CITTA' DELLA PIEVE

STORY

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

From 1188, Castel della Pieve (as was then its name) was dominated by Perugia, determined not only to control the "Chiugi", the fertile agricultural area between Lake Chiusi and Lake Trasimeno, but also to protect its border with the enemy Republic of Siena. The middle class of the town, manufacturers of bricks and a highly-prized cloth of a particular crimson clour, aspired to independence and civic freedom, repeatedly rebelling against Guelph (pro-papal) Perugia. Castel della Pieve, stubbornly Ghibelline (pro-imperial), established a free Comune under the protection of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia. Its urban plan, which we see today, dates to at least 1250, year of the Emperor's death.

It is for these political reasons, and not only for its geographical position, that Castel della Pieve modelled its urban structure and building materials (bricks) after Siena, the great Central Italian, pro-imperial power in constant conflict with Perugia.



Between the 13th and the 14th centuries, numerous buildings rose within the city walls: the new Pieve with early signs of the Gothic style; the Lombard-Romanesque city tower; the Priors' Palace; the Bishop's Tower and the solid Perugia Fortress, built in 1326 by the Sienese architects Lorenzo and Ambrogio Maitani. This is one of the most important examples of military architecture in the region.
From the middle of the 14th century, the monastic orders settled outside the city walls and built Sant'Agostino, San Francesco, Santa Maria dei Servi and Santa Lucia. There are numerous paintings by artists of the Sienese School, including the Gothic fresco "Sorrow of the Angels", in the Oratory of San Bartolomeo, painted by Jacopo Mino del Pellicciaio, a follower of the Lorenzetti brothers and of Simone Martini.

In the 15th century, the city was ruled by such soldiers of fortune as Braccio Fortebraccio da Montone and Biordo Michelotti. There was constant rivalry among neighbouring communities for the pasturelands of the Chiana Valley, as well as border disputes and rebellions against Perugia for the repeated raising of taxes. Towards the end of the century, the Bandini clan, soldiers of fortune under the Republics of Florence and Venice, rose to prominence and built for themselves a palazzo in the elegant Renaissance style.

Around the middle of the 15th century was born the greatest son of Città della Pieve, the painter Pietro Varmucci, known as "Il Perugino". Several of his masterpieces are extant in his home town, suchas the famous "Adoration of the Magi" (1504) in the Oratory of Santa Maria dei Bianchi; "Madonna in Glory and Saints " and "Baptism of Christ " in the Cathedral; "Deposition from the Cross" in the church of Santa Maria dei Servi, "Sant' Antonio Abate between the Saints Marcello and Paolo Eremita " in the church of San Pietro. Valuable paintings in the Cathedral and in the church of San Francesco are attributed to Perugino's followers, Giannicola di Paolo and Domenico di Paride Alfani.

Dramatic events occurred in the 16th century. In 1503, Cesare Borgia, known as "Il Valentino", ordered that two rival princes, Orsini and Gravina be strangled inside the Fortress, in the presence of Macchiavelli. He then put the town to fire and sword. In 1525, Castel della Pieve was the centre of a bloody rebellion of the peasants against Perugia. French troops, on their way to assist the Pope in 1527, the year of the Sack of Rome, attacked the pro-imperial town, devastating it and slaughtering its people.

In 1529, Pope Clement VII (De' Medici) removed Castel della Pieve from Perugia's jurisdiction and subjected it directly to the central power of Rome. From then on, Popes selected Cardinals or their own nephews as Perpetual Governors. In 1550, Pope Julius III (del Monte) nominated Governor of Castel della Pieve his nephew Ascanio della Corgna, who was to be Commander of the Papal troops in 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto against the Turks. The della Corgna family called to Castel della Pieve numerous artists to build and decorate a magnificent palace. The Perugia architect Galeazzo Alessi was engaged, as well as the Tuscan painters Salvio Savini and Niccolò Circignani, known as "Il Pomarancio". Some of their works are in the Cathedral and in the church of Sant'Agostino.

At the same time, the ancient Pieve was transformed into a Collegiate Church. It became a Cathedral in 1600 ' when Pope Clement VIII (Aldobrandini) elevated Castel della Pieve to a "City and diocesan centre", removing it from the religious administration of the Bishop of Chiusi, to which it had belonged. This event was seen as a gesture of goodwill between the Papal States and the GrandDuchy of Tuscany, who were settling border disputes and negotiating the drainage of the Chiana Valley.

Niccolò Circignani's son, Antonio, also known as "Il Pomarancio", was born here in 1568. Some of his paintings are in the Cathedral and in the churches of San Francesco and Santa Maria dei Bianchi. Architectural activity was intense in the 18th century. In 1718, a "Treaty of Friendship", between the Papal States and the GrandDuchy of Tuscany, produced an original interpretation of the Roman rococò style, as seen in the Palazzo della Fargna, in the church of Santa Anna degli Scolopi, in the bell-tower of the Cathedral and of the church of Sant'Agostino.

The "Water-works Agreement" between Pope Pius VI and the Tuscan Grand-duke Pietro Leopoldo, defining the drainage of the valley, was signed in 1780 in the church of Sant'Agostino. Città della Pieve became the headquarters of the Water-works Supervisor of the Roman Chiana. Numerous Neo-classical buildings are due to Andrea Vici, pupil of Vanvitelli: the Chiesa del Gesù, the interior of the churches of Sant'Agostino, San Francesco, Santa Lucia, the Seminary and the Bishop's Palace. In the first half of the 19th century, the architect Giovanni Santini designed the Theater of the Avvaloranti, the Palazzo Giorgi-Taccini, the Palazzo Cartoni, the bell-tower of Santa Maria dei Servi. Until the unification of Italy, Città della Pieve served as an impressive northern " gateway" into the Papal States. These latest architectural projects added to the particular charm of a mainly Medieval town in which a succession of styles (Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo and Neo-classical) have contributed to its originality and are evidence of the vitality of Città della Pieve.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS



Market Day. On Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The centre of town becomes a market for typical local foods, products and crafts from the Lake Trasimeno, Città della Pieve, Orvieto and Valdichiana areas.

Tableaux Vivants. On Easter Sunday and Monday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Terziere "Borgo Dentro". (A terziere is a medieval administrative section of town.)


Floral Decorations in the "Casalino"

Every year at this time, the main scenes of Christ's passion are reenacted in the historical setting of the Palazzo Orca dungeons. At least 40 participants present such scenes as "The Last Supper", "Christ before Pontius Pilate", "The Flagellation", "Descent from the Cross".

I'lie residents of this terziere organize floral decorations on the pavement of Via Pietro Vannucci, the main street, in honour of their Patron Saint. The designs are inspired by Renaissance paintings and, in particular, those of the painter Pietro Vannucci, known as "Il Perugino". The feast of snails takes place in the Tavern by the Bishop's Tower.


August 15: The Terzieri Cast their Challenge.

Palio dei Terzieri. From August 10 to the Sunday after August 17. The three sections of town (Borgo Dentro, Casalino and Castello) inspired by ancient "disagreements" typical of town life since the Middle Ages, challenge one another in "The Bull Hunt". The target for this archery competition is a round-about with the outline of bulls of the local "Chianina" breed. At this time, the Terziere Taverns open and offer typical Pievese dishes. Renaissance-inspired theatrical and musical entertainment is also organized.