Discover Umbria

Assisi

”Intra Tupino e l'acqua che discende del colle eletto dal beato Ubaldo, fertile costa d'alto monte pende, onde Perugia sente freddo e caldo da Porta Sole; e di rietro le piange per grave giogo Nocera con Gualdo.

Di questa costa, là dov'ella frange più sua rattezza, nacque al mondo un sole, come fa questo talvolta di Gange.

Però chi d'esso loco fa parole, non dica Ascesi, ché direbbe corto, ma Orïente, se proprio dir vuole.

Dante Alighieri - Paradiso Canto XI

With these words Dante describes the city of Assisi and its saint, St. Francis, father of the region and patron saint of Italy. Together with St. Clare, Francis is a symbol of the renunciation of earthly goods for a life of poverty and charity, of love for people and animals, of holiness par excellence.

Thousands of tourists and pilgrims, both Italian and foreign, come to Assisi every year to learn about the seraphica civitas and to visit the places where St. Francis lived, prayed and died.

Starting with the Papal Basilica of St. Francis, with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue:

"It had not been two years after the death of St. Francis that already Brother Elias, the successor in command of the Order, received as a gift a plot of land, outside the western gate of Assisi, a steep place on Mount Subasio where evildoers were hanged and therefore called the Hill of Hell. On that already cursed place a very large church would be built to house the body of the great saint".

The Sanctuary of San Damiano, where the Crucifix that spoke to the saint is located; the Hermitage of the Carceri, where St. Francis and his followers used to retire to pray; and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where the saint died on Oct. 3, 1226, are other places and testimonies of his mystical life.

Tied to the figure of St. Francis, many religious festivals and traditions have arisen over the centuries: the Franciscan Celebrations (Oct. 4), during which it is traditional for a region to come each year to offer "its oil" for St. Francis; the Pardon of Assisi (Aug. 2); and the Holy Week before Easter, during which both liturgical and paraliturgical ceremonies, such as the Holy Thursday Scavigliazione, take place.

But Assisi is not only interesting for its religious side: historical re-enactments such as the Calendimaggio or the Palio di San Rufino attract many visitors from all over Italy and the world every year.

Assisi UNESCO World Heritage Site

The city of Assisi, the Papal Basilica of St. Francis, the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and other Franciscan places, with almost the entirety of the municipal territory, constitute a site included in the World Heritage List. The inscription, which took place in the year 2000, is based on the recognition of a unique "cultural landscape" composed of tangible and intangible assets.

Five criteria (out of the six contemplated in the 1972 Convention) were captured:

(i) Assisi represents a set of masterpieces of human creative genius such as the Basilica of St. Francis, a fundamental reference for the history of art in Europe and the world;

(ii) the spread of the artistic and spiritual message of the Franciscan Order has contributed significantly to the development of art and architecture in the world;

(iii) Assisi is a unique example of the continuity of a sanctuary city in its natural environment from its Umbrian-Roman and medieval origins to the present day, represented by its cultural landscape, religious ensembles, communication systems, and traditional land use;

(iv) the Basilica of St. Francis is an outstanding example of a type of architectural complex that has significantly influenced the development of art and architecture itself;

(vi) Assisi, the birthplace of the Franciscan Order, has been closely associated since the Middle Ages with the worship and spread of the Franciscan movement itself throughout the world, conveying a universal message of peace and tolerance.

Gubbio

Another beautiful Umbrian city is Gubbio, famous in Italy and around the world for the annual Festa dei Ceri, an event of centuries-old origins which takes place every year on May 15th, the eve of the feast of the patron saint Sant'Ubaldo (www.festadeiceri. it).

The Ceri are three gigantic wooden structures weighing approximately four quintals each, surmounted by the statues of Sant'Ubaldo, San Giorgio and Sant'Antonio, carried on the shoulders along the characteristic streets of the historic center up to the summit of Mount Ingino, where the basilica of the patron saint Sant'Ubaldo to whom the Festa dei Ceri is dedicated. The route sees the "ceraioli" engaged in a wild race, followed by an immense crowd, who participate with enthusiasm and pervaded by deep emotions.

The festival, which takes place throughout the day, is one of the most unique popular religious events not only in Italy but in the world. It is imbued with a very strong mystical emotion capable of involving all the public who participates. The Ceri di Gubbio have been adopted as the coat of arms of the Umbria region.

On the last Sunday in May, however, there is the Palio della Balestra, a shooting competition with the medieval post crossbow, traces of which can already be found in a document from 1410 and in which the Gubbio Crossbowmen's Society and the San Sepolcro Crossbowmen's Society (www.balestrierigubbio.com) compete.

