Visit Citta Della Pieve
The central Italian town of Città della Pieve is situated on a hill, located on the border with Umbria, Tuscany and not far from Lazio.
The layout of Citta della Pieve was completed around the 13th century and has been preserved almost intact over the centuries. The plan is not arbitrary, and indeed it has some important and interesting symbolic meanings - the plan of the town, in fact, looks like an eagle, the symbol of Emperor Frederick II, who died in 1250. The city construction was completed before the death of the Emperor, and therefore scholars believe that the structure was required by Frederick II who wanted to impose his coat of arms on the town in this way.
We can further see the symbolism of Città della Pieve in its division into "terzieri" (the term for the three parts into which the city is divided, called Borgo Dentro, Casalino and Castello), which symbolically represent the social classes of the city. In fact, the "terziere" placed on the head of the eagle, called the "Castello", means the knights; that on the belly is called the “Borgo Dentro” ["Village Inside"], and it symbolizes the bourgeoisie, while the third, placed on the tail of the eagle ("Casalino"), symbolizes the popular class.
Citta Della Pieve - city of Perugino
The city tour can start from the Cathedral in Citta Della Pieve, in pre-Romanesque style (IX-X century), which contains many works of art beyond that of Perugino. But the most important attraction of the cathedral is the work of Perugino, whose style was formed at the school of Verrocchio, also with inspiration from the art of Antonio Pollaiuolo (1429 ca.-1498), Botticelli (1445-1510), Leonardo (1452-1519) and Piero della Francesca (1417 ca.-1492).
In the cathedral you can see the altarpiece by Perugino, dedicated to Saints Gervasio and Protasio. The altarpiece depicts the “Virgin and Child”, flanked by the patron saints of the city and concluded in 1514. In the Chapel of the Cathedral there is another important work by Perugino, "The Baptism of Christ" (painted early 16th century), which art critics consider to be an imitation of the composition created by the painter for the Sistine Chapel in Rome, painted during his stay in Rome.
Tour of Cita della Pieve
Next to the Cathedral stands the Tower of the Public, built in the twelfth century. On the same square the Palace of Corgna, built by Ascanio della Corgna (1514-1571) is found. This project is attributed to Galeazzo Alessi (1512-1572), and inside there are some painted by Cristoforo Roncalli, known as the 'Pomarancio' (1553-1626) and Salvio Savini (1580-1609).
Another great city building is the Bandini Palace, a complex in brick dating from the 14th century (renovated in the 16th century), while another important building is the Baroque style Palace of Fargna, which contains some fine stucco work. Perugino worked in various churches in the city, leaving masterpieces worth seeing - we suggest a visit to the Church of San Pietro, near the gate of the Castello ‘terziere’ to see the painting 'St. Anthony Abbot and Saint Marcello and Paul'.
In 1504 the 'Order of the Disciplinati' of the 'Compagnia dei Bianchi' requested that Perugino paint a fresco in the altar wall of their oratory. The fresco ("The Adoration of the Magi") was completed in the same year with considerable technical expertise.Outside the walls you can visit the Church of St. Augustine, St. Francis, shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, and, above all, the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi, with another fresco by Perugino, representing the "Descent from the Cross."
Citta Della Pieve Cuisine and Tradition
The surroundings of “Città della Pieve”, characterized by the hills of Umbria and Tuscany, are a landscape worthy of a visit, including time to stop in some of the many farms that offer all the local dishes: game, noodles, vegetables, mushrooms, truffles, cheeses, meats, freshwater fish, and, most importantly, a taste of the famous “Florentine steak”, a “version” of the local cuisine that makes use of a sauce made from tiny cubes of melted to the pan. All this, of course, must be accompanied by a few glasses of the local wine of the Trasimeno Hills.
See also history of Citta della Pieve