The name Armenzano derives from the Latin "armentum" that means herd of oxen, horses, etc.; the principal resource of this country was for a lot of time the breeding because its geologic conformation is lent to the pasture.
The knoll on which Armenzano rises, round and narrow, has make the construction of the houses obligatory in two concentric rounds, that contains a castle that was one among the first places of installation of the Umbris. It is at 750 meters and it's 14 kilometers far from I Spello and 8 from Assisi.
Its population, in the medioeval period, was composed by around 400 people ; in 1950 it counted 550 people and now the population is redoubt to about twenty people. One of the squires that commanded this castle in the medioevo, was the count Napoleone of Umbertino of the Monaldis.
The count Napoleone was a great friend and admirer of St. Francis that it entertained every time that the Saint went him to preach in the zone.
Preaching in 1219 to Nottiano, Saint Francis recruited the B. Giovanni the Simple , so much simple that, proposed him to imitate the spiritual Father, it also imitated him in yawn .
In Ottiano, that takes his name, is said, from Ottone IV, that is more commonly call Nottiano there is a chapel of rectangular form (m. 6 per 4 around) dedicated to San Michele Archangel, that became famous for the meeting and the following dialogue developed between S. Francesco and the Blessed Giovanni the Simple .
In 1951 the company of the Knights of Satriano tried to restore her. In the frontal wall a faded fresco of the Madonna with her Child and to the sides two Saints. In the bottom of the small church now has been situated a picture of the Blessed Giovanni .
Armenzano has succeeded to blend in an harmonically melting the old with the new that satisfies the sensibility of the visitor that goes at the search of places in which it seems that the time is stopped and it satisfies the demands of life of the few inhabitants anchored to the traditions.