For the past 25 years Gubbio has been home to the Gubbio Summer Festival, an international cultural event featuring famous musicians, teachers and concert performers, and countless young talents from all over the world each year.

Gubbio is not only events, but also gastronomy (truffles, crescia, oil), crafts (ceramics, violin making), history, art and monuments (Palazzo dei Consoli, Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, Roman Theater).

Orvieto

Orvieto stands on a tufa cliff and, through archaeological evidence still clearly visible within the city and in the necropolises located in the surrounding area, has been identified as the ancient Etruscan city-state Velzna, where every year the inhabitants of Etruria converged there to celebrate religious rites, games and events.

One of the most important testimonies to the flourishing Etruscan era experienced by the city is the Necropolis of the Crucifix of the Tuff, an Etruscan necropolis located at the base of Orvieto's cliff. According to the Etruscan civilization's own conception of the afterlife, even in the afterlife the dead person continued a kind of parallel existence, so that at the time of burial they accompanied the body with a burial outfit consisting of objects that could be useful to the deceased: this is why fibulas, mirrors, spears for men, jewelry for women, vases and objects in bronze, terracotta and buccheri in Etruscan or Hellenistic style were found inside the tombs. Unfortunately, at the time of the excavations that took place in the 19th century, there were several organizational problems, and many finds were dispersed to various museums around Europe. In the next century beginning in 1961, the above material was largely recovered and classified: it is now on display at the Faina Museum in Orvieto.

Another peculiar testimony of the ancient inhabitants of Orvieto is the beautiful maze of caves that winds beneath the city: Orvieto underground, a seemingly endless succession of tunnels, staircases, unexpected passages, overlapping rooms on whose walls one can read, in a thousand and one small quadrangular niches, the centuries-old adventure of the birth of this "underground city."

Two other architectural marvels located in the heart of Orvieto are the Pozzo della Cava and the Pozzo di San Patrizio, the latter of which is considered a true masterpiece of engineering, consisting of two one-way helical ramps, which made it possible to transport the extracted water by mules, without hindrance and without having to resort to the only road that went up to the town from the valley floor. The well is nearly 54 meters deep, has 248 steps and 70 windows. St. Patrick's Well, originally named the Well of the Rock because of its proximity to the Albornozian fortress, was later named after the Irish saint, based on the legend linked to a deep cave located precisely in Ireland where it is said that God had instructed St. Patrick to retire in prayer so that he could show the pains of Hell to the most unbelieving believers who ventured there until they reached the bottom. In return they would gain remission of sins and access to Heaven.

But the symbol par excellence of the town is surely the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta - simply the Duomo for the Orvietani, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture, whose stunning facade is decorated with a series of bas-reliefs and sculptures created by the Sienese architect Lorenzo Maitani. Construction of the church was begun in 1290 at the behest of Pope Nicholas IV, in order to give a worthy location to the Corporal of the Miracle of Bolsena. In 1408-1444 the Chapel of St. Brizio was built, located in the right transept of the cathedral and frescoed, however, only later (1447-1504); the chapel is famous for its cycle of frescoes with Stories of the Last Days, started in the sails by Beato Angelico and Benozzo Gozzoli in 1447 and completed by Luca Signorelli in 1499-1502.

So many other places in Orvieto are worth a visit, but the city also thrives on unique events and festivals, such as Umbria Jazz Winter, Umbria Folk Festival and the Festa di Santa Perduta; for tradition, it is important to mention the Festa della Palombella, with which Pentecost is celebrated annually. The feast dates as far back as the 1400s and was held inside the cathedral with this procedure: a white dove tied with red ribbons to a ray descends, propelled by rockets, along a steel cable stretched between the tiburium of the Church of St. Francis and a Cenacle, which reproduces the design of the Reliquary of St. Savino by the Sienese goldsmiths Ugolino di Vieri and Viva di Lando, which is set up in front of the Cathedral's main door. When La "Palombella" at the end of its run, reaches the Cenacolo "s'incendiano i mille botti" , as an ancient chronicler picturesquely notes, that is, a hearty salvo of firecrackers bursts out and over the heads of the Madonna and the Apostles depicted in the act of prayer the red flames mentioned in the Holy Scriptures are lit.

