Sangemini
The small town
as a whole
is a sort of medieval castle, erected 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:
A must is Carsulae, a perfectly preserved Roman town only three kilometres from Sangemini: this ancient town rose on the Via Flaminia that was traced around 220 B.C.
Every Spring, on occasion of Corpus Christi, the streets are decorated with flowers arranged in beautifuil patterns; the old abbey of St. Nicolo' (1304) and St. Gemine (the present Cathedral); the old VIII century Baptistry (today St. John's Church), St. Francis' Church (XIII century) and the XIV century People's Captain's House. St. Francis' Square is the largest in the town, and is dominated by Palazzo Santi Terzi, where the artist Canova spent long periods of his life. The main street, Via Casventino, starts from this square and traverses the whole town reaching Porta S. Giovanni. The many 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.
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