CategoriesBlog Blog Recipe By greenconsulting

San Costanzo’s Torcolo

The typical sweet of the tradition to celebrate San Costanzo is, in fact, the Torcolo, behind which there are many legends and mysteries related to the Saint that still today make this sweet full of charm and history.

In fact, it is handed down that the torcolo is in the shape of a donut to remember the crown and flowers that were placed on the body of the Saint after the decapitation or even that the hole represents the severed head of the Saint and lastly that its donut shape refers to the crown paraded from the head of the Saint once he was beheaded. That’s why a dessert studded with colored candies, in memory of the precious stones of the color! The five cuts on the donut are, however, attributable to the access doors to the five districts of the historic center of Perugia: Porta San Pietro, Porta Sole, Porta Eburnea, Porta Susanna, and Porta Sant’Angelo.

The torcolo di San Costanzo, despite the great importance it holds during the feast of January 29, is a dessert that is now enjoyed in Umbria throughout the year!

Let’s see the Recipe:

Ingredients:
600 g of flour
330 g of warm water
170 g of sugar
85 g of extra virgin olive oil
1 egg
85 g of butter
25 g of brewer’s yeast
170 g of candied citron
170 g of sultana raisins
170 g of pine nuts
anise seeds to taste

Method:
Arrange the flour on a pastry board, or in a bowl, crumble the yeast in the center and begin to knead with the warm water, gradually collecting the flour from the edges. Once the dough is homogeneous and well blended, let it rest and rise for about 2 hours in a warm, dry place.

Once the leavening is complete, turn the dough over (it should double) onto the work surface, spreading it slightly with the palm of your hand and add the butter cut into small pieces (room temperature), the sugar and the oil. Once the ingredients are mixed, add the diced candied citron, the raisins, the pine nuts, anise to taste. Knead it until all the candied fruit and dried fruit are well blended, form the donut and put it in a buttered cake pan to let it rise for about 3 hours.

After the last leavening, brush the surface of the Torcolo with egg yolk and make 5 light cuts with the tip of the knife.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180° for about 45 minutes.

Recommended pairing: Vernaccia di Cannara or Umbrian Vinsanto.

CategoriesBlog News By umbriasi

The Story of Saint Costanzo

Il 29 gennaio si festeggia San Costanzo, primo Vescovo e di Perugia e uno dei patroni del capoluogo umbro insieme a San Lorenzo e Sant’Ercolano. La storia della vita di San Costanzo e ciò che ne aleggia intorno è ricco di meraviglia, stupore, fede e misticismo con un pizzico di romanticismo e di dolcezze. Vediamo perché.

On January 29th, Saint Costanzo is celebrated, the first Bishop of Perugia, and one of the patrons of the Umbrian capital, along with Saint Lorenzo and Saint Ercolano. The story of the life of Saint Costanzo and what surrounds it is rich in wonder, amazement, faith, and mysticism, with a touch of romanticism and sweetness. Let’s see why.

 

Saint Costanzo, the Martyr

In “Mille Santi del Giorno” by Piero Bargellini, a collection of stories about the lives of saints, the description of Costanzo can be traced back to around the 2nd century AD. He was a man dedicated to faith, kindness, and generosity towards the poor, with a strong sense of duty to the Christian Church, especially during the persecutions of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

 

It is narrated that Costanzo, under the rule of Marcus Aurelius, was martyred and brutally persecuted: confined in the calidarium (ancient Roman baths) at extremely high temperatures, he miraculously emerged unharmed. He was arrested several times and forced to walk on burning coals, but nothing could shake the faith of Saint Costanzo. Around the year 178, he was arrested again and beheaded in Foligno. His remains were then returned to Perugia, where he found rest in what would later become the first Cathedral of Perugia, outside the gates of San Pietro, now known as the Church of San Costanzo.

 

The Tradition of the Wink

For lovers of romanticism, here’s a legend that during the celebrations of the Saint, the image of San Costanzo can “wink” at unmarried girls (and virgins according to medieval tradition) who present themselves in the Church where the Saint rests, to inquire if they will marry within the year. Of course, it’s a play of lights and shadows that makes the whole thing magical with a hint of love.

 

For young ladies without the foresight of a happy event predicted by the Saint, the boyfriend will give them the typical Perugian sweet, especially associated with the Feast of San Costanzo, the Torcolo.

 

The Torcolo of San Costanzo

The typical sweet of the tradition to celebrate San Costanzo is indeed the Torcolo, behind which many legends and mysteries related to the Saint are hidden, making this sweet still charming and full of history today.

