The Floridi family originated in Norcia, Umbria, and one of its ancestors was the grandmother (from the maternal side) of St. Benedict. The roots were lost in the first centuries of the first millennium and since then its descendants have been distributed in different parts of Central Italy.
Perhaps because of these particular origins, the Floridi have always maintained close ties with the Saint and for many years had the Giuspatronato of the church of St. Benedict, the one originally located along Via San Benedetto and in front of Porta San Benedetto in Guarcino. This meant that the Floridi were responsible for the church and the festivals, that is, the organizers of the festivities of the saint.
This bond has been lost over the centuries and the church of St. Benedict was transformed into a private home. When Giuliano Floridi rediscovered it in the historical archives in his studios, he wanted to find the ancient church and renovate the crypt, which in the meantime had been transformed into a cellar. He cleaned, restored, frescoed it and donated to the community.
But perhaps the most famous person in the family is Bonetto Floridi, who lived in the middle of 1200s, who was Consul in Guarcino and who conducted negotiations for his town with Fiuggi to acquire the beautiful Prata Longa, a valley nearby. For sure the negotiation was conducted so very capably because at the end Bonetto managed to marry the most beautiful woman in Fiuggi.
After his success at home he went to fight in the last Crusade and the last news of him is in the Holy Land.
Another famous Antonio Floridi was the notary who drafted the Statutes of Guarcino and Fiuggi. It is very interesting to note the differences of laws between a 'free commune' and one with a feudal lord. Guarcino's Statute is still an example of modernity, and thanks to this, Guarcino has enjoyed great prosperity. In the Middle Ages, when Rome had 30,000 inhabitants, Guarcino had 4,000.
One of the last descendants is a contemporary historian and artist, Massimiliano, who created sculptures in the woods of Campocatino. He also chose the most beautiful woman and joined in marriage with this descendant of the noble family of Doria Pamphilj.
Follow us