The best cycling routes around Gualdo Cattaneo

Spello is a very suggestive medieval village, from this point you can admire it in all its splendor

Bring some cash to climb the tower 😀

On the route from Bevagna to Bastardo, a hamlet of Gualdo Cattaneo, you come across the Scacciadiavoli estate, founded in 1884 by Prince Ugo Boncompagni – Ludovisi. The name Scacciadiavoli comes from the nickname of an exorcist, who lived in a village bordering the property. Legend has it that one day he was entrusted with a young woman who seemed possessed, to free her from the devil. He tried using his formulas and infusions, but failing in his intent, as a last resort, he made her drink some local red wine, making her drunk. The young woman came to her senses. It was the exorcist’s wine that had freed her from the devil. Over time, the village where the exorcist had lived was also called Scacciadiavoli and so was the territory of the area and the cellar. It is one of the oldest companies in the “Montefalco” territory. The cellar was built in the second half of the 19th century, when Prince Boncompagni left Rome to dedicate himself to wine production. Excellent wine!!

One of the few bridges that cross the Topino river is located in Cannara, the next one in Passaggio di Bettona, the previous one much further away, even in Bevagna

Bevagna / Region – Umbria / Province – Perugia (PG) The town, surrounded by a city wall with towers and gates, has an intact medieval structure (12th-13th centuries). In the upper part of the town, numerous Roman remains can still be seen: the ruins of a temple, the theater, and a thermal bath complex, of which a frigidarium with a magnificent black and white floor mosaic depicting marine figures from the 2nd century AD survives. The medieval town structure, with its squares and noble houses, developed over the Romanesque foundations: The magnificent Piazza Silvestri is home to the Palazzo dei Consoli (1270), which houses the Torti Theater, the Romanesque churches of San Silvestro and San Michele Arcangelo, both from the late 12th century, and the church of San Domenico e Giacomo (1291). Worth seeing is the Palazzo Comunale (late 18th century), which houses the historical archives, the library, and the art gallery. The Baroque churches of the Monastery of Santa Margherita and San Filippo are also very interesting. At the highest point in the town stands the Church of San Francesco (late 13th century). Next to the altar, one can see the stone on which St. Francis knelt when he preached to the flock of birds at Pian d'Arca. The 18th-century Palazzo Lepri houses the Museum of Bevagna, with works that tell the story of the town from pre-Roman times to the 18th century: archaeological finds from the ancient city of Mevania, medieval documents, and paintings by Dono Doni, Fantino, and Corrado Giaquinto. In the surrounding area, the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie (late 16th century), the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle, and the Monastery of Annunziata (11th century), formerly a defensive castle, rise up against the hillsides. Text / Source: Umbria Tourism.it contatti@umbriatourism.it https://www.umbriatourism.it/de/bevagna

San Damiano Via San Damiano, 7, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy The Place and the Fraternity The monastery and sanctuary of San Damiano, where the Friars Minor have lived since the 13th century, is one of the Franciscan shrines of Assisi—along with the Porziuncola, the Hermitage of the Prisons, and the New Church—guarded by the Friars Minor of the Seraphic Province of St. Francis of Assisi. The monastery is currently a house of formation for novices, that is, for young people who, in their zeal to follow Jesus on the path of St. Francis of Assisi, are experiencing the "year of trial": in Franciscan habit, they deepen his charism through a life of prayer, penance, and fraternity, with a view to their first profession of religious vows. The confraternity, currently composed of 16 brothers, is committed to various services for the Order's province and the local Church, including the formation of novices, the care of the shrine, and the reception and accompaniment of the thousands of pilgrims who pass through this holy place each year. The recent history of this place is quite turbulent. Following the subversive laws of 1860, the place was first forfeited by the Italian government and then sold by the municipality of Assisi in 1879 to Lord G.F.S. Robinson, Marquis of Ripon. It later passed into the hands of the Kerr family. The last owner, Lord Peter Kerr, Marquis of Lothian, returned it to the Order of Friars Minor with a notarial deed dated September 22, 1983. Lord Lothian, who wished that St. Damian's remain a place of prayer, silence, and peace, included several conditions or fees in the notarial deed of gift. Among them is a limited time for visits. The wording of the condition or obligation is as follows: "Tourist visits are prohibited before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. In winter, from 5 p.m. onwards. Text/Source: Seraphic Province of St. Francis of Assisi of the Friars Minor of Umbria https://www.santuariosandamiano.org/home.html

Monastery and Church of San Damiano The church and monastery of San Damiano are located just outside the old town of Assisi. The church, built between the 8th and 9th centuries in honor of the holy doctor, was an important Benedictine priory in 1030. It was gradually abandoned in the following period. It was here that St. Francis first heard the voice of the Lord. The crucifix, now kept in the Basilica of Santa Chiara, spoke to the saint: "Francis, go and restore my house, which, as you see, is already completely dilapidated" (referring to the crisis of the Church). The saint drew strength and confirmation of his vocation from these words. The first restoration of the church of San Damiano was carried out by Francis himself, who welcomed St. Clare and her companions there in 1212 and composed the Cantico delle Creature (Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis). The Poor Clares built a small dormitory and remained in San Damiano until 1260, shortly after St. Clare's death. Description A spacious portico is built in front of the simple façade; the door opens at the top of the wall, from which St. Clare appears. Text / Source: Umbria Tourism.it https://www.umbriatourism.it/de-DE/-/convento-e-chiesa-di-san-damiano

Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli The small chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli alla Porziuncola, still completely preserved inside the basilica, was, according to tradition, built by four soldiers returning from the Holy War in the wooded plain below Assisi, known as the Cerretto della Porziuncola. They brought a piece of the Madonna's tombstone with them. There, on certain autumn days, the strong wind that blew every cloud from the sky and through the leaves seemed similar to the song of angels. The chapel was administered by the Benedictine monks of the monastery of Santa Benedetto al Subasio since the 10th century. This place would probably have been completely forgotten if the paths of Francis and Clare had not led there. Thanks to them, we find the Porziuncola intact today, just as it was a good 1,000 years ago. But instead of the noisy thicket, there is now a large basilica, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, which envelops and protects the chapel like a caring mother. This view from within the building makes the chapel seem even smaller, almost impossibly small. The church was given to the poor saint by the aforementioned Benedictine monks to establish the headquarters of the newly founded Franciscan order. When Francis first came here, the church was in disrepair, and according to his saintly legend, he dedicated the third year after his conversion exclusively to the renovation of the small chapel. It was here, while reading the Gospel, that he realized that his mission was not to restore dilapidated religious buildings, but to rebuild and preach the entire Kingdom of God by living in poverty, penance, and simplicity. From here, Francis and his confreres set out to spread his message throughout Italy, and here they returned again and again. One night in 1211, a desperate and frightened Chiara d'Offreduccio, who had fled her home and her aristocratic family, knocked on the doors of Porciuncola. Text / Source: Exploring-Umbria.com https://www.exploring-umbria.com/de/entdecke-assisi/sehenswuerdigkeiten-in-assisi/basilica-santa-maria-degli-angeli-in-porziuncolabasilika-zu-unserer-lieben-frau-von-den-engeln/