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Bettona - Torgiano
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The town of Bettona can boast
ancient Etruscan origins, insofar as its foundation is dated at
around the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Described as the "Etruscan
Balcony" due to the magnificent view of the valley below,
the town still preserves its characteristics of a "walled-city"
with structures from the Etruscan times and the Middle Ages. The
historical centre is harmoniously balanced with buildings from
the 1300s and the 1500s such as the Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo
del Podestà. Overlooking the main piazza is the chiesa and collegiata
of S. Maria Maggiore restored in 1600s. Near the piazza is the
small chiesa of the Oratorio of S. Andrea where a fresco by the
School of Giotto (1394) was discovered, the chiesa of S. Crispolto,
patron saint of Bettona (XIII cent.) and the chiesa dell'ex convento
of S. Antonio Abate. |
Bevagna - Spello - Assisi
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Bevagna. It is a medieval town which
stands out for its splendid Piazza Filippo Silvestri. The remains
of a Tempio (II cent. A.D.) and an Edificio Termale with important
black and white mosaics, depicting the sea world have been preserved
from the ancient Roman times. Overlooking the medieval piazza is
the Palazzo dei Consoli (1270) which since 1886 has housed the Teatro
Francesco Torti and the Romanesque chiesa of S. Silvestro (1195)
with the presbytery built over the crypt. Spello. Unequalled in its appearance Spello literally jutes out from the edge of Monte Subasio almost at the foot of the francescan mountain, captivating your heart to such an extent that it seems like something from a fairy-tale which resembles the background of a nativity scene and not an urbanized townlet. Within the city walls the Cappella Baglioni inside the Collegiata of S. Maria Maggiore built before 1025, houses two authentic treasures, the Disputa nel Tempio and the Natività by Bernardino of Betto, known as "Il Pinturicchio". Assisi. Assisi in Italy stretches out on the slopes of the Monte Subasio, above the plain where the Topino and Chiascio rivers flow. Assisi's oldest nucleus, which is protected by a defensive apparatus made up of eight fortified entrance portals and a long belt of town walls, which are still perfectly preserved, is topped by two castles on peak of the mountain: the Major Castle, reconstructed by the Cardinal Albornoz in 1367 and the Minor Castle. Apart from religious buildings too important to not be considered solely the heritage of Assisi such as the basilica of St. Francis, the tourist can also visit the churches of St. Clare and St.Peter. |
Perugia - Gubbio
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Perugia. The great "Guelf strong-hold"
rises up in the region's heart, with its 5 historical quarters closed
in by its Etruscan town walls. These enormous bastions formed by
cyclopean square masses, were constructed 22 centuries ago and are
still visible for long stretches. Entering the city via Porta San
Pietro you'll arrive at the Basilica of St. Dominic on the right-hand
side; the very important National Archeological Museum of Umbria
is to be found in the adjacent cloisters and convent. Continuing along, you'll reach the Piazza del Sopramuro, where the 15th century Palace of the Old University and the adjacent Palace of the People's Captain look down on the square. Further on, after a short climb, you'll find yourself in one of Italy's most important squares, where you'll see the Priors'Palace, the Cathedral and the 13th century Major Fountain at the center. Gubbio. Laying on the slopes of Monte Ingino, Gubbio is one of the most ancient towns of Umbria, extremely well preserved during centuries and rich of monuments testifying its glorious past. Dominated from the top by the Basilica on which the rests of St. Ubaldo are buried, Gubbio keeps architectonic masterpieces testifying the beauty and the imprtance of what used to be during the Middle ages, a real town-state. At the beginning of the XIV century the Consuls Palace, today symbol of the town, was constructed together with the square Piazza Pensile and Pretorio Palace. |
Todi - Orvieto
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Todi. There are several theories
on the origin of the name: the word Todi or from the etrurian
"tudicolare", or even from "tutus" ("a
fortified place"). On the XII century it bacame free commun,
being this the onset of a very positve period, and marvelous monuments
like Capitain Palace, il Priori Palace, the Dome and the very
remarkable St. Fortunato Church were built. On 1500, after a long
dark period, the town rised again under the Renaissance influence;
dated during this time has to be found the marvelous Consolazione
Temple. Orvieto origins go back to the Etruscan civilization: the first Etruscan settlements, going back to the 9th Century B.C., infact, were found inside the tufaceous caves in the bedrock upon which today rises the city. The most representative public buildings - the Town Hall or Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo del Popolo, the Duomo or Cathedral, and the Palazzo dei Sette rose side by side with the older churches such as San Giovenale, Sant'Andrea, - and the convents of San Domenico, San Francesco, Sant'Agostino and Santa Maria dei Servi, the complex of the Papal Palace - and the private palaces and tower houses of the aristocracy. |
