Todi is an Italian town of 16 296 inhabitants in the province of
Perugia. It stands on a 411 m high hill. (the seat of the
Municipality, however, is located at 400 m above sea leve)
overlooking the middle valley of the Tiber.
The municipal
territory, one of the largest in the Umbria region, is mostly hilly
and is made up of a myriad of small settlements. The main centers,
in addition to the city of Todi, are Pantalla and the Ponterio-Pian
di Porto area, which also includes the industrial area of the city.
Todi is
part of:
Mountain Community of Monte Peglia and Selva di Meana
Slow Food
Piazza del Popolo
The Piazza del Popolo is the central and
historic town square, one of the most important and interesting of
the Middle Ages in the region and in Italy, a true testimony of the
era of the Free Municipalities. Around it there are the most famous
monuments of Todi:
Duomo dell'Annunziata, built between the
12th and 14th centuries in Romanesque-Gothic style, is one of the
most important churches in Umbria. Inside, on the counter-façade, is
a fresco by Ferraù da Faenza, inspired by Michelangelo, from The
Last Judgment. In the crypt there is a museum.
the Palazzo
Vescovile, annexed to the Cathedral, was finished building in 1593
by order of the bishop Angelo Cesi, who had his coat of arms placed
above the door, a coat of arms attributed to Vignola. Beyond the
entrance you enter an internal courtyard, while on the first floor
there is a hall frescoed by Ferraù da Faenza, known as il Faenzone,
in 1594, and a gallery frescoed by Andrea Polinori, completed in
1629).
Palazzo dei Priori, a solid Gothic building that with its
trapezoidal tower dominates the side of the square opposite the
Duomo.
Palazzo del Capitano, also called Nuovo, was built in
1293, on the top floor it houses the Civic Museum of Todi.
Palazzo del Popolo, contiguous and connected to the previous one,
also houses the Civic Museum of Todi. Built in Lombard Romanesque
style, it is the oldest public building in the square, the historic
seat of the Municipality.
Church
of San Fortunato, large thirteenth-century Gothic building. In the
crypt of the church of San Fortunato there is a tomb of four saints
(including San Cassiano) and, on one wall of the wall, an oval with
the frescoed image of the blessed Jacopone da Todi.
Temple of
Santa Maria della Consolazione, located outside the city walls, is a
grandiose Renaissance church perhaps built on a project by Bramante.
Church of San Nicolò de Criptis, was built in 1093 on the cavea and
the stalls of the Roman amphitheater. The name "criptis" seems to
derive from "caves (crypts)" abundant in the soil of the area that
supported the amphitheater. The rose window, the baptismal font and
three doors relating to a nave remain from the original
construction. Now the church is bare of the frescoes, partly brought
to some municipal collections and partly destroyed in the postwar
period);
Oratorio della Nunziatina, a seventeenth-century
building that once belonged to city Confraternities and then fell
into disrepair, was renovated and richly decorated several times by
Andrea Polinori and other artists;
Church of San Filippo (built
from 1490 to 1507 by order of the Knights of San Giovanni in
Gerusalemme), in 1590 it was sold by the order of the Servants of
Mary, which later became the owners. Inside there is a virgin with
child, from the fourteenth century, the oldest image of the Madonna
delle Grazie, under the altar there are the bones of San Filippo
Benizi);
Church of Santi Filippo and Giacomo, the first news
dates back to 1276, while the crypt dates back to the 11th century
(used as a burial place). In 1600 it was annexed to the adjacent
Benedictine monastery. Once the crypt was closed, an ossuary was
used there. The apse was also closed to allow the opening of three
windows and the covering of two cross vaults and the construction of
the bell gable. During the period of deconsecration the church was
used as a carpentry. Recently, in a restoration, the more or less
original aspect has been restored with the frescoes and the
fifteenth-century ex-votos.
