It is believed by some that the name “Costaccio” (Collis Stacciarii) can be traced back to the historic owner of the castle, Stacciarius. According to this theory, the founding family was probably the Stacciari, who were Eugubine in origin and are still to be found in Gubbio. The construction of the ancient Via Flaminia, near the temples, baths and sanctuaries, also led to the establishment of numerous small villages in the vicinity. After the fall of the Roman Empire, these became increasingly vulnerable, as a result of frequent Barbaric invasions. This was the main impetus towards the construction of fortified hill-towns, such as Costacciaro, which succeeded in escaping the incursions of the Germanic invaders. During the 13th century, the Municipality of Gubbio initiated a programme of defensive projects in its vast territory, constructing new castles and enlarging those already in existence.

This included Costacciaro, which was distinguished by a defensive structure with encircling walls and a well-constructed system of towers and gates, still partially remaining today. For six centuries the castle formed part of the Eugubine Council but, in 1384, it voluntarily ceded to the Signoria of Urbino, becoming its gate of access onto the Via Flaminia and the furthermost defensive fortification on its territory. Costacciaro soon became a very important military outpost; so much so, that in 1434, it was equipped with a “mantellina”, a special machine for preparing the spherical stones used in defending the castle. When the Signoria of Urbino declined, Costacciaro fell under the control of the Stato Pontificio (Papal State). At this time (1551), an important “zecchiara” (ironworks) for the Papal State was established on the Torrente Scirca, and this played an important part in the economy of the region up to the 18th century. Costacciaro was the birthplace of some illustrious figures in the field of letters.

These included Ludovico Carbone (16th century), scholar of law and Bishop of Aqui Mons, and Bonaventura Pio Fauni, (also 16th century), known as “Il Costacciaro”, a famous theologian who spoke at the Council of Trent. From the middle of the 13th century onwards, over a period of nearly three hundred years, Costacciaro witnessed the slow growth of one of the oldest collectively-run agricultural universities in Umbria: that of the “Uomini Originari” (Original Men). This agrarian co-operative manages about 1,650 hectares of land in the area of the Massiccio del Monte Cucco. Its current headquarters is known as the “Caciara”, a building once used for storing and maturing cheeses produced from the milk of cows grazing the mountain pastures. Visitors to the “Caciara” can examine a collection of ancient scrolls (the oldest dating from 1291 and the most recent from the year 1427), which summarize much of the long history of this mountain institution. Costacciaro today is a small municipality with about 1,300 inhabitants, scattered over a large area which includes the hamlets of Villa Col de’ Canali, Costa San Savino and Rancana. Sheltered within the Park of Monte Cucco, the inhabitants of these places enjoy a good quality of life, attuned to the rhythms of nature.

The town of Costaciaro itself is the administrative centre and has all the basic amenities: a chemist, bank, post-office and shops, as well as good tourist facilities, such as farmhouse accommodation, bed and breakfasts and a camp-site. There is also a sports centre with a swimming-pool, tennis courts and a football field with synthetic turf. The “Massiccio del Monte Cucco” (Monte Cuccco Massif), a regional park since 1995, is characterized by its subterranean water-courses, limestone grottoes (amongst the largest and deepest in Europe), pure, fresh streams and extensive beech-woods. It is an ideal place for practicing outdoor sports, such as free-flying, cross-country skiing and caving. There are hundreds of kilometres of access routes, consisting of footpaths, mule-tracks and cart-ways.