towns around lake trasimeno
Magione.
The name of Magione, which was first mentioned in 1075,
derives from the Castle of the Knights of Malta. Today this
building rises in the middle of modern urban centre, and
is characterized by a square plant with circular towers
and a courtyard on which, on the three sides, three overlapped
loggias appear.
The most ancient nucleus of Passignano
sul Trasimeno is still today encircled by the middle
age walls which testify the development the centre underwent
during the Roman Empire, evolving from a small agricultural
village to a castle, which, after the Lordship of Uguccione
II in the 917, was constantly aimed at by Arezzo, Perugia
and Florence.
About ten kilometres away from Passignano, the small town
of Castel Rigone rises, where
one of the most elegant renaissance buildings of the whole
Umbria was erected: the church of the Madonna dei Miracoli.
Castiglione del Lago. Castiglione
del Lago has been constructed on a limestone cliff cape
on the east side of Lake Trasimeno. Etrurians were probably
the first to occupy this area, as confirmed by the findings
of tombs in the area.
After the Roman occupation, the village belonged respectively
to the marquis of Tuscany, to the abbey of S.Germano from
Campoleone, to Perugia, to the Duke Della Corgna until 1647,
again to the grand-duke of Tuscany and, in the XVIII century
to the Papal State. Inside the urban centre, the middle
age town walls, the Town hall and the palace of Della Corgna
Dukes are still well preserved. The most fascinating building
of all the village is without any doubt the castle which,
with its four towers, represents one of the most remarkable
examples of military art in Umbria.
Paciano. Its origins are still
today very well testified by the town walls with towers
and access doors and by the Tower of Orlando: a ruin of
a more ancient village few kilometres away from the town.
The church of S.Carlo is characterized by an elegant door,
dating back to XVII century. It accommodates, among the
paintings of local painters, those of Francesco di Castel
of della Pieve, which is believed to be the teacher of the
great artist Perugino.
Panicale. Like the other towns
of the region, it still maintains a medieval aspect due
to the remains of the old town walls and the fortified doors.
Although the church of the Madonna of the Slabs and the
one of S.Augustin are very remarkable buildings, the main
attraction of the place is the magnificent view on Lake
Trasimeno and on the valley of Nestore Torrent. Those who
are interested to see artistic works, can visit the church
of S.Sebastiano and enjoy two frescoes of the great artist
Perugino: "Martyrdom of St. Sebastiano" and "Incoronazione
di Maria" as well as the beautiful facade of the Collegiata,
which locates in St. Michele square.
Piegaro. This town rises among
the oaks forests on the hill, along the oriental side of
Torrent Nestore valley.
The town offers the possibility to get inside the green
of the umbrian forests along the paths leading to Mount
Petrarvella and Mount Pausillo, or to visit the close middle
age village of Cibottola, once the centre of one of the
first Franciscan convents.
Tuoro sul Trasimeno. This town
is situated in the place where in 217 B.C. the famous battle
of Trasimeno was carried out; the battle between the Rome
army and the Carthaginian soldiers, led by Hannibal.
The foundation of the town, however, took place much later.
In fact, it was mentioned for the first time only in the
XIV century.
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,
whose exterior was remodelled by Agostino
di Duccio in 1475, 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. At the extreme end of Corso Vannucci you'll find
famous panoramic gardens built on the foundations of the
Rocca Paolina, a strong-hold built by Pope Paul III in 1540.
città della pieve
This characteristic village was touched
by the events of medieval history, and indeed, a number
of masters had control of the town until Clement VII placed
it under the direct control of the Church. The centre of
the town is encircled by the walls of 1300, and the medieval
style is evident there. You can find the narrowest street
of Italy (via Baciadonne), the Dome
dedicated to the SS. Gervasio and Protasio rises; its original
structure has to be dated around the XII cent., but modifications
done during centuries XVI and XVII have modified the original
shapes and styles. However, the signs of the original construction
can still be found in the decorations of the lower part
of the facade, the apse and the Gothic Romanesque bell tower.
Inside the church, you can see the works of Domenico
Alfani and of two great artists from Città
della Pieve, the Perugino:
"Madonna and the SS. Giovanni Evangelista, Giovanni
Battista, Pietro Martire e il beato Giacomo Villa",
"Madonna con Bambino e SS. Pietro, Paolo, Gervasio
e Protasio", "Battesimo di Gesu", and the
Pomarancio: "Eterno e
Angeli". Some works of the most famous artist of the
city, Peter Vannucci, are conserved in the churches of S.
Maria dei Servi e S. Antonio Abate.
the itinerary from valdichiana to siena
This itinerary lies in a typical
Tuscan landscape. It starts from the town of Cortona,
that is rich of architectural and artistic heritage and,
also, is the native place of the distinguished artist Petro
da Cortona; and it ends in Siena,
the famous city of art.
It proceeds among the green valleys of Valdichiana and the
gently rolling hills around Siena. On your way, you will
see some marvellous medieval monuments, like the abbey of
the mount Oliveto Maggiore, the church of S.Antimo and the
one of Farneta. Also, you will visit the towns of Pienza
and Montepulciano. Practically,
at every stage of your way there will be something interesting
and curious to admire: for example, the unique landscape
of Asciano, or the beautiful fortress of Montalcino.
The region of Umbria, though it is not particularly large
in its dimensions, has a very rich and various art history.
The special relationships between man and nature, between
art and landscape, are evident everywhere. In Perugia, as
in Orvieto, Spello, Todi, Spoleto, Bevagna, Gubbio, etc.,
the past centuries continue to live in the present, in the
splendid harmony of history, nature and art.Bevagna, Gubbio,
etc., the past centuries continue to live in the present,
in the splendid harmony of history, nature and art.