Church of Santo Stefano, located near
Porta Fratta, housed, according to the Todi tradition, the remains
of the saints Felicissimo, Eraclio and Paolino. Only in 1584, with a
municipal ordinance, did the search for sacred remains begin, an
undertaking that seems to succeed centuries later, in 1766, when as
many as 23 bodies were found. The church is arranged in such a way
as to gather the first light of the morning through the entrance
door, an ecclesiastical symbol of divine light;
Church of San
Carlo and Sant'Ilario, the first news of the church dates back to
1112, in a list that the Tudertine Count Guazza gave to the Abbey of
Farfa. In 1623 it belonged to the company of San Carlo. The façade
is in Umbrian Romanesque style, as is the façade of the cathedral in
Piazza del Popolo, with five horizontal crown-like serrations. The
rose window, with eight radial columns that unite in a ring
perfectly located in the center of the rose window itself, creating
8 cones with the cut off point, is central, placed in the 12th
century on the facade; in the lunette above the entrance you can
admire the remains of a fresco depicting St. Charles, through a step
you enter the interior divided between space for the faithful and
space for priests. Another 4 steps lead to the presbytery, with a
central altar with a main slab of travertine; to the left of the
altar there is a fresco probably made by Spain;
Church of Santa
Prassede (14th century), with a white and red stone facade;
Church of San Giorgio, according to historians was built in 1107,
inside there are various frescoes, including one on the Madonna
asking an angel to save the Souls of Purgatory from the flames and a
recently restored piece of fresco);
Convent of Montesanto;
Monastero delle Lucrezie, in the Nidola district, named in honor of
the noblewoman of Ancona who lived there in the early 15th century,
Lucrezia della Genga, together with 12 other sisters. In her will,
Lucrezia left the building to the female Tertiary Order (in 1425);
later, due to the impoverishment of the building due to the collapse
of the ground below, the nuns were forced to abandon the building in
1897. During the First World War some rooms were used as a warehouse
while others were rented to the famous handicraft workshop of the
Crispolti Institute. In the nineties of the twentieth century, the
complex underwent consolidation and restoration works that brought
to light an ancient torcularium and a seventeenth-century cycle of
frescoes in the apse of the Church of San Giovanni, today the
Lapidary Museum. Currently, in addition to the Lapidary Museum of
the city of Todi, the Lucrezie complex houses the Nido dell'Aquila
theater, named in memory of the legendary foundation of the city.
Santa Maria in Cammuccia;
Church of the Santissimo Crocifisso;
The Civic Museum, located on the top floor of the
Palazzi del Popolo and del Capitano, was restored in 1997. It has a
collection of numismatics, archeology, textiles, ceramics, as well
as an art gallery.
The Lapidary Museum of the city of Todi,
inaugurated in 2009, at the Polo Museale delle Lucrezie, where a
collection, among the oldest in Umbria, of stone materials from the
Roman, medieval and modern ages is preserved.
Parco della Rocca, which with its 411 m above sea level. it is the
highest point in the city. The fortress was built by order of Pope
Gregory After several years, in 1503, it was demolished by order of
Ludovico degli Atti. Now all that remains of the fortress are a round
tower, the keep, the remains of the fortification and the prison of San
Cassiano.
Roman Nicchioni (located in the old market square, so
called because of the market that was held in this square from 1819), a
Roman construction with a base of 48 m x 11 m; according to some
hypotheses, it would be a temple dedicated to Mars);
Cisterns and
tunnels;
Fonte Scannabecco, dating back to 1241;
Triple circle of
defensive walls:
The third circle of walls, as local history attests,
was completed in 1244; it has reached the present day almost intact
thanks to various restoration interventions and for defensive needs. The
third circle of walls is approximately 4 km long and is equipped with
gates equipped with buttresses and bastions. The ports are named after
the cities of destination:
Porta Perugina;
Roman Gate;
Porta
Amerina;
Porta Fratta;
Porta Santa Margherita or della
Consolazione, near the relevant Temple, demolished;
Porta Orvietana
collapsed, but some remains remain;
Porta Cupa, collapsed.
Other ports:
Free Door;
Golden Gate;
Porta Catena or
Sant'Antonio, so called due to the protective chains blocking the
access.
The first circle of walls dates back to the Umbrian-Roman
period; remains remain mainly near the Porta Marzia, it underwent
modifications in the 17th century.
