Immersed in the Middle Ages

Set among green hills, among which Monte Acuto stands out, the village of Umbertide still retains the features of a fortified medieval city. The center of the city is Piazza Matteotti, overlooked by many historic buildings such as the Palazzo Comunale, formerly Palazzo Bourbon-Mavarelli, which construction dates back to the early 1700s. Inside you can admire the vaults frescoed by the Perugian painter Montorsi and many sculptures . Also important is Piazza Fortebracci with the imposing Mole della Rocca and the Teatro dei Riuniti. The theater was rebuilt in 1808 on top of the existing one; the medieval fortress was completed in 1389 and is the symbol of the city: it consists of a square tower on the side and a 40 meter high tower, which is located in front of the Reggia river which in ancient times flowed under the walls. It is said that, in 1394, the famous commander Braccio Fortebracci da Montone was imprisoned inside the dungeons of the Rocca. In front of the Rocca stands the imposing octagonal temple of Santa Maria della Reggia, 'la Collegiata', built in the second half of the 16th century in honor of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the city. It is possible to follow a path, suitable for the visitor, which runs along the walls of the castle starting from Piazza Mercato and reaches the Tiber. At the time, the defense bastion, the Torrione di Porta Nuova, built in 1408, also resisted. In ancient times, near the bridge that crosses the Tiber, there was a dam, of which you can see the remains when the river is dry . Also very important is the stop in Piazza San Francesco, the oldest and most beautiful square in Umbertide: in ancient times it was famous for the blacksmith shops who worked throughout central Italy. The oldest churches in the city overlook this square: Santa Croce, San Francesco, San Bernardino and the former convent of San Francesco with its beautiful cloister. At the end of the square we find the Porta della Caminella of 1613, which, to the south, closed the bulwark of defense.