NARNI province of Terni, in the region of Umbria. Built on a hill 240 metres a. s. l.,
20,570 inhabitants, is the geographic middle of Italy. The town has outstanding views over
the River Nera valley and offers artisitic and archaelogical itineraries, plus an
abundance of natural history for the tourist. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first historical
document, mentioning the town, is dated 600 BC, whenthe town was called Nequinum. In 299
BC, Narni was a Roman colony under the name of Narnia In 233 BC, with the construction of
the Via Flaminia, Narni became of major importance in 90 BC, Narnia became a municipality
. The first Christian Bishop of Narni, Giovenale from Carthage, was chosen in 368 AD and
later was consecrated as Saint Patron of the town. In the 11th century it established its
power as a free "Comune" (autonomous town). Between the 12th and the 14th
century it reached its greatest period of splendour and developed a school of painting and
goldsmiths. Many artists of the Renaissance period produced works for clients and patrons
in Narni: Rossellino, Ghirlandaio, Gozzoli, Vecchietta, Antoniazzo Romano and Spagna. In
1527, the Lanzichenecchi destroyed Narni almost completely. Slowly the walls, buildings
and churches were re-built and by the end of the century, Narni had been re-established.
Many famous people have been born in Narni, including the emperor Cocceio Nerva,
Gattamelata, the Beata Lucia, Berardo Eroli, Galeotto Marzio and S.Cassio. A VISIT TO THE
TOWN: THE CHURCHES 
The CATHEDRAL (dedicated to San Giovenale, first Bishop and Patron of the town).
Romanesque building (11th and 12th centuries), it was consacreted in 1145 and enlarged in
the 14th century. The porch and arch date back to 1497. Below it you can see the
impressive main portal (Portale Maggiore), built in the 12th century. Inside, the church
is formed in a Latin cross plan, divided into three naves, the fourth nave being added to
the main plan in 1400. On the right hand side of the entrance, you can see the sepulchre
of Saint Giovenale and Saint Cassio (Sepolcro di SS Giovenale e Cassio). The sepulchre is
one of the most ancient christian monuments in Umbria, with a sarcophagus, which kept the
body of San Giovenale, dating back to the 7th century, above it is a mosaic from the 9th
century. Noteworthy are also many paintings and works by Vecchietta, Rossellino and local
artists. CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO: (13th century) enlarged in the 14th century. It was
built on the site place of an oratory where the Saint lived during his stay in Narni. On
the walls are important frescos by the local school of Mezzastris and Torresani. CHURCH OF
SANTA MARIA IMPENSOLE, romanesque building (1175). Below the porch there are three
important portals; the central one is of particular interest. The interior is divided into
three naves. You can admire the capitals of the central nave's columns. In the crypt there
are the remains of a building and a well of the Roman period and tombs. SAN DOMENICO ( the
former SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE). built in the 12th century, today it is an exhibition area
and houses the Library and the Historical Archives. You can also see the high bell tower
and the two entrances of the beautiful façade. The interior has three naves divided by
piers with round arches. You can see here a Cosmatesque floor, the chapel of Gattamelata,
a Narni born mercenary soldier of the medieval period a sepulchre dedicated to Gabriele
Massei and a carved marble tabernacle. In the first nave you can see a fresco representing
the Madonna between San Domenico and San Tomasso and some other paintings by Federico
Zuccari (1570). Through the garden of S.Bernardo you have access to the old San Domenico
church which is completely underground (SOTTERANEI DI SAN DOMENICO). Inside these rooms
you will find a noteworthy little chapel, as well as a prison from the Inquisition's times
CHURCH OF S.AGOSTINO (14th century) still preserves a rich art collection. Among the works
are a beautiful wooden ceiling by F.Benincasa, a fresco by Piermatteo d'Amelia plus works
