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Città della Pieve

Description

Città della Pieve is a municipality in the province of Perugia, located between the hills of the Lake Trasimeno area, overlooking the valley of the river Chiani. It is famous for being the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, better known as the Perugino, Raphael's first teacher, and to Antonio Pomarancio, another famous Italian painter of the XVI-XVII centuries. The town consists of a main centre which dates back to the IX century, features an oval shaped plan with a single main street and a conglomeration of houses situated on the hilltop. The town is characterized by the presence of dark brick houses, to which, in subsequent periods, new architectural elements such as arches and cornices have been added, extremely well-balanced, although a mix up. The main center still retains entirely the presence of its medieval walls and is divided in terzieri.
Originally the area was inhabited by the Etruscans and later colonized by the Romans. The first important settlement was built in the Middle Ages around a church dedicated to Saints Gervasio and Protasio. Due to the progressive transformation of the Chiana Valley in a marshy area, the residents were forced to move to drier areas towards the top of the hill, where the town is currently located. The city was founded as an outpost of the Lombard Duchy of Chiusi. Contented between different noble families (from Perugia, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal State), during the Middle Ages, Città della Pieve was subjected to Perugia and later in 1527, to the Church.

Attractions:
- the Cathedral, built in the XII century and renovated between the XV and XVII centuries, is located in the main square. Of the original Romanesque-style structure remain only traces in the apse and the façade. The Bell Tower is in Romanesque-Gothic style, while the interior features a single nave. Inside are preserved a XVI century altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child with Saints and two contemporary artworks attributed to the Perugino, while in the apse it is possible to admire a XVI century fresco of the artist Pomarancio;
- the early XVI century Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, which inside features a fresco by the Perugino;
- the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi in Gothic style, located just outside the city walls and preserves inside a fresco by the Perugino, depicting the Deposition;
- the Church of San Francesco, built in the XIII century, features a brick façade and houses a Madonna with Saints of the artist Alfani and a representation of the Pentecost by Pomarancio;
- the Oratory of San Bartolomeo, which houses a large fresco depicting the Crucifixion, a XIV century artwork of the Art School of Siena;
- the Church of Santa Maria dei Bianchi, which preserves within a fresco by the Perugino;
- the XIV century Rocca (fortress) built by the Lords of Perugia and features a square plan with corner watchtowers;
- the Civic Tower;
- the XVI century Palazzo Mazzuoli.

Map

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