Historical-Archeological itineraries

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF  ST. FRANCIS
From Narni, along the Formina Roman aqueduct, St. Francis walked towards the mountains to a little town, St.Urbano, where he stopped to pray inside a cave.
Later the monastery of "Sacro Speco"was built here.
We suggest the same itinerary to you.
It's particularly interesting and while traversing Umbria's mystic countryside, you can admire the aqueduct's ancient remains , among which are 2 bridges in "opus quadratum".

Finally on your  arrival  you can visit St. Francis' monastery.
BENEDICTINE PATH
St. Cassiano abbey was built by abbot Orso in the 11th century, on top of a ruined hermitage.
It preserves the traces of a church which is oriented North-South and exactly right-angled to the present church; it was built with material salvaged from the Roman construction.
The abbey, which had considerable possessions, was commended to Pope Borgia.
There was a valuable library and a scriptorium.
The site is very interesting; near here Corot painted the famous landscape with the Roman Augustus Bridge: this picture is now exhibited in the Louvre Museum.

JOURNEY THROUGH SACRED ROMANIC BUILDINGS IN SOUTHERN UMBRIA

Umbria's mysticism and religion is not confined to Assisi. Another Saint was born before Francis in this green land: Benedetto. The Benedictine order was one of the most important in the Middle Ages, "Ora et Labora" was its motto and the monks applied it literally: they built churches and abbeys which we can still admire for their simple and austere style.  Narni, the medieval city of excellence in Umbria, has  a jewel-case full  of these treasures, mostly still uncovered . There are also several religious buildings to visit and admire: St. Cassiano, St. Michele Arcangelo, St. Pudenziana, St. Maria Impensole and, not far away, St. Pietro in Valle, Founded by Longobardi.