the town is today an important asset for fostering its rebirth, as are the natural resources of the surrounding area: ideal for open air activities like hiking, riding or cycling, having a dip in cool streams, picking mushrooms and other woodland produce, all the while enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the landscape around us.
A traditional local product locale, with a true country taste, is the fallone, which may be eaten as a main course or a snack. It can be found in the classic version stuffed with vegetables but also with sausage. After rolling the leavened dough out, previously marinated/boiled vegetables are placed on the pastry and folded into half-moon shapes, which are baked in a wood-fired oven. A traditional wooden pastry board, a wooden rolling pin and kneading trough are the essential tools for making this delicious pie.