Foligno,a small town in Umbria, is home to VILLA ALLEGRIA. Built around Piazza Garibaldi, the town's historic centre, like all the other towns and villages in the region, it's a place full of surprises, where life is good and the inhabitants are smiling and welcoming.
Let's discover together the little hidden treasures of Foligno, a town in Umbria, Italy, that has managed to preserve some of its past vestiges.
The town of Foligno has a rich and eventful history. Like many Italian towns, Foligno was steeped in religion, and if the town is famous today, it is mainly for having been the birthplace of Saint Angela of Foligno, a Franciscan nun who had a vision of Saint Francis of Assisi, who died more than 20 years before her birth. However, it was above all her visions of Christ that made her a Blessed before she was canonised in Rome in 2013.
During the Second World War, many of Foligno's monuments, particularly the Roman buildings, were unfortunately destroyed.
However, like the rest of the region, the town has managed to preserve a number of buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, particularly in Piazza Garibaldi. If you take a stroll through the streets after dropping off your bags at VILLA ALLEGRIA,you'll come across a number of medieval churches, including the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino.
However, it is above all the Cathedral of Saint Felician of Foligno (or Duomo di Foligno) that charms visitors with its pink and white stripes. Just a few minutes' walk away is the church of San Anna del Monastero delle Comtesse, home to Raphael's Madonna di Foligno, now on display in the Vatican. Alternatively, on the other side of the historic centre, the Church of St Paul the Apostle in Foligno, a surprising reinforced concrete building, was erected in 2001.
A visit to Foligno would not be complete without discovering its many palaces. From Palazzo Trinci, now an archaeological museum, to Palazzo Orfini, where the first edition of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy was printed, you won't know where to turn.
Finally, in the hills above Foligno in Umbria, you can also visit the Abbazia di Sassovivo, a Benedictine monastery overlooking the town. Alternatively, the Rasiglia springs are a twenty-minute drive from your holiday home in Umbria.
Visiting Umbria means visiting amazing villages full of charm, but it also means discovering unique cultural events that will delight young and old alike. This is what the town of Foligno offers with its Giostra della Quintana.Translating as the "Quintana Joust", this is an annual festival held on the 3rd Sunday in June, with a rematch on the second Sunday in September.
Dating back to the 15th century, the principle is simple: after the opening procession of the joust, 10 riders representing the town's 10 Rioni compete against each other on horseback.
Wielding a spear, they have to thread the rings in record time and with the fewest penalties.
The winning rider then gets a trophy on display at the Rione headquarters. But the party
doesn't stop there! In the town's palaces, locals and visitors alike can enjoy typical
Looking for a holiday in Italy in June or September? Why not make your stay coincide with the dates of this original celebration? Once the festivities are over, you can return peacefully to VILLA ALLEGRIA, a luxury house to rent in Foligno, Umbria.
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