by Torresani and A.Romano. THE PALACES On the Piazza dei Priori you can see the PALAZZO
DEI PRIORI (the Priori Palace). On the right of the portal, there is a stone pulpit, from
which proclamations were read, above the pulpit is a high bell tower. Two arches open onto
a large porch and in the middle of it, a stone pier holds up the cross-vaulting. The
Palace was built in 1275 and it is ascribed to Gattapone da Gubbio. On the other side of
the piazza you can see the PALAZZO COMUNALE (Town Hall) created from the union of three
towers in 1273. On the façade you can see parts of old inscriptions. On the right side
there is a portal from the 15th century and above it a row of 7 small columns and
bas-reliefs. In the entrance hall you will find a Roman tomb and a Well dated 1400, plus a
series of antique measurements and a lapidary collection. In the Council Hall you can
admire The Coronation of the Virgin (Incoronazione della Vergine) by Ghirlandaio (1486)
and the Stigmata of Saint Frances (San Francesco Stimmatizzato) by Spagna. PALAZZO SCOTTI,
built in 1500, decorated with frescos by Zuccari (1581). PALAZZO CARDOLI (15th century)
PALAZZO CAPOCACCIA (1545) ERASMO GATTAMELATA'S HOUSE THE TOWERS In the town remain many
towers, being the typical medieval dwelling places, the most important are: the Torre de
Marzi (Marzi's Tower) where Galeotto Marzio, a humanist of the 15th century, was born. The
Tower of Palazzo dei Priori (13th century), the civic Tower and many others. THE GATES
were the passages through the city walls PORTA DELLA FIERA (or PORTA NUOVA) attributed to
Vignola, the PORTA POLELLA, another City-Gate which dates back to the 13th century, PORTA
TERNANA (or PORTA DELLE ARVOLTE) wanted by Pope Sisto V, PORTA ROMANA (1545) and PORTA
PIETRA (13th century). 
Walking along the narrow streets of the town's upper part, you can reach the
Castle (ROCCA ALBORNOZ) built around 1370, ascribed to Ugolino di Montemarte, on the
orders of Cardinal Egidio Albornoz. The Rocca was a very important fortress, because of
its strategic position: it could control any invasion against the Papal State. You can
admire the magnificient walls and towers and enjoy the view of the area and the Apennine
mountains. EXCURSIONS PONTE D'AUGUSTO: the famous Augustus'bridge was built in 27 BC, it
was 160m long. The ancient consular road Via Flaminia leading to Carsulae (San Gemini)
passed over it. The remaining arch is 30 m high. LO SPECO DI SAN FRANCESCO: A Franciscan
hermitage founded in 1213 by the Saint himself, 18 km from Narni. It still preserves the
franciscan atmosphere and its pure architectural lines remain. It was completed in 1400,
still following the franciscan style. The frescoes date back to the 14th and 15th
centuries. You can reach the sanctuary from the road leading to Sant'Urbano. MIDDLE OF
ITALY - PONTE CARDONA - ROMAN AQUEDUCT FORMINA The geographic middle of Italy is situated
near Ponte Cardona , a roman bridge which was a part of
the aquaeduct built during the 1st century a.D. bt M.C. Nerva. Because of its beautiful
position, inside tthe forest, this site gives you the possibility to go for a nice walk.
ABBAZIA DI SAN CASSIANO: (12th century) the Abbey is an important architectural structure,
in a marvellous position amongst the woods, opposite the town. ABBAZIA DI S.ANGELO IN
MASSA: (11th century) The abbey was built on the ruins of a Roman Villa of the 2nd century
AD. It preserves paintings by Michelangelo Braidi, a late mannerist from Narni. EARLY
ROMANIC CHURCH OF S. PUDENZIANA: (11th century) 10 km from Narni in the Visciano area,
close to Borgaria. Noteworthy are, the little porch, the bell tower and the outside apse.
The interior is divided into three naves. The floor shows interesting archealogical
remains. In the apse is a stone abbatial seat. Above the rural altar there is a tabernacle
which is held up by 4 columns. The frescos date back to the 13th and 14th centuries, as
well as these it also has an elegant crypt. CHURCH OF S.MICHELE ARCANGELO : a 12th century
church, enlarged in the 14th century, romanesque style with noteworthy frescoes in the
interior. 10 Km from Narni.
VERSIONE ITALIANA