The strategic position of Cascia on a hill overlooking a bend in the river Corno, at the centre of a network of important roads leading to Norcia through the Avendita Table-land and to Rieti and Sabina through Monteleone, has certainly contributed to the development of the relationship between the road and the settlement, responsible for the birth of numerous villages along these important main roads and in the surrounding territory which, not by chance, is called "Casciano". Not many traces remain of the ancient Roman settlement and those artefacts which were found, seem to indicate the area of the Capuchins, at the crossroads in the valley, as the most important landmark. The subsequent defence system of this centre, gave birth to the development of the present inhabited area around the mediaeval Fort that was repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and deeply transformed, following the various historical events and repeated natural calamities. These transformations have not however concealed its dominant and hegemonic position that is still recognizable. In any case, the most antique fort must have been of a trapezoidal form with cylindrical towers on the corners, joined by a marcapiano frame, loopholes and communication trenches for the rounds; inside the walls were the Church of St. Pietro, the Monastery of St. Agostino, the Palazzo dei Consoli (The Palace of the Consuls) and the Podestà (Mayor). Later, when the town developed lower in the valley, it was enclosed within a boundary wall that embraced the Monastery of St. Francesco and the Pieve (Parish) of St. Maria. The most popular square of the town centre, was that of St. Pancrazio, re-named "Aldo Moro's Square" and was the site of the noble palaces of the Holy Knights, of the Cardinal Fausto Poli and of the Frenfanelli Counts. The first plan metrical view of the centre realized in 1575 by Cipriano Piccolpasso (see picture), topographer to the Apostolic See, one can clearly see the numerous entrance doors around the boundary walls: the D'Occoso Door, the Onelli Door, St. Francesco's Door, St. Maira's Door next to the Parish Church, St. Margherita's Door and the Opago Door. The urban network was divided in 5 wards or "gaite": the Piazza ward next to the Fort; the Piagge ward; the Santa Maria Maddalena ward; the San Pancrazio ward and the Santa Margherita ward.