Another series of walls can be
admired near the Lower Valley (also called the Lucrezie), locally called
the Etruscan wall (incorrectly, because it was actually built in Roman
times - this work is one of the most impressive Roman works in Todi).
They have two tunnels (lower and upper), built for hydraulic purposes
and still functioning.
Municipal theatre, established by municipal
resolution in 1868, was built to a design by the Arezzo architect Carlo
Gatteschi. To build it it was necessary to demolish some surrounding
houses; the works ended in 1872, but the inauguration took place only in
1876. Annibale Brugnoli painted the theater curtain with a scene
depicting the arrival of Ludovico Ariosto in Todi in 1531;
Palazzo
Landi Corradi, or "Palazzo del Vignola" (on the façade is the travertine
portal attributed to Vignola), was the seat of a seminary and was
restored in 1954 on the initiative of bishop Alfonso Maria De Santis).
On April 25, 1982, it was the scene of a tragic fire that claimed the
lives of 35 visitors.
Todi Festival: Annual festival of prose and lyric theatre, dance,
cultured and ethnic music, visual arts and literary meetings which
usually takes place between the end of August and the beginning of
September. From its foundation until 1997 it was directed by Silvano
Spada, while from 1997 to 2007 the artistic direction was entrusted to
the actress Simona Marchini, changing its name to TodiArteFestival, then
passing to Maurizio Costanzo in 2008, to Stefano Porri in 2010 and from
2011 to Emiliano Leonardi and Giulio Castrica. Since the 2013 edition
(23 August - 1 September) the direction of the Festival has returned to
Silvano Spada and has resumed the name of Todi Festival
Italian
Antiques Exhibition: one of the oldest and most prestigious antiques
market exhibitions in the world, it traditionally takes place starting
from Holy Thursday and ending on the Sunday following Easter.
Antiques market: takes place in the main square of the city every second
Sunday of the month.
Feast of Santa Maria della Consolazione: it is
the traditional festival of Todi. It takes place on September 8th in
honor of the Madonna della Consolazione, in front of the
sixteenth-century temple inspired by Bramante. The closing, by
centuries-old tradition, is entrusted to fantastic fireworks.
Hot Air
Balloon Grand Prix: International gathering of hot air balloons from all
over the world, which brighten up the Tuder skies in the second week of
July.
San Martino Fair, 11 November: the streets of the historic
center are filled with stalls transforming the entire city into a large
market.
In 2007, celebrations took place for the seventh centenary of
the death of Jacopone da Todi (1306-2006).
By plane
Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" airport
"Leonardo Da
Vinci" Fiumicino Rome International Airport
By car
A1
motorway: Valdichiana exit; continue towards Perugia-Terni, then Todi
A1 motorway: Orvieto exit; continue towards Todi
A1 motorway: Orte
exit, continue towards Terni-Perugia-Cesena, then Todi
A14 motorway:
Fano exit; continue on the Flaminia towards Gubbio-Todi
On the
train
Todi station, served by the Umbrian Central Railway
By
bus
From Perugia with APM
From Terni with ATC
Average prices
Villa Luisa, Via A. Cortesi, 147, ☎ +39 075
8948571. 3-star hotel, 1500 m from the centre.
Hotel Tuder, Via
Maesta' dei Lombardi, 13, ☎ +39 075 8942184. Quite close to the city
centre, with a nice view.
High prices
Hotel Tenuta di
Canonica, Voc. Casalzetta 75 Località Canonica, ☎ +39 075 8947545. On a
hill overlooking Todi. Eleven rooms built in a structure that dates back
to Roman times.
It was founded between the 8th and 7th centuries BC. from the
Umbrians on a hill located on the left bank of the Tiber, about 400
meters above sea level and a short distance from the territory
inhabited by the Etruscans, with the name of Tutere, which means
"border town".
According to legend, initially the city was
supposed to be built at the foot of the hill, on the left bank of
the Tiber, but the tablecloth with which the founders were having
breakfast was taken by an eagle who, flying, dropped it on the top
of the hill. This event was interpreted as a sign from the gods, so
the founders decided to move and build the city on top of the hill.
