... the historic centre
Walking along the city walls which delimit the historic centre of Montefalco one encounters the four gates to the city, or what remains of them. Porta S. Agostino is the most majestic of the lot with its Ghibelline merlons; Porta della Rocca was demolished at the beginning of the 20C; Porta Camiano takes its name from the adjacent district; while Porta Federico Il is named in honour of the Swabian emperor. This latter gate is also known as Porta San Bartolomeo because of its location across the way from the Rornanesque apse of the church of the same name. The Church of S. Agostino, dating from the 13C-14C,contains 14C- 16C frescoes by painters of the Umbro-Siena school: Nelli. Lorenzetti, Mezzastris, Alunno, Melanzio and Caporali. A curious legend surrounds the Beato Pellegrino ("Blessed Pilgrim") whose body is kept in the church. A number of patrician palaces border Piazza del Comune and Corso Mameli, offering fine examples of I 5C -17C civic architecture: Moriconi - Calvi; Langeli. formerly Tempestivi; Senili; Ciardelli, formerly Tempestivi; Santi-Gentili; and De Cuppis.
Palazzo Comunale is the municipal office building dating from the 13C; of the original construction a two-light window remains, while the portico dates from the 15C. The Torre (tower) affords a lovely view. The Museo Pinacoteca di S. Francesco is a museum containing paintings from the 13C - 17C. Of particular interest are the frescoes (1450 -1452) by Benozzo Gozzoli in the central apse, which illustrate scenes from the life of St. Francis including his glorification among the Saints of the Order, his early companions, and the most prominent Franciscans. Also on display are works by Nicolò Alunno, Mezzastris, Melanzio, and Tiberio d'Assisi, as well as a Manger by Perugino. In the Lapidario section is a collection of architectural fragments from antiquity. The 12C Church of S. Lucia is located in the heart of the oldest section of the medieval village. The Church of S. Bartolomeo, dating in its present form from the 18C, has conserved from the original 11C construction a one-light window with a lunette and a two-light window in the outer apsidal waIl.
The small Church of S. Maria Maddalena, built in the 13C and renovated in the 18C, contains frescoes by local painters from the 15C and 16C. The convent and cloister date from the 15C. The l7C Church of S. Chiara houses the Chapel of S. Croce decorated in 1333 with frescoes by painters of the Umbrian school, the convent and cloister date from the I 5C. The Church of S. Illuminata, dating from the 16C. has a brick facade and a front portico; the pediment with a lunette is reminescent of the architecture of Lombardy. The church contains small chapels with frescoes by Francesco Melanzio. The Church of S. Leonardo has a facade enhanced by two austere Renaissance portals; the church contains a 1515 canvas by Melanzio depicting an enthroned Madonna and Child.
... environs of Montefalco
The Church and Monastery of S. Fortunato is a complex built over the tomb of the Saint in the 4C and redone in the 15C; the frescoes are by Gozzoli and Tiberio d'Assisi. The surrounding age-old holmoak grove makes this an ideal place for a pleasant walk. The small Church of S. Maria di Turrita contains frescoes dating from the 14C, 15C,and 16C.TheSanc-tuary of the Madonna della Stella, completed in 1869, contains 19C paintings by the Roman school. The hamlet of Fabbri has numerous remains of medieval fortifications in addition to frescoes by Melanzio depicting "Maestà", holy figures enthroned and viewed from the full front in all their majesty.