 

It is handed down, in fact, that the torcolo is shaped like a ring to recall the crown of flowers placed on the Saint’s body after decapitation, or that the hole represents the severed head of the Saint, and finally, that its donut shape refers to the crown removed from the head of the Saint once decapitated. This is why a sweet studded with colored candied fruits, in memory of the precious stones of the crown! The five cuts on the donut can be traced back to the entrances to the five districts of the historic center of Perugia: Porta San Pietro, Porta Sole, Porta Eburnea, Porta Susanna, and Porta Sant’Angelo.

 

The Torcolo of San Costanzo, despite its great importance during the celebration on January 29th, is a sweet that is now enjoyed in Umbria throughout the year!

 

Photo Credits

Regione Umbria

Umbria Tourism

Come di Perugia

CategoriesBlog News By umbriasi

On the Trail of Don Matteo in Spoleto

Spoleto, a hidden gem nestled among the green Umbrian hills, is a place rich in history, culture, and charm. Besides being an ideal destination for art and gastronomy enthusiasts, Spoleto is famous for the Festival dei Due Mondi and as the city where the popular Italian television series “Don Matteo” is filmed. Let’s explore together the enchanted places in Spoleto that provide the backdrop for the adventures of our beloved detective priest!

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Palazzo Bufalini The majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as the Duomo di Spoleto, is the iconic location of the series. This masterpiece of Romanesque architecture houses extraordinary works of art and represents one of the holiest places in the city. In the plot of “Don Matteo,” the cathedral serves as the Rectory, the Carabinieri barracks, and the Parlor. Not far away, you can admire Piazza della Signoria, where many scenes of the fiction were shot. Palazzo Bufalini was used for external shots of the Carabinieri barracks.

Basilica of Sant’Eufemia and the Caio Melisso Theater Located inside the Episcopal Palace, built on the foundations of the ancient residence of the Lombard dukes, is the setting that hosts the Church of “Don Matteo.” Nearby is the Caio Melisso Theater, which, for the purposes of the fiction, becomes the prison parlor.

A Journey into the Heart of Spoleto Exploring the locations where the “Don Matteo” series is filmed is a fascinating experience that allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the magic of the show. Spoleto, with its rich history, charming architecture, and mysterious aura, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Umbria.

If you are a fan of the series, there is no better way to experience the adventures of Don Matteo and his faithful friend Cecchini, played by Nino Frassica, than to personally visit these enchanted places. Spoleto will welcome you with open arms, offering not only the beauty of its monuments but also the opportunity to relive the exciting moments you loved on the screen.

So, get ready for a journey into the world of Don Matteo, exploring the same winding alleys and bustling squares that served as the backdrop for his most thrilling investigations. Spoleto awaits you with its secrets and stories to tell, ready to enchant you with its timeless charm.

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From Spoleto to Marmore by bike

A three-day proposal in one of the most beautiful areas of Umbria, which combines the beauties of Spoleto and villages such as Sant’Anatolia, Scheggino, Ferentillo and Arrone, with the uncontaminated nature of the Valnerina, before ending in front of the stupendous spectacle of the Marmore waterfall.
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CategoriesBlog News By umbriasi

Umbria in Fiction

L’Umbria da Fiction
Benvenuti in Umbria, nel cuore verde dell’Italia, una Regione che incanta con la sua bellezza naturale e il suo fascino storico. Ma c’è qualcosa di magico nell’Umbria che va oltre i suoi paesaggi mozzafiato e le sue città medievali: è il luogo dove la magia del cinema e della televisione prende vita!
In questo viaggio cinematografico, esploreremo i luoghi incantati dell’Umbria che sono servito da sfondo per film e fiction, portando sullo schermo la ricchezza della sua cultura e della sua storia.

Città della Pieve e “CARABINIERI”
Città della Pieve caratterizzata dai suoi edifici in mattoni rossi e situata al confine tra l’Umbria e la Toscana, è stata forse la prima location in Umbria a fare da sfondo per avvincenti inseguimenti tra criminali e carabinieri, nella Fiction “Carabinieri” e che ha fatto da trampolino di lancio nella carriera da attori come Manuela Arcuri, Martina Colombari, Lorenzo Crespi…
La caserma dei carabinieri è stata collocata in via Maddalena 34 in un istituto tecnico.
Il celebre Bar Pippo, frequentato dai protagonisti della fiction, si trova invece in Piazza Matteotti, ed è ancora oggi attivo.

