San Gemini, medieval village

San Gemini is a delightful Umbrian medieval village in the province of Terni, has 5,000 inhabitants and is located at 337 meters above sea level. In addition to the conspicuous artistic heritage, it is renowned for the famous mineral waters of the same name whose well-known healing properties are due to the pristine nature of the Martani Mountains, from which they flow. It stands on an ancient Roman site from the 1st century BC. C. along the route of the ancient Via Flaminia. The current name was attributed to it in the 9th century in honor of the Syrian monk Gemine who preached here for a long time in 800. Totally razed to the ground by the Saracens in 882, it later remained alternately under the dominion of Narni and the church. In the sixteenth century it came under the orbit of the Papal State and later it was a fief of various noble families until the unification of Italy in 1861. Through the Burgi gate you enter the wonderful medieval village full of narrow streets and stone buildings. Among the noteworthy monuments we point out the churches of San Francesco, San Carlo and Giovanni Battista, octagonal in shape that betrays its origins as a baptistery. Noteworthy is the Palazzo Vecchio and the adjacent Esperia tower with its original 1300 bell. Lastly, we mention the Palazzo Canova, the summer residence of the famous 19th century sculptor.