Perugia

An Etruscan and then Roman city (Octavian called it "Augusta Perusia" during his empire), Perugia knew its greatest expansion in the Middle Ages, until in the 12th century it became one of the most important municipalities in Italy. Controlled by various lords over the years, in 1524 Perugia submitted to the rule of the Church, with which there would be constant friction and tension. The symbols of this political situation are still visible today in the urban and architectural composition of the city center (Piazza IV Novembre), with the beautiful Palazzo dei Priori and the monumental Cathedral of San Lorenzo. On the ground floor of the Palazzo dei Priori, built between 1293 and 1443, is the Collegio del Cambio with inside the beautiful Sala delle Udienze, completely frescoed by Pietro Perugino and his School between 1498 and 1507. Also on the ground floor of the Palazzo dei Priori is the Collegio della Mercanzia, seat of the medieval guild of the same name, while on the highest floor of the palace is the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, a very important picture gallery containing the largest collection of works of art from Umbria and central Italy, from the 13th to the 19th century.

Important traces of Perugia's Etruscan origin are monuments located in the city center, such as the Etruscan Arch and Well or, leaving the city walls, the Volumni Hypogeum, an Etruscan tomb that belonged to the gens Volumnia and is part of the larger Palazzone Necropolis.

To best visit this beautiful city, which is rich in art and historical evidence, we recommend walking along it following the 5 traditional itineraries, named after the districts that have existed since the 11th century. The itineraries run counterclockwise from the north to the south of the city:

PORTA SOLE ITINERARY The symbol of the ward is the sun, in relation to its topographical exposure to the east, associated with the color white. The patron saint Saint Romuald. From here started the royal road to the Tiber to the Flaminia.

PORTA SANT'ANGELO ITINERARY The district derives its name from the ancient temple of St. Michael the Archangel, to which the coat of arms depicting two wings with a sword is connected. The color is red, like the flaming sword of the warrior angel. From the gate, facing north, exited the royal road to Gubbio.

ITINERARY OF PORTA SANTA SUSANNA The ward is named after the patron saint, who also appears as a symbol, in addition to the bear and the chain. The color is blue, also in relation to the waters of Lake Trasimeno, which can be reached from this gate, facing west, via the road in the direction of Cortona.

ITINERARY OF PORTA EBURNEA The ward has as its symbol the tower above a harnessed elephant, from which it would derive its name in relation to ivory. The color is green, perhaps in reference to the vegetable gardens along this slope.

PORTA SAN PIETRO ITINERARY The ward, called a "beautiful village," rich in art and greenery, facing southeast, is named after its patron saint. St. Peter is also the symbol of the ward, along with the crossed keys, having supplanted the lion and stone over time, in memory of the lithomachy in use at the Battlefield (today's 14th September Street). The associated color is yellow, the color of wheat that entered through the Gate.

Eventi a Perugia

Throughout the year, Perugia is a city that offers a rather rich and interesting calendar of events, starting with pictorial and photographic art exhibitions, concerts and international music events (Umbria Jazz Festival, Sagra Musicale Umbra, etc.), food and wine events (Eurochocolate) and market exhibitions (Perugia Flowershow, Umbrialibri, etc.).

A stop that cannot be missed in your itineraries to discover the Umbrian capital is definitely a visit to the Museum of the House of Perugina Chocolate, where, in addition to retracing the history of this very important local company, you can go inside the factory to learn about its production chain and taste its fresh and renowned confectionery products (chocolates, pastries, candies, etc.).

Spello

Situated on the extreme slope of Mount Subasio, Spello is part of the club "I Borghi più Belli d'Italia," which describes it as "a precious book made up of many pages to be leafed through calmly," within which one can breathe history, art and love of beauty.

Spello, a city of art and culture, is home to numerous artists and their local art and craft workshops (wrought iron work, Umbrian textiles); it is the cradle of history and tradition, such as that linked to the Corpus Christi Infiorate, where the skill of Spello's flower arrangers is handed down from generation to generation: they work an entire night to create carpets and floral paintings that wind through the streets of the historic center intended to honor the passage of the Body of Christ, carried in procession by the bishop on Sunday morning.

Spello's artistic Infiorate in honor of Corpus Domini dates back to the very first decades of the 20th century, thanks to the initiative of a woman who, around 1930, drew a simple floral figuration with broom and fennel on the road, winning the acclaim of the townspeople who immediately wanted to imitate her, initiating a "positive" challenge to create ever more beautiful and larger works. And so it was that in a short time the artistic composition of the flower carpet caught on in Spello, which transformed the Corpus Christi feast into a joyous occasion in which all the families and then groups of increasingly experienced flower arrangers could compare their works and award prizes to those judged best for technical skill, precision and creativity.

