Flyup: Medieval Villages

Valentine's Lands as seen from drones

The Flyup project allows for an aerial view of the Medieval Villages located in the territory identified as the Lands of San Valentino in southern Umbria.

The Lands of San Valentino and the Green Villages are characterized by the widespread presence of hermitages, monasteries, sanctuaries, and churches that bear witness to the architectural beauty and spirituality that has permeated this area throughout the centuries. These are simple constructions, almost always isolated and immersed in nature, in many cases inhabited by the monks who, following the footsteps of the many saints who lived in these lands, practiced models of spirituality within small communities, inspired by essentiality, which can still be perceived in these places today.

By using this page, simply click on the MAP corresponding to each point of interest to activate the search for the route to reach each individual site of excellence through Google Maps.

Amelia

The imposing polygonal cyclopean walls characterise and render the small town of Amelia unique. The walls stand testimony to its ancient history that precedes the Roman era when Amelia became an important municipality.

Narni

Ancient Narnia develops on a rocky spur overlooking the Nera gorges and the Terni basin. In an easily defensible position, in Roman times it was crossed by the Via Flaminia that carried on northward over the Augustus Bridge.

San Gemini

The medieval village of San Gemini, built on the ruins of Roman villas along the route of the ancient Via Flaminia that led to nearby Carsulae, lies on a hill facing the Terni basin and controls the entrance to the Acquasparta valley.

Stroncone

Stroncone has all the characteristics of a medieval Umbrian village. It was originally meant as a fortification to defend communication routes, on the border between the Byzantine possessions and the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto.

Arrone

The original settlement of Arrone dates back to the 2nd. Century B.C. but its current structure derives from the medieval settlement of the 9th. century A.D, when a Roman nobleman called Arrone built a fortified castle on the top of the cliff.

Casteldilago

The village stands on a rocky spur overlooking the Valnerina valley in an area where there must have been a lake in the Middle Ages, hence the name Casteldilago and other toponyms nearby, such as Colleporto.

Otricoli

With an elongated plan that follows the rocky spur overlooking the plain below, the medieval village of Otricoli rose up in the same populated place in pre-Roman times, while the Municipality of Ocriculum was founded further downstream, near the Tiber.

Cesi

The village of Cesi overlooks the Terni basin, with the chain of the Martani mountains behind it. The origins of Cesi are very ancient and date back to more than five centuries before Christ.

Ferentillo

The Ferentillo Castle has two imposing fortresses positioned on opposite sides of the valley and steep walls that descend to the valley where two villages rose up, Matterella and Precetto.

Collescipoli

Although it is unlikely, the origin of the name of Collescipoli has for centuries been thought of as coming from ‘Colle Scipionis’, in memory of the Roman Consul of the Punic Wars.