Umbria Guida Generale ING.Indd

ARCHAEOLOGY Strozzacaproni and in the territory of Archaeology. Montecchio, the necropolis of Vallone San Lorenzo (6th and 4th c. B.C.). Discovering buried Bevagna conserves a Roman temple, which later became the Church of the treasures Madonna della Neve, some remains of the Roman theatre and baths (2nd c. Thousands of years of history, A.D.), with fl oor decorated with black peoples, and civilisation have left an archaeological patrimony in Umbria that is diffi cult even to quantify. Virtually every city and town, large and small alike, has traces of the ancient Umbrians, Etruscans, or Romans. Right in the centre of Perugia, for example, are the Etruscan Arch (or Arco di Augusto) dating to the 3rd number of tombs of nobility have The town of Amelia has an century B.C. and the archaeological been brought to light, including the interesting Roman cistern (1st-2nd area of Piazza Cavallotti, with famous ones of Settecamini: the c. A.D.) formed by ten subterranean fragments of a Roman road. But tombs Golini I and Golini II, or Tomba chambers, and ancient pre-Roman the most important sites are the delle Due Bighe, both with pictorial walls (6th c. B.C.) 800 metres long, Hypogeum of San Manno at Ferro elements, unfortunately ruined and erected with massive polygonal blocks di Cavallo and the Hypogeum of the then removed (currently on display in of stone, a rare and extraordinary Volumni (2nd c. B.C), one of the most Palazzo Papale). In town you can see testimonial. One of the main features important Etruscan monuments in the ruins of an Etruscan temple. of the Museo Archeologico is the Italy, situated in the vast necropolis of Gubbio preserves a large theatre from precious statue of Germanicus, found Palazzone (approximately 200 tombs, the 1st century B.C. (the arches of the in fragments and reassembled with a 18 open to the public). A steep stairway fi rst tier and some of the second are long and painstaking restoration. 1919 leads down to the interior, built like still visible), as well as the mausoleum Narni is the site of imposing remains a Roman house, divided into ten of Pomponius Grecinus, a section of of the Bridge of Augustus over the chambers; the cinerary urn of Arnth walls, and several Roman dwellings, Nera river, the Formina aqueduct Velimnas Aules is splendid. In the or domus. The Museo Civico in Palazzo of the 1st century B.C. and still in and white mosaics. The wall of Spello National Archaeological Museum of dei Consoli conserves the Eugubine use in 1924, a number of cisterns, (Augustan age), with monumental Umbria, the Etruscan tomb of Cai Cutu Tables, dating to the 2nd-1st c. B.C., sections of wall, and nearby the Fonte gates, is one of the best preserved in has been reconstructed. the main testimonial of the ancient Feronia (4th-3rd c. B.C.). At Corciano Italy; outside the town is a sacred area In Assisi, a passageway underneath Umbrian language. extends the Etruscan necropolis of where two walls of the sanctuary and Piazza del Comune makes it possible a few vestiges of the amphitheatre and to visit the ancient Roman Forum, with the theatre can still be seen. Spoleto the original fl ooring and the remains abounds in Roman remains, often of impressive inscriptions. Above, incorporated by the houses: the walls, Piazza del Comune is dominated by the theatre, the forum (with paving the façade of the Temple of Minerva stones, the Arco di Druso, and the (1st c. B.C.), with six fl uted columns temple of Sant’Ansano), a beautiful and Corinthian capitals; the interior domus, and the remains of the was extensively modifi ed to make amphitheatre. The most fascinating room for the 17th-century Church of archaeological remains in Todi are the Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Nicchioni, large decorative niches built The territory of Orvieto, at the foot into an imposing support structure of the cliff, is dotted with Etruscan of the hill on which the historic necropolises of the 6th century B.C. town centre stands. Terni features The two most important areas are a beautiful Roman amphitheatre, Cannicella and Crocifi sso del Tufo, quite large and well preserved, now which takes its name from a cross used for events and performances. In engraved in a chapel chiselled from Castel Rubello-Porano you can visit the rock. About seventy small tombs the frescoed Etruscan tomb of the can be seen. In the countryside, a Hescanas. At Avigliano Umbro you will be speechless as you wander through the petrifi ed forest, composed of fi fty amazing petrifi ed trees dating back two million years. Along the ancient Via Flaminia, not far from San Gemini, are the ruins of Carsulae, a Roman city of the 3rd century B.C. The archaeological site is one of the most important and “choreographic” of the region, and is situated on a marvellous natural backdrop. The tour winds through the site following the remains of the Roman road, which in the urban centre is paved and fl anked by sidewalks. 20 Near the Arco di Flaminia brought to light is lovely: six Traiano (or Arco di San Damiano), metres wide and twenty-fi ve metres an access point to the city, are two long, it is covered with leucite paving monumental tombs. Inside the walls, stones. Outside the town, various you proceed along the ruins of the sepulchral monuments have been vast forum (40 by 60 metres), with found, including a niche tomb from the the bases of two small twin temples Imperial age, a massive tower tomb, and the basilica with apse and three and a round mausoleum; also nearby naves, then reach the Church of San are a public fountain and nymphaeum Damiano, built over a Roman edifi ce. (1st c. B.C.-1st c. A.D.). Off the road, you fi nd the excavations There is also a subterranean Umbria: of the amphitheatre and the theatre just switch your point of view and made of bricks, where you can descend into the bowels of the earth distinguish the cavea, the fi rst two to discover other archaeological tiers of seats, and the foundations of treasures. “Orvieto Underground”, the stage. for example, is a city below the city, a Another fascinating archaeological labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, stairways, site is Ocriculum (below the present and cavities dug into the rock of the Otricoli), a Roman city built near a cliff over the course of more than 2500 bend in the Tiber. Amidst the greenery years. The guided tour enables you you can admire imposing ruins, like to immerse yourself in echoes of the the large structure that was the base Etruscan era (when Orvieto was known of a building which no longer exists. as Velzna), the Middle Ages, and the Also of interest are the remains of Renaissance. “Narni Underground”, the theatre, the amphitheatre, and too, promises excitement and unique baths (2nd c. A.D.), which yielded perspectives, with a leap back in time the polychromatic mosaic now on and in the memory of the city. display in the Sala Rotonda of the Vatican Museum. The segment of Via .

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