Other interesting events that take place annually in Spello are the Film Festival (February), Windows, balconies and flowered alleys (competition for the embellishment with floral decorations of alleys, urban spaces and external housing details), Hispellum - Roman festival in memory of the glories of the Splendidissima Colonia Julia and the Gold of Spello, which aims to enhance everything that is a treasure for the city, with particular attention to extra virgin olive oil, the most representative and important food and wine product of the area. There are numerous initiatives aimed at promoting all the riches of the city: the productive excellence, the landscape and the cultural traditions (www.prospello.it).

Among the monuments of greatest artistic and historical value, we point out the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which houses splendid frescoes by Pintoricchio, the various gates of the city and the Civic Art Gallery, with frescoes, paintings, sculptures and goldsmith works that come from various churches of the territory, from the Municipality of Spello and from some donations from private individuals.

Il Pintoricchio

Bernardino di Betto, known as Pintoricchio, was born between 1456 and 1460 in Perugia to a modest family of artisans. Since he was a boy he began to practice with brushes and colors in the workshop that the miniaturist Giapeco Caporali opened near his house. These were the years in which Perugia experienced great artistic fervor thanks to the presence of great artists of the Italian Renaissance including Gentile da Fabriano, Beato Angelico, Bartolomeo Caporali and the divine painter, Perugino. The young Bernardino also took part in this splendid Umbrian artistic season, but Pintoricchio would reach artistic maturity around Italy (especially Rome and Siena).

Also in Spello there are important works by the artist: the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore houses a chapel entirely frescoed by Pintoricchio, commissioned by Troilo Baglioni, between the end of the summer of 1500 and the spring of 1501. In the chapel there is 'Self-portrait of the artist, a sort of provocative response to Perugino's self-portrait: Bernardino appears with a three-quarter face, with hollow and almost suffering but proud features.

Pintoricchio, particularly interested in "minor arts" such as goldsmithing, miniature majolica and textile art, filled his frescoes with details depicting jewels of all kinds, ceramics, fabrics, sacred vestments and fashionable clothing, illuminated books, carvings and inlays wooden, always designed and painted with a taste and imagination that often imply a technical and formal awareness; proof of his artistic versatility

Todi

Regarding the birth of the city of Todi, a legend has it that it was built so high (418 meters above sea level) because an eagle, while work on the construction of the city on the banks of the river had already begun, would have indicated the highest point of the hill with the tablecloth on which the builders were eating; the inhabitants of the valley took this as a sign of fate and decided to build their city there.

History has it, however, that Todi was built by the Umbrians between the 8th and 7th centuries and annexed to Etruria between the 5th and 4th centuries. BC, period during which the first large circle of walls enclosing the city was built.

In the 1st century BC Todi becomes a Roman Municipality and some remains of the Roman civilization still remain such as the imposing Roman Cisterns, over 5 kilometers of tunnels and tunnels, more than 30 cisterns, pre-Roman, Roman and medieval, 500 wells from various eras form the very rich underground heritage of the city.

After the barbarian invasions and the Gothic War (535-553), Todi was annexed, with the rest of Italy, to the Byzantine Empire. It will remain Eastern Roman even following the Lombard invasion, becoming part, with Perugia and other Umbrian centers, of the so-called Byzantine corridor. During the Middle Ages it was a free municipality and then a lordship, before becoming part of the Papal State, a period during which Todi began its slow but continuous decline.

Thanks to Angelo Cesi, bishop of Todi from 1566 to 1572, the city underwent a new impulse and began to flourish again; in fact, under his guidance important urban and architectural works were carried out such as the construction of the Fontana della Rua or Cesia, the Church of the Crucifix and the Temple of Consolation.

Among the most beautiful monuments of the Tuder city, there is certainly Piazza del Popolo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy and perfectly representative of the era of the Municipalities; the square is surrounded by magnificent buildings such as: Palazzo del Capitano, with the very rich Municipal Art Gallery, and Palazzo del Popolo, the oldest public building in the square and the historic seat of the Municipality.

The Cathedral of the Annunziata is one of the most important churches in Umbria and houses valuable frescoes by the Faenza painter Ferraù da Faenza.

The Temple of Santa Maria della Consolazione, which stands outside the city walls, is a grandiose Renaissance church probably built to a design by Bramante.

As regards events, among the most interesting we remember the Todi Festival, an annual review of prose and lyric theatre, dance, cultured and ethnic music, visual arts and literary meetings which usually takes place between the end of August and the beginning of September, and the Todifiorita horticultural market exhibition (May).

Todi is also home to one of the oldest and most prestigious antiques market exhibitions in the world, Rassegna Antiquaria d'Italia, which has always been characterized by the richness and importance of its activities, embellished by the refined setting of the prestigious buildings and the historic sites of the centre.