Gualdo Tadino
Situated in the north west of Umbria close to the Marche border, Gualdo Tadino stands on the hill named after Sant'Angelo and is dominated by the Rocca Flea fortress.
The surrounding area is of great environmental value and the town is an active manufacturing centre specialising in the production of red and gold lusterware.
Because of its centuries-old ceramics tradition Gualdo Tadino is a member of the Italian Association
of Ceramics Towns with its certification mark for Artistic and Traditional Ceramics.
THREE "must sees" in GUALDO TADINO
> Rocca Flea, fortress
> the church of San Francesco
> the cathedral of San Benedetto
HISTORY
Gualdo Tadino’s origins stretch back in time. Under the Romans it was a prefecture, colony and then municipium. In 217 BC it was first laid to waste by Hannibal, and then in 49 – 48 BC by Cesar during the civil war with
Pompey who was allied with Gualdo Tadino. During the Barbarian invasions it was one of the few towns able to resist Totila, King of the Ostrogoths, who was defeated and killed here by Narses, leader of the Longobards.
In 996 AD the troops of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, destroyed the town that was later rebuilt for the second time. By the middle of the 11th century it was known as Gualdo (from the German word "wald" meaning forest). The third reconstruction of the town,
after a devastating fire in 1237, came about when the inhabitants were helped by Benedictine monks and Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. Shortly after, various vicissitudes led to domination of the town by Perugia and then by the Papal States, until the Unification of Italy.
ART AND CULTURE
Gualdo Tadino has many prestigious monuments and collections. The Rocca Flea fortress stands out at the top of the hill and is a superb example of military architecture originally
built in the 12th century, reconstructed by Frederick II in 1247 and recently restored. Inside is the Museo Civico, municipal museum, with an a fine polyptych by Alunno, sculptures, ancient ceramics and archaeological findings.
Some of the religious buildings worthy of a visit are the cathedral of San Benedetto (13th century) with a splendid Romanesque-Gothic facade decorated by Matteo da Gualdo, an illustrious artist from the town and painter of the Crocifissione and the
Madonna col Bambino e S. Francesco; and the church of Santa Maria dei Raccomandati (13th century) containing the Madonna col Bambino e i Ss. Sebastiano e Rocco triptych by Matteo da Gualdo.
On the main square can be found the Palazzo Comunale, town hall, featuring a fine 18th century facade; the Palazzo del Podestà, of which only the tower, Torre Civica (12th century) remains, while the other buildings were added later. A lane next to the Town Hall leads to the church of Santa Maria
di Tadino, the oldest church in the historical town-centre, now headquarters of the Ente Giochi de le Porte, the organising body of a historical re-enactment held in September, which is a characteristic challenge between the town quarters in full period dress.
Also worthy of a visit is the Museo Regionale dell'Emigrazione, the Regional Emigration Museum that was designed as a place of remembrance to provide not only information but also a sense of wonder and pathos.
EVENTS
Hawthorn flowering and feast day of Beato Angelo (15 January)
Sacred Portrayal of Good Friday
May Day festival – in Fraz. S. Pellegrino (30 April)
La Notte del Fuoco e "Guazza di San Giovanni", historical re-enactment and bonfires – in Fraz. Grello (23 June)
Corsa della Botte, wine barrel race – in Loc. Rigali (6 June)
Giochi de le Porte, historical re-enactment (last week of September)
INFORMATION
Municipal Council of Gualdo Tadino
075.915021
Website: www.gualdo.tadino.it
How to get there
From the north: A1 Motorway, Valdichiana exit. E45 direction Perugia.
From the south: A1 Motorway, Orte exit. S.S. 3 Flaminia to Gualdo Tadino.
A14 Adriatica Motorway, Falconara Marittima exit, S.S. della Val d’Esino to Fabriano and then S.S.3 Flaminia.
S.S. E45 Cesena-Orte: that crosses Umbria vertically. Take S.S. 75 Centrale Umbra to Foligno and then S.S.3 to Gualdo Tadino.
Tourist Information
IAT – Gubbio District
Via della Repubblica, 15 - 06024 Gubbio
Tel. 075.9220693 - Fax 075.9273409
E-mail: info@iat.gubbio.pg.it |