It developed mainly between the fifth and fourth centuries BC,
receiving strong Etruscan influences or probably being annexed by
the Etruscans itself, according to what has been handed down to us
by the historian Stephen of Byzantium. In the third century BC the
process of Romanization began while respecting local autonomies,
including the right to mint their own currency. It obtained Roman
citizenship (after 89 BC) by ascribing it to the Clustumina tribe,
and was subsequently renamed Colonia Julia Fida Tuder (about 60 BC).
From the Augustan age it received a vigorous building impulse with
the construction of an amphitheater, civic buildings and villas.
After the barbarian invasions and the Gothic war (535-553), Todi
was annexed, with the rest of Italy, to the Byzantine Empire. It
will remain Roman-Eastern also following the Lombard invasion,
becoming part of the so-called Byzantine corridor with Perugia and
other Umbrian centers.
In 1067 it became an autonomous
municipality and then lordship (under the Acts), to subsequently
become part of the State of the Church, and began its decline by
passing from one lordship to another (including that of the
Malatesta and Francesco Sforza).
In the 12th century the city
experienced a new urban expansion, extending from Terni in the east
to the south, from the Forello gorges (for a short period it also
subdued Orvieto) in the west to Deruta in the north.
In this
period Todi was the birthplace of Jacopone De Benedetti (better
known as Jacopone da Todi), a thirteenth-century poet who composed
historical lauds such as "O Signor, for courtesy".
In 1244,
given the increase of the population over thirty thousand
inhabitants (greater than the population of Rome at the time), the
three villages created by the artisanal classes were surrounded by
walls about 4 km long, complete with gates and bastions at all
sides. intact today.
Angelo Cesi transformed various areas of
Todi, widening streets and embellishing some buildings.
Today
Todi is almost identical to medieval Todi, as shown in a print by
Giacomo Lauro of 1633. The boundaries of the original city are
traced by the perimeter of the walls.
During the Napoleonic
period some works of art were transferred to France as part of the
Napoleonic spoliation. According to Canova's catalog, of the 3 works
of art sent to France, mainly authors of the Umbrian Renaissance,
only two returned, while The Virgin and Jesus, from Spain, remained
on display at the Musée Napoléon, and then in the Louvre.
Following the restoration, many Todi became part of the Carbonari
and the Young Italy.
Garibaldi, taking refuge in Todi after
the defeat of the Roman Republic, inflamed Todi patriotism again and
many inhabitants of Todi followed him, wearing the characteristic
red shirts until the III War of Independence, during which many were
arrested and died in battle. Anita Garibaldi also passed here in
Todi, pregnant and already in pain: she shortly afterwards died near
the Comacchio Valleys. Hunted by the Austrian militias, Garibaldi
was forced to flee.
The rather large municipality of Todi
extends in the southern part of the province of Perugia, on the
border with Ternano, in the Umbria region.
It is located
almost halfway between Perugia and Terni (both are about 42 km
away), while it is 35 km from Orvieto and 45 km from Spoleto.
The town is characterized by the middle course of the Tiber
river, which in Todi bends south-west towards the Orvieto area. The
Rio, Naia and Arnata streams also flow there.
Basketball
The city's basketball team is Todi Basket, which plays
in the Umbrian regional championship. A youth club, Minibasket Todi, is
also present in the same field.
Soccer
The main football team
in the city is ASD Todi Calcio, which plays in the Promotion
championship. Born in 1951, she achieved her greatest sporting
achievement by winning the 2000-2001 Serie D Italian Cup.
Annual
5-a-side football tournament
Every year, in the month of June, the
5-a-side football tournament of the hamlets and various areas of Todi
takes place in the centre. The tournament is played with the formula of
3 groups, each comprising 4 teams. After the group stage, there is the
final stage, to which the first and second teams of each group and the 2
best third parties of each group advance. The current holder of the
tournament is Pian di Porto. In the 2016 edition Pantalla won. In 2017
it was Pian di Porto's turn, while in 2018 the Torresquadrata
neighborhood triumphed. In 2019 Ilci established itself. Following the
interruption of the event in 2020 and 2021, in 2022 the village of Pian
di Porto returned to win the district tournament, the only team to
always be a finalist in the event and the only one to repeat the
triumph.