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City of Narni

City of Narni- An ancient Roman town along the Via Flaminia

Michelangelo Palace Hotel recommends what are the 10 things to do in Narni

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City of Narni: Hystorical Background and Layout
The town is situated on a rocky hill dominated by the Albornoz Fortress.
It was an important Umbrian town with the name of Nequinum. Later, under Roman rule, it was named Narnia. In the Middle Ages, when most of the monuments and the very same urban plan, which are still intact today, were created, this town played a crucial role thanks to its strategic defensive location on the consular Via Flaminia.

City of Narni a Tour of The Town

1- The Fortress
narniIt was commissioned by the cardinal Egidio Albornoz and was built in square plan between 1359 and 1370. The Fortress has been refurbished and is now the venue of exhibitions and conferences.  Opening times from August to September: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11.00 -13.00 / 16.30 / 19.30 – October to December: Saturdays, public holidays from 11.00 to 13.00 / 15.30 -17.30 – Ticket € 3.00 – tel. 0744 717117
 

2 – The Cathedral
duomo narniNamed after St Juvenal, first bishop of the town, it was consecrated in 1145. In front of the Romanesque façade, the 15th century portico with Renaissance frieze is the work of Lombard masters (1490). The 12th century main portal is characterised by classical decorations.  The interior, consisting of three aisles with presbytery and crypt, was altered in the 1400s by adding the fourth aisle and including the bishop’s sepulchral chapel. On the right hand side of the internal façade, is a niche with the fresco of the “Madonna with Child” (1409); attributed to the Maestro di Narni. Next to it stands the baptismal font (1506) built by Lombard masters. On the right hand side, are the third chapel, of renaissance plan and devoted to the Holy Sacrament (1499), and San Cassio oratory. Next to the sixth pillar of the nave visitors can admire  a painting of St Juvenal blessing, attributed to Vecchietta. The Chapel of the Blessed Lucy, (right) built in 1710, is decorated with paintings by Trevisani. At the and of the nave lies the new chapel of the Holy Sacrament with a “Madonna with Child”; dating from 1517 and attributed to L. Torresani, and a fresco by Mezzatris. The gothic Apse is decorated  with frescoes by local artists of the fifteenth century. On the left-hand side, the fourth chapel displays a “Deposition of the Cross” attributed to Mezzastris. In the left aisle a Renaissance chapel hosts the sepulchre of the bishop Gormaz, (School of Andrea di Bregno – 1514), the canvas by Agresti (“La Consegna delle Chiavi”- 1560), and the sepulchre of Pietro Cesi attributed to Bernardo da Settignano. In a niche nearby stands the wooden statue of Sant’Antonio Abate (Vecchietta-1474)

 

3 – Oratory of San Cassio
It is an important archaeological monumental of Christian art, where the patron saint, St Juvenal (and later his successors too) was buried in 376. The front exhibits 6th century reliefs reused together with Cosmati mosaic. Inside you will find a wooden Pietà in German style (15th c), a little statue of St Juvenal giving a blessing (15th c), a 9th century mosaic of Jesus giving a blessing and 12th century frescoes.

4 – The Piazza dei Priori
Piazza dei Priori NarniOn one side lies the Town Hall (dating back to 1273 and transformed in the 15th century), on the other is the “Loggia dei Priori” consisting of large arcades and cross vaults. On another a little balcony is found where the town crier used to stand. Municipal Theatre (19th c) elegant building with three rows of boxes.

 

 

 

5 – Santa Maria Impensole
chiesa Santa Maria Impensole narniCharacterised by a portico with lowered arches; worth visiting are the underground areas, showing the structure of a former church and Roman edifices.

 

 

 

 

6 – Palazzo Eroli
incoronazione della vergine del ghirlandaioHistoric residence pf the Eroli family. It was restructured and chosen to accommodate the Town Museum containing the library, the historical archive, the archaeological collection and the picture gallery. Worth mentioning are the former San Domenico Church and its subterranean areas, San Francesco Church, and San’Agostino Church. Opening hours April to June and September from 10.30 to 13.00 / 15.30 to 18.00 – July-August from 10.30 to 13.00 / 16.30 to 19.30 – from October to March only on Friday, Saturday , holidays, holiday eves from 10.30 to 13.00 / 15.00 to 17.30 – Ticket € 5.00 full price – € 3.00 reduced

 

 

7 – Former church of San Domenico, Narni underground, and the Formina aqueduct
Ancient city’s cathedral, Romanesque importance, has a beautiful portal decorated with bas-relief. Under the old convent are the dungeons.
narniNarni hides the roots of its history underground. Indeed, stepping into the buried town means travelling through both space and time: there are the Roman and medieval waterworks, the subterranean churches of the ninth and thirteenth centuries along with the remains of the former San Domenico Convent where inquisition trials used to take place. The 13 km long Formina acqueduct dating back to Roman times (1st c.AD) stretches as far as the town.www.narnisotterranea.it – Opening hours April / October
Saturday tours at 15-18 – Holidays guided tours at 10 to 11.15 – 12.30 to 15 – 16.15 to 17.30 – november / march holidays guided tours 11 am – 12.15-15 – 16:15 – In all other days and times by appointment – Tel 0744 722292 – Ticket € 5.00 full price – € 4.00 for groups of more than twenty people – € 3.00 for school groups

 

8 – San Francesco Church
chiesa san francesco narniElegant building with Romanesque-Gothic interior decorated by paintings of the ’300 and ’400.

 

 

 

 

 

9 – Chiesa di Sant’Agostino
chiesa sant'agostino narni

Building of the fifteenth century. Inside there are frescoes of Toresani, Antoniazzo Romano and Piermatteo of Amelia.

 

 

 

 

10 – Augustus Bridge
narniThe Augustus Bridge is one of the most imposing ruins in Italy. It was built in the Augustan period and what remains of the large arcade witness its great architectural design.

 

 

 

 

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Surroundings of Narni

San Cassiano Abbey
city of narniSituated on the slope of Mount Solenne in front of Narni, it was founded in the eighth century and later transformed. The renovation works have shown all its architectural magnificence. Inside are frescoes and remains dating back to the Roman age.

 

 

 

 

Franciscan Cavern of Sant’Urbano
14km away from Narni and completely surrounded by vegetation lies one of the most sensational Franciscan sanctuaries. It was founded by St Francis in 1213 and later expanded. Visitors can admire the cloister, the refectory, the little chapel of San Silvestro, the cell of St Francis and the cavern where he used to pray.

The churches of Santa Pudenziana, San Michele Arcangelo, and San Martino.

chiesa di Santa Pudenziana NarniIn Narni territory there are Romanesque churches of particular architectural merit, they were subjected to the Benedictine Abbey of Faria, and they were built between the tenth and twelfth centuries.: St. Michele Arcangelo, St. Martino, and the church of Santa Pudenziana, architectural jewel of  XI century. Caracterized by a small portico above the front. Inside, in addition to an interesting cycle of frescoes, one can admire a ciborium and the bishop’s chair. www.santapudenziana.org

 
City of Narni
Hotel Michelangelo Palace Terni