Birthplace of St. Benedict, Ham's Origin: Italian Ancient City Norcia Reborn After Earthquake
The ancient Italian city of Norcia, birthplace of Catholic saint St. Benedict and renowned ham producer, has been reborn after a decade of reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake. The city, along with neighboring towns, is now bidding to become the European Capital of Culture in 2033, aiming to leverage St. Benedict's symbolism to become a center of European civilization once again.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 11:44
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(Central News Agency, Norcia 12th special dispatch) The ancient central Italian city of Norcia, the birthplace of the Catholic saint St. Benedict and a famous ham-producing region, was hit by a severe earthquake in 2016 that caused the cathedral to collapse and resulted in heavy casualties. After a decade of reconstruction, the Central News Agency was invited to witness the city's rebirth and to take Taiwanese readers into a ham factory to explore this historic delicacy.
● The birthplace of pork processing, producing 500,000 hams annually
Norcia is about a 2.5-hour drive from Rome. Entering the main street from the city gate, specialty shops are seen everywhere hanging "wild boar heads" and various pig statues. The Italian word "Norcineria" refers to butcher shops or delis specializing in pork products, cured meats, and ham, and the root of this word is Norcia itself.
"We are trying to promote the characteristics and value of the region, because Norcia is the birthplace of Italian pork processing," Pietro Bellini, president of the Norcia Ham Protection Consortium (Consorzio di Tutela del Prosciutto di Norcia IGP), told CNA. The organization has 10 member companies and is the third-largest ham association in Italy, producing approximately 500,000 hams annually.
During the 2016 earthquake, many ham factories collapsed. Bellini used a hand gesture to illustrate: "It was like a heavy slap in the face, but Norcia's ham producers showed great resilience, rebuilding their factories and injecting more investment to get the local ham industry back on track."
"Patrizi" is one of the oldest and most traditional family-run ham factories in Norcia. It was destroyed in the earthquake but has now rebuilt a new factory. The reporter visited in person, and the third-generation owner, Raimondo Cataldi, told CNA that the new factory adheres to traditional processes while incorporating some innovations. "Making ham is a hard and tiring job because the hams are very heavy. We created some structures to help with handling."
Cataldi also gave an example: the ham-making process requires "massaging to remove blood." Previously, this was done manually with a rolling pin, which was very labor-intensive. Now, a new machine can press the blood out, but the subsequent "salting" step still relies entirely on manual labor. "This is a very important step because the ham itself shouldn't be too salty. It requires an experienced person to do it, usually my uncle Davide."
The Norcia ham production process is divided into several stages, so the factory has many storage rooms at different temperatures. From the initial refrigeration after slaughter, to the first stage of salting, resting for desalination, washing and drying, the ham is then coated with a mixture of lard, pepper, and rice flour before entering the second stage of air-drying and curing.
The entire process from curing to market takes at least 12 months. Products that pass inspection are branded with the "Norcia IGP Ham" label. IGP is an EU and Italian food origin certification meaning "Protected Geographical Indication."
● Home of Catholic Saint St. Benedict, Bidding for 2033 European Capital of Culture
Norcia is famous as the hometown of St. Benedict (San Benedetto), the "Father of Western Monasticism" and the patron saint of Europe. A strong earthquake on June 10, 2016, nearly destroyed the city's spiritual symbol, the "St. Benedict Cathedral," leaving only the front facade. It was finally restored and reopened at the end of last year, with enhanced seismic design.
Norcia Mayor Giuliano Boccanera told CNA: "Considering the importance of St. Benedict, especially his belief in peace, it is particularly meaningful in the current严峻 international situation. Norcia, together with all the municipalities in the Apennine Mountains affected by the earthquake, has decided to jointly bid for the 2033 European Capital of Culture."
Reconstruction committee consultant Andrea Lignani Marchesani stated in an interview that private restoration work is approximately 98% complete, and public reconstruction projects are also almost entirely finished. "The town hall, the cathedral, and the theater have all been completed recently, witnessing people's desire for rebirth and a new beginning."
Marchesani believes that Norcia's plan to apply for the 2033 "European Capital of Culture" will be an important turning point. Norcia, by virtue of being the hometown of Europe's patron saint St. Benedict, can once again become the center of the European continent, civilization, history, and rebirth.