Assisi e “CHE DIO CI AIUTI”
Assisi è stata la protagonista delle ultime stagioni della celebre fiction Rai “Che Dio ci aiuti”.
Girovagando per le strade della città, è possibile identificare gli edifici storici di Assisi che fungono da cornice alle avventure di Suor Angela, interpretata dall’attrice Elena Sofia Ricci, che attraversa il centro storico a bordo del suo ormai iconico pulmino blu. Location delle riprese sono state anche la maestosa Basilica Papale di San Francesco, la Basilica di Santa Chiara e la Cattedrale di San Rufino. Molti dei dialoghi tra Suor Angela e Suor Costanza, interpretata dall’attrice Francesca Chillemi, sono state girate, per esempio, nella chiesetta di San Giacomo de Muro Rupto.

Perugia e “LUISA SPAGNOLI”
Perugia, la pittoresca capitale dell’Umbria, è stata il set per numerose produzioni cinematografiche e televisive: una tra queste, trasmessa nel 2016, è la serie televisiva dedicata a Luisa Spagnoli (ne avevamo parlato qui), imprenditrice lungimirante e creatrice del marchio di moda che porta il suo nome e del famoso Bacio Perugina, il cioccolatino con la nocciola ideato insieme al marito Francesco Buitoni.
La scenografia si è sviluppata soprattutto in piazza IV Novembre, tra la Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, la Fontana Maggiore e Palazzo Priori. Luisa Spagnoli, interpretata dalla bellissima e bravissima Luisa Ranieri, ha sfoggiato eleganti abiti d’epoca mentre percorreva Corso Vannucci, il corso principale di Perugia ma anche le suggestive scalette di Sant’Ercolano

“DON MATTEO” tra Gubbio e Spoleto
Gubbio, con le sue case di pietra e i vicoli stretti, è un vero tesoro medievale che ha attirato registi di tutto il mondo. La città è stata utilizzata come primo set per il film “Don Matteo”, prima di passare. Gubbio offre un’atmosfera autentica che ha reso la serie ancora più coinvolgente per gli spettatori. A Gubbio, in particolare, sono stati utilizzati la Chiesa di San Giovanni per la canonica e la chiesa della Fiction. Nella Piazza Grande, di fronte al Palazzo dei Consolo, invece, si trovata la caserma del maresciallo Cecchini, dove è ancora posizionato il tavolo delle partite a scacchi tra Don Matteo e il Maresciallo. Le famose passeggiate in bicicletta di Terence Hill – DON MATTEO, sono girare in Via Savelli, Via Piccardi e Via Baldassini.

A Spoleto, invece, la maestosa Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, conosciuta anche come Duomo di Spoleto, è la location iconica della serie. Questo capolavoro di architettura romanica ospita opere d’arte straordinarie e rappresenta uno dei luoghi più sacri della città. Nella trama di “Don Matteo”, la cattedrale ospita la Canonica, la Caserma dei Carabinieri e il Parlatorio.
Poco distante si può ammirare Piazza della Signoria dove sono state girate molte scene della Fiction. Palazzo Bufalini è stato utilizzato per le riprese in esterna della Caserma dei Carabinieri.

L’Umbria è molto più di un’incantevole regione italiana: è un mondo di possibilità per cineasti e registi che desiderano catturare la sua bellezza e il suo fascino senza tempo. Esplorare i luoghi dove sono stati girati film e fiction in Umbria è un modo affascinante per scoprire la regione da una prospettiva unica, attraverso gli occhi dei creatori cinematografici che hanno reso questi luoghi indimenticabili sul grande e piccolo schermo.

 

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CategoriesActivity Attività Blog By umbriasi

Pozzo di San Patrizio: a pioneering hydraulic work

It was the year 1527 when the Florentine architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger was commissioned to build a Well in the heart of the city of Orvieto, a work that would later prove to be a real pioneering and avant-garde enterprise.
The task was ordered by the then Pope Clement VII, during the Sack of Rome, who wanted to give the city that gave him refuge (after having arrived there disguised as a greengrocer), a supply of water that was always available, especially during difficult periods such as sieges (or famines). A medal was also minted later, now kept in the Vatican Museums, with the engraving “ut populus bibat” – “for the people to drink”.

Initially the Pope had imagined the Pozzo for use in the fortified fortress of the Albornoz Fortress (hence the name “Pozzo della Rocca”). We have to wait for the 1800s for the current name Pozzo di San Patrizio.

