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

Sangemini

Sangemini
The little town is a sort of medieval castle, erected above or near an ancient roman site: the narrow streets converge towards the main axis, which in reality is the old consular road "Flaminia", and stretches from the "Roman Gate" to the "Northern (or St. John) Gate".
There was an original pre-roman village - later on called Casventum by the Romans - which, according to tradition, was called San Gemini after a Syrian monk. In fact, in the IX century, a monk, called Gemine, arrived in the country, and decided to settle in Casventum, where he preached, teached and helped the poor so that, after a while, the villagers in the neighbourhood started calling the site: "the town of Saint Gemine" (Civitas Sancti Gemini).
The little town had always been well situated on the North/South way to Rome. In Middle Ages, it was granted the status of "free town": there ensued a long period of importance as military, religious, artistic, and cultural center in Southern Umbria ("Castrum bonum et forte").
When Rome was ravaged and sacked by the mercenary troops in 1527, San Gemini too was pillaged, burned down, ruined to the point of decline.
It was only years later, when the noble families of Orsini and Santacroce renewed their interest in the little town, that many buildings were restored. The Santacroce family, for instance, had the old Roman Gate rebuilt in the baroque style, together with their own mansion.

what to see ...
Besides the above mentioned monuments, we suggest the old Abbeys of St. Nicolò (1304) and St. Gemine (the present Cathedral); the old VIII century Baptistry (today St. John Church), St. Frances Church (XIII century), and the XIV century People's Captain House.
St. Frances square is the largest of the town. It is flanked by the turreted Canova Mansion, where the famous artist spent a long period of his life.
The main street, Casventino street, starts from this square (at the "Borgo" Arch) and crosses the hole town, reaching St. John Gate.
Many other historical buildings, such as the Chapel of "Santa Maria de Incertis" and the former Churches of St. Mary Magdalen and St. Stephen, as well as towers, tower-houses, flights of steps, arches, ramparts, etc. build up the image of the ancient town, a rare jewel the traveller discovers little by little, wandering along the cobbled streets.