Bettona - art, accomodation, events and so ...

Bettona

Bettona
Bettona

BETTONA (355 metres above sea level)
an active agricultural centre, can boast very ancient origins.
The IPOGEO, discovered in the Colle suburbs and dating from the 2nd century B.C., testifies to its Etruscan origins. During the Roman era, Vettona was first a colony and then a municipality. In 1217 Assisi took possession of the castle of Bettona which subsequently (in 1352) fell to the Perugians who destroyed it. Restored by Cardinal Albornoz, it was first the dominion of the Baglionis and then of the Papal States.
The principal monuments include: the fifteenth century Palazzetto Podestarile, site of an interesting art gallery (works by Fiorenzo di Lorenzo, Perugino, Tiberio di Assisi and Dono Doni); the Church of Santa Maria with paintings by Perugino, N.Alunno, the Sienese school and the futurist painter Gerardo Dottori; the Church of San Crispolto - honouring the first bishop of Bettona - of medieval origin but extensively restored in the 18th century; the Oratory of Sant'Andrea where valuable frescos in the later style of Giotto have recently been brought to light during restoration work on the interesting wooden ceiling; the Oratory of Sant'Onofrio, the cemetery chapel.
A walk around the medieval walls allows one to admire two extensive stretches of Etruscan wall as well as a magnificent view sweeping over the valley from Torgiano to Perugia, to Assisi, to Trevi, and on to the hills that separate it from the Tiber Valley.
Another beautiful walk passes admist the woods of Mount Lauro, origin of an alkaline-ferrous spring famous from ancient times as a cure for gastroenteric diseases.
Worthy of note, in the hamlet of Passaggio, the Abbey of San Crispolto and the 18th century Villa Boccaglione, attributed to Piermarini who designed the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.