Renaissance avant-garde
The architect Sangallo designed the cylindrical well, 58 meters deep, starting and taking inspiration from the spiral staircase of the Villa del Belvedere in the Vatican with a helicoidal design of steps (248) designed so that no traffic jams were created. and in fact whoever went down and whoever went up had their own “way” free, especially those who went there with mules.
There are 72 windows that illuminate the well until it reaches the semi-darkness in depth, where there is a small bridge connecting the two stairways.
The Well, completed in 1537, was built by digging into the tuff (Orvieto is famous precisely for its tufaceous soils and tuff tunnels where many famous Orvieto wines are kept and refined today) and then into the clay up to the aquifer of natural origin.
At the entrance you read “quod natura munimento inviderat industry adiecit – what nature had not given, industry procured”, a clear celebration of human ingenuity at the service of nature.

The Well and Ireland
As mentioned, the name Pozzo di San Patrizio, arrived in the 1800s at the behest of the friars of the Convento dei Servi who were aware of the legend of the “Irish saint”, St. Patrick, guardian of a cave so deep that it did not have a bottom enough to be recognized as St. Patrick’s Purgatory (and once it reached the bottom by overcoming the “tests” it was then possible to enter Paradise) and that the well was even connected to Ireland, where the Saint did the work of evangelization, and often found in the Well a time for reflection and prayer. Thus it was that the Pozzo became a sacred rather than a military destination. Today a tourist and cultural destination of great impact and emotion.

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CategoriesBlog Consigli By umbriasi

What to do in Umbria in January? UmbriaSì tells you

When the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays dies down, January becomes the perfect month for a holiday dedicated to relaxation and discovery. Umbria, with its quiet villages, winter landscapes and authentic flavors, offers a unique experience to start the year in the best way.

Here are our three tips on what to do in Umbria in January

Discover the beauty of winter nature

The Umbrian hills, woods and natural parks are tinged with winter shades in January, offering breathtaking landscapes and a magical atmosphere. Explore the trails of Mount Subasio or the Trasimeno Lake Park, where the quiet of the season allows you to connect with nature in an authentic way. If you are a photography lover or simply seek peace and silence, the Umbrian winter panoramas will surprise you.

Unique Art and Culture Experiences

January is the perfect time to indulge in cultural visits without the crowds. Discover Umbria’s artistic masterpieces, such as Giotto’s frescoes in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi or the works of Pinturicchio and Perugino preserved in local museums. Exploring Umbrian art in winter is an intimate experience that allows you to fully appreciate the region’s rich history and culture.

Rediscover artisan traditions

Umbria is also the land of ancient artisan traditions that, in winter, can be experienced in a more authentic way. Visit the textile workshops, where hand-crafted work creates unique works, or discover hand-painted ceramics, a symbol of local excellence. An immersive experience that allows you to take home a piece of Umbrian culture and appreciate the passion that animates master craftsmen.

💚 We are waiting for you in Umbria 💚

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CategoriesActivity Blog Blog By umbriasi

Discover Campello sul Clitunno

The Campello sul Clitunno district is divided into Campello Alto and Campello Basso: the first fortified around the Castle dating back to the 9th-10th century and wanted by the knight from Burgundy, Rovero di Campeaux and the second near the Fonti del Clitunno.

A natural jewel: the Fonti del Clitunno
Crystalline springs at the foot of Mount Brunette, with bright colors that shine with the sun’s rays, creating plays of light, shadows and reflections of the vegetation that is reflected in these waters, sending an image of absolute purity and spirituality.

Already known in Roman times and many poets and writers such as Pliny, Virgil, Propertius, Juvenal, extol their praises in their legacies, speaking of an absolutely suggestive place. The river was revered as a natural element personified by the God Clitunno: its waters so pure as to make those who immersed themselves in it immaculate.

Again the Sources taken up in Corot’s paintings and praised again by Lord Byron in the fourth canto of Child Harold dedicated to Umbria:

“But you, or Clitunno! from your sweetest wave of the brightest crystal that ever sheltered a river nymph, to look inside and bathe her limbs where nothing hid them, you raise your grassy banks along which the milk-white bullock grazes; O thou – purest God of mild waters, and most serene of aspect, and most limpid, indeed thy current was not desecrated by carnage – mirror and pool for Beauty’s youngest daughters”

The very rich vegetation and biodiversity make the Fonti del Clitunno a small paradise among cypress poplars and weeping willows which with their foliage adorn the landscape and frame the waters, are strongly linked to Napoleon: in fact, it is said that they come from the place where the ‘Emperor on Saint Helena. The vegetation on the seabed is also rich such as: wild sedanine, aquatic horsetail and aquatic nasturtium.

