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Terni - Remains of the Amphitheatre
An area which has been kept unspoiled, where nature and human activities interact harmoniously. The area surrounding Terni is rich in woods and mountains, hills and olive groves, nature reserves along the Tiber river, charming castles, guard towers and ancient villages. No wonder that Saint Francis wrote here his masterpiece the Canticle of Canticles. The province was created in 1927 and is the result of the breaking up of the Province of Perugia. In a few square kilometres it includes the best of the Umbria Region. The province, located in the south-western area of the region, includes both the last portion of the Nera river valley near the merging with the Velino river, and the Eastern part of the Tiber.
Wide areas of flat cultivated valleys alternate with quite high woody mountains such as the Mount Peglia , and Mount Croce di Serra - between Orvieto and Terni and the steep slopes of Valnerina and Cascate delle Marmore (Marmore’s Falls). However, the whole area has very ancient origins. During the 2nd century B.C. the land was inhabited by Umbrians and later conquered by the Romans who built the first roads; the most important of which is Via Flaminia.
During the Middle Ages the area was attacked many times by invaders, such as the Longobards and the Landsknechts, who left a broad multicultural heritage. Two important natural reserves have been created in the province: the Parco Fluviale del Tevere and the Parco Fluviale del Nera. Their main aim is to safeguard river waters and ecosystems.
Terni is known as the “city of lovers”, thanks to Saint Valentine’s remains kept in the Basilica dedicated to him. He is also the local Patron Saint. Also a must see are the gothic church of Saint Francis and the archaeological sites such as the ones of the Fausto Amphitheatre (dating back to 32 B.C.) inside the Urban park “La passeggiata” and the remains of the ancient walls. In the town there are many remarkable buildings: Palazzo Spada today the town hall, Palazzo Fabrizi and Palazzo Carrara, just to mention a few.
The gates of St. Angelo and Spoletina, the cathedral crypt, the Romanesque tower of Barbarasa and the tower dei Castelli are all legacies left by the middle ages.
Outside Terni, other monuments are well worth a visit. Among them the Orvieto Cathedral, the archaeological site of Carsulae and the town of Amelia of very ancient origins (3rd century B.C.), the ancient town of Narni, which became a Latin settlement in 299 B.C. and then an important Roman town called Narnia. It was once one of the most important Roman road junctions.
On the left bank of the Tiber Otricoli still has the remains of still its Roman walls. The nearby lake of Piediluco is an alluvial basin, lying among the lovely Umbrian hills. The town is overlooked by a medieval fortress that dominates the surrounding landscape. Not to be missed are Marmore’s Falls, formed over the centuries, by travertine deposits. There are many museums to visit in this province: the “Aurelio De Felice” Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art (Terni), the Antiquarium in Baschi, and the National Archaeological Museum in Orvieto.
The whole province is an ideal place for all those who are keen on photography and archaeology. Terni, Orvieto and Monteleone all boast panoramic views, monuments and museums, which preserve priceless works of art . Wide spaces and grasslands are ideal for mountain biking and horse-riding activities. The area is much appreciated by sports enthusiasts who love hiking in order to discover the flowers growing in the area, ranging from poisonous plants, alpine flora, and orchids, and also the many varieties of fauna. Bird watching opportunities abound, above all within the nature reserve run by the WWF: more than 900 hectares where you can find up to 160 different bird species among the migratory and sedentary ones.
The presence of mountains makes mountaineering a popular activity here. Moreover, the local sports associations are very active in organising canoeing and kayaking excursions and courses along the rivers. Many feast days and festivals are celebrated in the towns and villages of the area. The most important is Saint Valentine’s day which is which is celebrated throughout the area of Terni and goes on for the whole month of February with cultural events, exhibitions and food and wine tastings.
In the province of Terni there are about 70 typical local products. Among the cheeses are the “caciotta”, a soft cheese, the sheep’s milk “fossa” cheese matured underground or in caves, the Ravaggiolo and the salted ricotta. Among the salami and cold cuts we recommend the Ciauscolo (that can be spread), the Mazzafegato (a local sausage) and the local ham.
The local types of pasta are the Strangozzi or strozzapreti, long pasta made with water and flour without eggs, with a square or rectangular section.
The local cakes are the regional ones: the Castagnole (Carnival fritters) are little fried dumplings soaked in Alchermes liqueur or sprinkled with sugar or honey; the mostaccioli, biscuits sweetened with grape must or mosto; the panpepato or gingerbread, the pinolata (pine nut macaroons) and the almond biscuits called tozzetti. As the area is rich in vineyards there is a great variety of red and white wines: Sangiovese, Merlot, Montepulciano, Cannaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Barbera. Among the white wines we recommend the Malvasia, the Grechetto, and the Drupeggio. The Orvietano is one of the area’s most common wines. The province is also an olive oil producer, and the whole area of Terni is also rich in that most precious of delicacies, the truffle.
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