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One of the most interesting town in the picturesque Valnerina is Ferentillo: the town, lain along the sides of a gorge dominated by two fortified towers, has a medieval aspect, and is situated at the confluence of the stream Salto del Cieco and the River Nera; the latter divides the centre into two parts, Mattarella e Precetto.
The origins of the town date back to the 8th century and its history is linked to that of the Abbey of S. Pietro in Valle.
First free commune, than under the dominion of the Cybo and the Ancaiani, it fought for a long time against Montefranco and Spoleto.
Entering Mattarella one can see the church of S. Maria, dating back to the 13th century, but rebuilt in the 1500s: on the 15th century portal there are the remains of a fresco, "Madonna with two angels"; the interior has three naves, divided by pillars and columns with ogival arches, and a truss-roof; the walls have some niches, and near the altars there are some frescoes by the 16th century Umbrian school.
In the quarter of Precetto the most interesting thing to be admired is the church of S. Stefano, built in the 15th century; the interior has three naves, a fine fonte and a beautiful fresco from the half of the 1500s.
In the crypt, as large as the church, but divided into two naves by massive pillars, are conserved some mummies: the particular process of mummifying is due to the nature of the soil, composed of dry, porous and rich sand, and to the continual air draughts.
The Abbey of San Pietro in Valle
The Abbey of S. Pietro in Valle is without any doubt the most important testimony to the Duchy of Spoleto, and one of the most interesting of the Middle Ages.
The Abbey, which lies just north of Ferentillo, was built on a lonely site, where the hermits Lazzaro and Giovanni had retired in the 6th century, by order of Faraold II, Duke of Spoleto, who decided to abandon his worldly state when was deposed by his son in 720 and to retired in the complex until his death (728).
The church, with a single nave eastwards oriented, a transept and three apses, is a 11th century reconstruction: the walls were covered by frescoes of which we can see some remains which are very important because they are an example of the Roman painting before Cavallini's work, a first reaction to the Byzantine style.
We can admire also a votive cippus, architectural and sculptural fragments, Roman and Medieval sarcophagi, among which the one where is Faraold's body; the major altar is formed from marble remains found in the area, and the large decorated slab of marble shows the portrait of the author of the relieves, Ursus, and the dedicatory inscription of Ulderico, Duke of Spoleto in 740.
The apse is decorated with a large fresco: in the upper part there is a Blessing Christ, below a Lady with Child, Angels and Saints, and below the Saints Benedetto, Placido, Marziale, Eleuterio and Lazzaro.
From the left wing of the transept it is possible to enter the bell-tower hall, which has at ground floor level a barrel-vault room; the external part is in that kind of Lombard style very frequent in Lazio; built in the 12th century, it presents a lot of old fragments and beautiful decorations.
Next to the church we can admire a magnificent cloister (12th century).
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