Temple of Clitunno
Not far from the Fonti del Clitunno, there is the small but wonderful Tempietto del Clitunno, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.
Built in the early Christian era (it is assumed between the 5th and 7th centuries) with salvaged elements from the pagan sacellums (from the Latin sacellum, dim. of sacrum “sacred enclosure”) of the god Clitunno, today it is part of the seven jewels of ” The Lombards in Italy. Places of Power”.
On the tympanum it is still possible to see the decorations showing pomegranate and a bunch of grapes: if the first symbolizes fertility, grapes and more particularly wine is the symbol of the Eucharist.

“And on your happy shore a Temple, of minute and delicate structure, still keeps the memory of you on the gentle slope of a hill; beneath it flows your placid current; often leaps forth from it the darting fish with glittering scales, which dwells and plays in your crystalline depth; while perhaps some lost water lily flower floats by where the less deep wave still repeats its bubbling tales”
Lord Byron

In Green painted Green
In addition to the natural wonders, the historical ones and still those linked to Trebbiano Spoletino, the hills of Campello are adorned with green olive trees which are still cultivated today with traditional methods and make Campelli one of the paths of the olive grove.
The olive tree has Etruscan origins and was later spread by the Romans as a luxury item. Pliny the Younger himself had several hectares in Umbria dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees.

What remains of this story is the hope of being able to experience a place absolutely full of beauty accompanied by a glass of Trebbiano Spoletino and a slice of warm bread with local oil and admire, as Lord Byron, Carducci did and Pliny, the marvel of Campello sul Clitunno.

Discover Campello sul Clitunno Couple emotions on the road

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CategoriesActivity Blog Blog By umbriasi

Gualdo Tadino: a “forest” of Museums

The city of Gualdo Tadino, originally known by the Umbrian name of Tarsina, fell under Roman rule and was given the name “Tadinum”, becoming an important trading center and point of reference along the Via Flaminia. During the Roman period it experienced many wars following the conflicts for power between Caesar and Pompey.
Other known devastations are those related to the figure of Hannibal and the resistance against the Goths fighting against the Lombards in the famous battle of Tagina.
The name GUALDO derives from the reconstruction dating back to 996 after the destruction of Otto III of Saxony, Emperor of the Eastern Franks and Roman Emperor since 966; starting from the reconstruction of the 11th century, the city assumed the Longobard name of Gualdo, “forest, wooded place” – from the German “Wald”. The formal recognition of the name “Gualdo Tadino” will only take place in 1833 by Pope Gregory XVI.
In 1237 it was destroyed again by fire and rebuilt by Frederick II and the Benedictine friars, mainly around the large structure of the Rocca Flea, on Colle Sant’Angelo.
In order to be able to experience Gualdo Tadino immersed in time, in the marvelous stories of the Gualdo citizens, in the architectural constructions and in the culture that has distinguished the Umbrian town, the City of Gualdo Tadino Museum Pole has enclosed the entire legacy of the city in a circuit of museums .
Not to be missed are the Rocca Flea Civic Museum, the Ceramics Museum, the Emigration Museum…Discover them all HERE

But let’s look at some of them in detail:

Rocca Flea
On the top of Colle Sant’Angelo, stands Rocca Flea, an exquisite military architecture dating back to the XII century and rebuilt by Frederick II in 1247. Inside, since 1999, there is the Rocca Flea Civic Museum.
“Its name, derived from the nearby river Flebeo, later called Feo, already appears in documents from the 12th century. With the succession of different dominations imposed on the city, the militias of Federico Barbarossa first settled there, then those of the pope and in 1208 those of the Guelph Perugia. Damaged by many conflicts, it was restored by Frederick II around 1242. In the 16th century it became the residence of the papal legates, while in 1888 the Rocca became a prison. Restored to its previous appearance thanks to recent restorations, the fortress has become the seat of the civic museum since 1999 “

Museum of Ceramics
“The Ceramics Museum of Casa Cajani is part of a large project which aims to exhibit and enhance the city’s heritage: the civic collection of ceramics, coming from the public, from acquisitions and donations. A project linked to the artistic, productive and economic history of this area, which documents the prestigious goals achieved over the centuries by the Gualdo ceramic manufacturers.
Some rooms of the Museum are entirely dedicated to Alfredo Santarelli, a tribute to his majestic work with artefacts from important factories born in the 1900s from the imprint of Santarelli, such as Luca della Robbia, the Mastro Giorgio Ceramic Society and the Angelo Pascucci Ceramic Industry. Another section is dedicated to the prestigious manufacture of Paolo Rubboli who reintroduced the technique of gold and ruby ​​lustres of the Mastrogiorge tradition in Gualdo Tadino”.