In terms of natural scenery, Norcia is located in the Umbria region of central Italy, which is known as Italy's "green lung." Especially in the nearby town of Castelluccio, the dreamlike "rainbow flower fields" that cover the mountains in June and July attract a large number of tourists for photos. However, the blooming season varies slightly each year depending on the climate, so it is advisable to check the official website for flower conditions before departure. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150612
● The birthplace of pork processing, producing 500,000 hams annually
Norcia is about a 2.5-hour drive from Rome. Entering the main street from the city gate, specialty shops are seen everywhere hanging "wild boar heads" and various pig statues. The Italian word "Norcineria" refers to butcher shops or delis specializing in pork products, cured meats, and ham, and the root of this word is Norcia itself.
"We are trying to promote the characteristics and value of the region, because Norcia is the birthplace of Italian pork processing," Pietro Bellini, president of the Norcia Ham Protection Consortium (Consorzio di Tutela del Prosciutto di Norcia IGP), told CNA. The organization has 10 member companies and is the third-largest ham association in Italy, producing approximately 500,000 hams annually.
During the 2016 earthquake, many ham factories collapsed. Bellini used a hand gesture to illustrate: "It was like a heavy slap in the face, but Norcia's ham producers showed great resilience, rebuilding their factories and injecting more investment to get the local ham industry back on track."
"Patrizi" is one of the oldest and most traditional family-run ham factories in Norcia. It was destroyed in the earthquake but has now rebuilt a new factory. The reporter visited in person, and the third-generation owner, Raimondo Cataldi, told CNA that the new factory adheres to traditional processes while incorporating some innovations. "Making ham is a hard and tiring job because the hams are very heavy. We created some structures to help with handling."
Cataldi also gave an example: the ham-making process requires "massaging to remove blood." Previously, this was done manually with a rolling pin, which was very labor-intensive. Now, a new machine can press the blood out, but the subsequent "salting" step still relies entirely on manual labor. "This is a very important step because the ham itself shouldn't be too salty. It requires an experienced person to do it, usually my uncle Davide."
The Norcia ham production process is divided into several stages, so the factory has many storage rooms at different temperatures. From the initial refrigeration after slaughter, to the first stage of salting, resting for desalination, washing and drying, the ham is then coated with a mixture of lard, pepper, and rice flour before entering the second stage of air-drying and curing.
The entire process from curing to market takes at least 12 months. Products that pass inspection are branded with the "Norcia IGP Ham" label. IGP is an EU and Italian food origin certification meaning "Protected Geographical Indication."
● Home of Catholic Saint St. Benedict, Bidding for 2033 European Capital of Culture
Norcia is famous as the hometown of St. Benedict (San Benedetto), the "Father of Western Monasticism" and the patron saint of Europe. A strong earthquake on June 10, 2016, nearly destroyed the city's spiritual symbol, the "St. Benedict Cathedral," leaving only the front facade. It was finally restored and reopened at the end of last year, with enhanced seismic design.
Norcia Mayor Giuliano Boccanera told CNA: "Considering the importance of St. Benedict, especially his belief in peace, it is particularly meaningful in the current严峻 international situation. Norcia, together with all the municipalities in the Apennine Mountains affected by the earthquake, has decided to jointly bid for the 2033 European Capital of Culture."
Reconstruction committee consultant Andrea Lignani Marchesani stated in an interview that private restoration work is approximately 98% complete, and public reconstruction projects are also almost entirely finished. "The town hall, the cathedral, and the theater have all been completed recently, witnessing people's desire for rebirth and a new beginning."
Marchesani believes that Norcia's plan to apply for the 2033 "European Capital of Culture" will be an important turning point. Norcia, by virtue of being the hometown of Europe's patron saint St. Benedict, can once again become the center of the European continent, civilization, history, and rebirth.
In terms of natural scenery, Norcia is located in the Umbria region of central Italy, which is known as Italy's "green lung." Especially in the nearby town of Castelluccio, the dreamlike "rainbow flower fields" that cover the mountains in June and July attract a large number of tourists for photos. However, the blooming season varies slightly each year depending on the climate, so it is advisable to check the official website for flower conditions before departure. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150612
FAQ
What makes Norcia ham special?
It is the birthplace of Italian pork processing, known for traditional handcrafting and high quality guaranteed by IGP certification.
When did St. Benedict Cathedral reopen?
It collapsed in the 2016 earthquake but was restored with seismic reinforcement and reopened at the end of last year.
How do I get to Norcia?
It is about a 2.5-hour drive from Rome.