ITINERARY 12 ITINERARY 12 Preci / Norcia / Cascia EVENTS Kingdom of Naples. The birthplace of St. Benedictine Celebrations, in the Rita, Cascia is one of the main spiritual Southeast of Perugia spring, in honour of St. Benedict, pa- centres of Umbria. tron saint of Norcia and of Europe. Each year, on the evening of 20th WHAT TO SEE PRECI (PG) March, a torch dispatched from a Eu- Plateau of Chiavano and Villa S. Silve- Located about 100 km from Perugia (SS ropean capital is brought to Norcia, stro, an Italic temple that represents 75, SS 3, SS 395, SS 209). Following the greeted by the ambassadors of the an important testimony to the archaic Nera river you arrive at Preci, a medieval European States. period. town overlooking the Valle Castoriana. The Fair of the prized black truffle of Nor- Museo di Palazzo Santi, which houses town lies within the boundaries of the Monti cia and typical products of the Valneri- important archaeological finds. Sibillini National Park, established in 1993 Perugia na, end of February - first of March. Palazzo Carli, which houses the archives and considered to be one of the most beau- Easter - Good Friday Procession, “Pro- and library. tiful parks of central Italy. cessione del Cristo Morto” and sacred Church of S. Antonio, with scenes of representations of the Passion in the the Passion of Christ and stories of WHAT TO SEE streets of the town. S. Antonio painted by Nicola da Siena. PRECI NORCIA Benedictine Abbey of S. Eutizio, built in Fiorita di Castelluccio di Norcia, wild- Church of S. Francesco and the collegia- three stages from the 10th to the 14th CASCIA flower festival, third Sunday in June. te church of S. Maria. century. Erected on a rocky crag where the Fiera de senti un po’, 16th August. medieval foundation lies, it is surmounted Terni I Faoni di Norcia, traditional bonfires in WHAT TO TASTE by an imposing 17th-century bell tower. the town quarters, 8th-9th December. Saffron, a typical and important product Castle of Preci (14th c.), destroyed and of Cascia, in all its combinations with rebuilt numerous times. In the 16th cen- pasta and vegetables. Renowned cheese tury it was the site of an important surgical CASCIA (PG) production, including the excellent pe- school. From Norcia, you descend on the SS 396 corino to taste fresh or aged, and ricotta, to the village of Serravalle and then the aged in ashes or flavoured with liqueur. 26 WHAT TO TASTE a pagan temple dedicated to the God- SS 320 to reach Cascia. A city of pre-Ro- 27 Charcuterie (salame and salamini, fresh dess Fortuna Argentea and converted man origin, it continued to be important EVENTS and cured sausages, capocollo, mortadella, to Christian use in the 3rd century. during the Roman period, throughout Feast of S. Antonio, 17th January, tra- cured venison, wild boar, and truffled boar La Castellina, designed by Vignola, a the Middle Ages and up to the epoch of ditional procession in period costume trotter), sheep’s milk cheeses produced solid quadrilateral fortress with cor- the Papal State, when it was made an followed by the auction of lambs. with artisan methods and often flavoured ner towers, erected by order of Pope important garrison on the border of the Rassegna delle Pasquarelle, 22nd with black truffles. Julius III to quell the constant succes- January, songs and instruments of popu- sion of uprisings that took place in the lar tradition. EVENTS first half of the 16th century. Easter - Good Friday Procession, sacred Easter, Sacred representation of the Pas- At the entrance to the city are the Mar- representation of the death of Christ sion of Christ. cite, perennially irrigated fields crea- and procession through the streets of Feast of Sant’Eutizio, 23rd May. ted by the Benedictines by exploiting the town. Madonna della Pietà, 7th June, patron’s springs at constant temperature of the St. Rita Celebrations, in May. A large day feast. Salicone and Torbidone rivers. torchlight procession in commemoration Pane, prosciutto e fantasia, a food and of the death of St. Rita. At sunset, thou- wine fair showcasing prosciutto. WHAT TO TASTE sands of oil lamps are lit on the buildings, The black truffle of Norcia in various in the streets, and in the fields along the combinations with first courses and valley of the Corno River. The following meat dishes. The prized cured meats morning, the procession departs from NORCIA (PG) processed according to traditional Roccaporena, the birthplace of St. Rita. From Preci you reach Norcia via the recipes. The cheeses, including peco- Saffron Fair, last weekend in October. villages of Campi and Forca d’Acara- rino in its infinite varieties: with black Crèche Exhibition, during the Christmas no (about 20 km). A town of ancient truffles, di fossa, di grotta, and the period, along the streets of the town. Etruscan origin, Norcia is encircled by so-called pecorino alla cenere. Not to medieval walls (13th c.). miss: the lentils of Castelluccio. With INFO a limited production, this legume with IAT Cascia, WHAT TO SEE its delicate and unmistakable taste tel. +39 074371147 – 074371401; Basilica of S. Benedetto, with a Gothic is one of the most prized varieties in [email protected]; façade (late 14th c.). Cathedral of S. Italy. www.valnerina.umbria2000.it Maria Argentea, built over the ruins of Sanctuary of S. Rita - Cascia.