Emigration Museum
“The Pietro Conti Regional Museum of Emigration was created to underline the historical, cultural and human heritage linked to the great emigration exodus that involved Italy from the end of the 19th century and which involved more than 27 million departures. Made with the video projection technique, it involves the visitor in an exciting backward journey: the arrival, the journey and the departure. Documents, images and stories from all regions of Italy. A choral journey that has the emigrant as its protagonist: the farewells, the meeting and the clash with the foreign country, nostalgia, the daily joys and sorrows, the integration into the new reality, the defeats and the victories, the confrontation and reflection on today’s immigration”.

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On the Path of Ceramics

Discover Gualdo Tadino
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CategoriesBlog Blog Tips By umbriasi

Discover Bevagna with UmbriaSì

In the flourishing valley of Umbria stands the city of Bevagna, originally populated by Umbrians with Etruscan influences. The original name, Mevania, is perhaps due to an Etruscan noble named Mefana, which became Mevania with the arrival of the Romans.
The bond that unites Sagrantino and Bevagna with deep-rooted origins is important and strong:
in fact, we read in the Historia Naturalis of Pliny the Elder, of a black grape variety produced in the municipality of Bevagna.
Enclosed in its walls, Bevagna experienced a flourishing building development with the construction of an amphitheater and Roman baths adorned with beautiful mosaics. The amphitheater itself, in medieval times, was then transformed and became part of a craftsman’s workshop on the ground floor with his residence on the upper floor: hence the famous saying “house and workshop”.
Among the Umbrian historical events and re-enactments, the one linked to the Mercato delle Gaite is singular and very fascinating, which for over 30 years has been proposing what medieval everyday life was like between 1250 and 1350: how people lived, what they did in the alleys of drink.
The event takes its name from the four main districts of Bevagna, the Gaite, and every year, at the end of June, it brings back to life the ancient uses and customs of the drinkers engaged in four competitions, Gastronomic, Trades, Market and Archery. Music, food, instruments, clothes…everything recalls the Bevagna of that century, a historical leap in time that fascinates and amazes.
Another experience is the Circuit of Medieval Crafts: real laboratories to be able to experience the arts and crafts of that time, among ancient machinery, engineering instruments, which have made the history of commerce and artisan production of Bevagna: the Setificio , the painter’s workshop, the Mastro Cecco paper mill and the wax factory.

Stroll along the streets, among taverns, clubs, wine bars and more modern wine bars where you can sip a glass of Montefalco Sagrantino or even in its sparkling version to have vivacity and freshness on spring days when the sun is still shy but warms up just enough to make you enjoy a walk in the open air.

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Visit Bevagna

Tasty weekend in Umbria among the villages more beautiful in Italy
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CategoriesActivity Blog Blog By umbriasi

The madman’s license in Gubbio

To feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland, a bit like the Hatter, we take you to Gubbio, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Umbria, also known by the Roman name of Iguvium, rich in history, monuments, architectural works and … also famous for being known as the City of Fools!
Well as such, in the Gubbio city you can also take the Fool’s License complete with Parchment. Everything starts and revolves around the Bargello Fountain, built around the 16th century, located in front of Palazzo Bargello in the heart of the historic center of Gubbio and renowned for being the Fools’ Fountain! 

It all dates back to an ancient practice of 1880 and still in use today for the citizens of Gubbio but also for all the tourists traveling to Gubbio!
Attention! The Madmen’s license also requires requirements and is based on strict regulations:
1. It must be a genuine Eugubino to apply for the Madman’s License on your behalf
2. Pay a contribution to the Maggio Eugubino Association
3. Make 3 laps around the Fontana dei Matti in the presence of a genuine Eugubino Matto!
4. Being “baptized” by the spray of water from the Fontana dei Matti itself.

After passing the test, the same Association will grant you the Parchment of the Fool’s License written in medieval style.
The tradition of the Matti is linked to the laps, the “birate”, which take place around the main flagpole of Piazza Grande during the famous and folkloristic Ceri festival which is held every year on May 15th.

EUGUBINI, ROCKY CRAZY!
According to some geological studies, around the city they would have detected rocky conformations contaminated by a highly toxic chemical substance, iridium, which could in some way explain the “madness” of the Gubbio inhabitants.

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