Città di Castello

Palazzo del Podestà

Torre civica

Cathedral

Palazzo Vitelli

The town
Città di Castello is the principal centre in the Upper Tiber Valley: situated in an area surrounded by soft hills, the city, one of the most important in Umbria, is enclosed by 16th century walls and preserves magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings.
In the Piazza Matteotti is located the ex-PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ, a large building attributed to Angelo da Orvieto; whereas the side that fronts the square was remodelled in Baroque style (17th century), the stone side flanking Corso Cavour has preserved the Gothic aspect.
The lively Corso leads to the Piazza Gabriotti, where stands the PALAZZO COMUNALE: built in the first half of the 14th century by Angelo da Orvieto, it is a splendid Gothic building decorated with a fine portal and elegant two-mullioned windows, remained unfinished because of political disorder that prevented the conclusion of the works; from the large hall, with polygonal pillars supporting vaults, starts a grand staircase leading to the upper storeys where can be visited the ancient archives and the Sala Maggiore, with some Roman plaques on the walls.
Near the Palazzo Comunale stands the CATHEDRAL, dedicated to the Saints Florido and Amanzio and dating back to the11th century; enlarged in 1356 and totally restructured a century later, it has on the left side a part of the 14th century structure, with a Gothic portal decorated with columns and reliefs. The façade is divided into two parts: F. Lazzari built the lower one in Baroque forms in 1632; the upper one is from the Renaissance period. The beautiful round bell-tower is from the 13th century. The Renaissance interior is simple and elegant, and in the left transept can be admired the splendid "Trasfigurazione" by Rosso Fiorentino. Below the building is the lower church, where are preserved the mortal remains of the Saints Florido and Amanzio.
Another notable church is that of S. DOMENICO, imposing and severe Gothic building: its construction started in 1291 and the work continued until 1424; the façade, unfinished, has an ogival portal; the interior is characterised by an only nave with the roof supported by a framework of beams, and the walls, decorated with 15th century frescoes, have on the right side some chapels; near the sacristy there is a "Crocefisso", a 18th century copy of a painting by Raffaello, now housed at the National Gallery in London.
Of great interest is also the church of S. FRANCESCO: erected in the Gothic style in 1273 and consecrated in 1291, it was restructured in the 18th century; notable the Vitelli Chapel, designed by Vasari and enriched with magnificent 16th century choir-stalls; in this church Raffaello painted one of his masterpieces, "Lo Sposalizio della Vergine", now at Brera Picture Gallery (Milan).
Among the many noble residences PALAZZO VITELLI ALLA CANNONIERA, built by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane and Pier Francesco da Viterbo for Alessandro Vitelli, it is decorated on the rear façade with original graffiti by Vasari; the palace houses the Municipal Picture Gallery.