Lugnano in Teverina
Welcome back to Lugnano in Teverina, the Umbrian town among the most beautiful villages in Italy
Hello everyone! Today, I want to talk to you about Lugnano in Teverina, a delightful Italian town located in the province of Terni in Umbria. With a population of 1426 inhabitants, Lugnano in Teverina is bordered by the Tiber River and is part of the National Association of Oil Cities and the Club of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. But it's not just that which makes this place so special.
A little physical geography: what do you think of the climate?
To begin with, let me tell you a little bit about its physical geography. Lugnano in Teverina is located in the Tiber Valley in an area classified as zone E, 2127 GR/G, according to the Italian climatic classification. This means that the climate here is temperate with a fairly cold winter and a fairly warm summer. What do you think of this climate, friends? Do you prefer the scorching heat of summer or the freezing cold of winter?
Let's discover the monuments and places of interest
Now, I suggest you take a look at the beautiful monuments and places of interest in the town. Lugnano in Teverina proudly boasts its status as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. And it's not just a title, just take a look at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta to see for yourself. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries, this church is a splendid example of Romanesque architecture. The frescoes executed by Domenico Bruschi in 1886 in the Chapel of the Bufalari Counts are truly breathtaking. Inside the church, there are also beautiful Cosmati mosaics and the painting of Saint John the Baptist, a work by the painter Livio Agresti.
But the wonders of Lugnano in Teverina don't end there! The Convent of San Francesco will leave you speechless. Built by the people of the town in 1229 where St. Francis worked the miracle of saving a child from the jaws of a wolf with the help of a goose, it is a complex architectural structure that includes a city wall, a church, a monastery, and a charming cloister. The frescoed rooms will make your visit even more exciting.
The Palazzo Pennone or Palazzo Farnese-Ridolfi is another place worth visiting. Built around 1650, it was the residence of the first owner, Antonio Penone. Today, it houses the municipal seat of Lugnano in Teverina. Another unmissable attraction is the Palazzo dei Conti Bufalari.
The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, dating back to the beginning of the 1500s, belonging to the company or confraternity of S. Antonio, is another interesting place to talk about. Initially conceived for agricultural purposes, the feast of Sant'Antonio is still celebrated on January 17th of each year, but it no longer has the ancient content and folklore of when all the animals from the crowded countryside arrived in front of it for the blessing.
Another church that I recommend you visit is the Church of the Maestà (or Maestade) dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, dating back to the early 1400s. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, this church became a reference point for a public fair instituted by a bull of Pope Clement VIII. After several years of abandonment, the priest began fundraising for the renovation. Thanks to these and other funds from the Gal, the Church of the Maestà was restored and subsequently reopened to the public on Sunday 31st August 2014 after a solemn inauguration.
Finally, I cannot fail to mention the former factory of Lugnano in Teverina. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, this factory was an important company producing electric lamps, a center for electricity generators, an agricultural company with an oil mill, the collection and processing of cereals, and a winery.
Conclusions
There you have it, my friends, I have tried to summarize for you the highlights of a town as beautiful as Lugnano in Teverina. Among its historical monuments, places of interest, and a still-living culture, this Umbrian town has a lot to offer. I hope I have sparked your curiosity and made you want to visit this hidden treasure of Italy. If you go there, let me know what you think!
