Sant'apollinare
Hello everyone, today we will talk about Sant'Apollinare, a hamlet of the municipality of Marsciano, located in the province of Perugia. This small village is inhabited by only 53 residents and is located at an altitude of 266 meters, a short distance from the Settevalli road coming from Perugia, and offers breathtaking views of the Nestore Valley.
History
The origins of the castle date back to the 10th century and it was built to protect a Benedictine monastery with the name of ''curtis Sanctae Marie Apollinaris''. In 1010, the castle was damaged by the Holy Roman Empire passing through and in 1030/1040 the monastery was donated to the Farfa Abbey and from there to the Basilica of St. Peter's Monastery (Perugia) in 1118. In 1163, the imperial diploma of Frederick Barbarossa confirmed this possession.
In the 14th century, the monastery was fortified to become an important strategic defense point towards Todi. In 1416, the castle was besieged and looted by Braccio da Montone, but was later defeated by the people of Perugia. From 1227 to 1770, Sant'Apollinare belonged to the Perugian family of Graziani-Pellini.
Currently, the village is almost uninhabited, with the exception of the families who own the castle. Most of the houses in the village are only inhabited during the summer and are owned by foreigners. The monastery, also called ''La Rocca'', is owned by the Agricultural Foundation, a state agency that manages the former heritage of the Benedictines. La Rocca consists of the ancient monastery, a small church, a cloister, a large cellar, and other warehouses.
Unfortunately, in 2009 the earthquake caused serious damage to the artistic heritage of the village, damaging the castle, the church, the fortress, and other characteristic places.
Economy and Events
On the second Sunday in May, Sant'Apollinare celebrates its 12 patron saints, whose relics are kept in the small church of the village. For some years, the residents have gathered in an Association called "The Friends of Sant'Apollinare", which organizes various initiatives to promote the beauty of their village.
Monuments and Art Places
Among the monuments of Sant'Apollinare, we find the Castle, of Byzantine times, which is characterized by a battlemented keep that constitutes the entrance to the internal cloister, equipped with a well. A second arch introduces the actual village, which has always been inhabited and is still perfectly preserved. Inside the castle, along the main street, you can admire the Church of S. Apollinare, built in 1510.
La Rocca is instead an ancient Benedictine abbey. Inside the church, with its single-naved Romanesque architecture, you can admire a painting of the 16th century by Polidoro of Stefano Ciburri.
Society
Sant'Apollinare is a very quiet small village, where contact with nature and history are the real protagonists. Most of the inhabitants are elderly, but young families who have chosen to live in this suggestive place can also be noticed.
Notes
Sant'Apollinare is located just a few kilometers from other art places such as Todi and Perugia, and is an ideal place for those who want to spend their holidays in Umbria, discovering the hidden treasures of the region.
Other projects
If you want to discover more about Sant'Apollinare and its history, you can visit the website of the municipality of Marsciano. We also invite you to follow us on Instagram, where we publish photos and curiosities about the art places of Umbria. In this way, you can experience the atmosphere of this enchanted village even from a distance.
