Where we are

The Villa dei Platani Hotel is located in the center of Foligno, 80 meters from the Railway Station.

How to reach us:

From SOUTH Italy. Take A1 Autosole, exit ORTE, continue SS3 Flaminia until exit Foligno – S. Eraclio, then continue for Foligno Centro, FS Station. Another exit: Foligno Est, then follow signs for Via Treviso and continue for Viale Roma towards Centro, FS Station. Always from SUD, for those coming from A14 Adriatica, exit at S. Benedetto del Tronto, head towards Ascoli Piceno and follow the indication Norcia, then go to Eggi continue for Foligno – S. Eraclio, signpost for the Center, Porta Romana, Stazione FS.

From NORTH EST Italy. Take Flaminia S.S.3 to FANO and continue until exit Foligno – Via Piave then follow the signs Center, FS Station. From NORD EST, take the E45 Cesena – Orte highway and Ponte S. Giovanni to S.S.75 Umbro Central to Foligno Nord exit, then follow the signs for Centro, Porta Romana, FS Station.

From NORTH Italy. Take A1 Autosole Firenze – Rome, exit VALDICHIANA, continue by freeway towards
Perugia and then direction Foligno Nord exit, follow the signs Center, Porta Romana, FS Station.

[ank_google_map]

Places to visit nearby

FOLIGNO

Situated halfway between the most famous Perugia and Assisi, Foligno is a great destination to discover even for those who have little time available! To reach the heart of the city of Foligno, we recommend that you follow the path of the Topino River and head to Piazza della Repubblica, where you can admire an extraordinary architectural set consisting of the Duomo, Palazzo Comunale and Palazzo Trinci. In June and September the city is inspired by the Giostra della Quintana, an annual historical event inspired by the medieval equestrian competition that brings the city back in time. The Giostra della Quintana is one of the most popular and well-known Italian horse races; the evening before the competition, a parade of 600 characters in costumes walk through the streets of the city. Not to mention the taverns, which remain open throughout the whole day.

SPELLO

Spello rises between Assisi and Foligno, lying on a spur of Mount Subasio above a fertile irrigated plain, splendid Julian colony, in Roman times, and today one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. In fact, it has, among the cities of the area, the greatest number of testimonies of the Roman era: the wall, the remains of the theater, the amphitheater, the spas and the splendid Consular Gate, Urbica Gate and Venus Gate of the Augustan era. Climbing upwards you reach the church, built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, of Santa Maria Maggiore with the famous Baglioni Chapel with the Maiolato floor of Deruta and the frescoes of Pinturicchio which are considered its best production and its self-portrait . Between May and June of each year the streets of the medieval village transform into a wonderful, spectacular, immense flower carpet that exceeds 1.5 km. The streets of the center are decorated with pictures of sacred art made of flower petals, a unique event for religious tourism that has transformed Spello into the “flower capital”.

BEVAGNA

The ancient town of Roman origins of Bevagna is located on the western edge of the plain of Foligno, at the foot of the hills where Montefalco rises. Today’s appearance is surely the fruit of the medieval development; there is no need to miss the Gothic Consul Palace in Piazza Silvestri, and the Churches of San Silvestro (1195 AD) and San Michele Arcangelo; the fountain that completes the scenery of this exceptional public space is instead a restoration of the nineteenth century. If you are lucky enough to go to Bevagna in the last decade of June you will come across one of the most beautiful historical events in Umbria: the Gaite Market. In this occasion, costumed characters revive ancient crafts along narrow streets and typical environments, with tasting of traditional medieval flavors  and presentation of typical craft products.

MONTEFALCO

It is known especially for wine, but this town reserves much more to the visitor. The enchanting geographical location in which it is located has acquired the name of “Ringhiera dell’Umbria”. From its belvedere you find a part of Umbria and you can admire all around the centers of Perugia, Assisi, Spello, Foligno, Trevi; farther you can see the Apennines, the Subasio and the Martani Mountains, but what strikes most are the hills covered with olive groves and vineyards! The most important buildings to be visited within the ancient walls of Montefalco are certainly the 13th-century town hall such as the church of Sant’Agostino, the Romanesque church of San Bartolomeo with the nearby Porta di Federico II of 1244 and the church of Santa Chiara, where we find Umbrian paintings. You shouldn’t forget to visit the 14th century church of San Francesco, which now houses the Civic Museum of Montefalco; in fact, inside it we can find such great paintings as a Perugino Nativity, as well as the extraordinary cycle of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli’s Stories of St. Francis.

TREVI

It was built in Roman times near the Via Flaminia and the shores of Clitunno, near the city of San Francesco and the homeland of the Sagrantino, Trevi is the City of Oil and is listed into the most beautiful Villages Club of Italy! The heart of the historic center is Piazza Mazzini, the 13th-century communal palace with the civic tower. The 14th-century Gothic-style church of St. Francis was built to honor the saint who had preached in Trevi in ​​1213. Inside you can admire the remains of frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, a monumental organ of 1509 and a Crucifix of the fourteenth century.  The green hillside that houses this pretty village offers numerous possibilities for outdoor activities. Being one of the most important areas of Umbria for the highest quality of oil, visit to the olive oil mill is strongly recommended! A great destination for a “out-of-the-way” excursion is the Clitunno’s Fountain, the clear water of the water and its shores surrounded by dense vegetation of weeping willows and poplars give the environment an evocative and romantic atmosphere.

ASSISI

A symbol of peace, is identified with one of the most beloved and worshiped saints in the world, St. Francis of Assisi and is at the same time a delightful medieval town full of characteristic corners and culinary features. Distinctive monument of the city is surely the Basilica of St. Francis built in the XIII century and composed of two parts so diverse to be complementary, the Lower Church and the Upper Church. The Lower Church houses the Chapel of St. Catherine and the side chapels frescoed by several artists including Giotto and his school. Down the nave you will find the high altar, erected at the tomb of St. Francis, which dominate over the four great Giotto frescoes in which he glorified the three fundamental virtues of the Franciscan Rule: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. From the Lower Church you can go down to the crypt in which rests the body of the Saint. The Upper Church is famous for its linear and refined gothic façade, whose center has a beautiful rosette. Once entered you will be enchanted by the light filtering through the stained-glass windows, in contrast to the lower church in which the light is significantly lower. The walls of the Church, by Giotto, tell the most important pictorial cycle of Franciscan iconography: The Stories of St. Francis. Just outside of Assisi there is the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the Porziuncola, and The Hermit of the Carceri, the must-see places if you want to retrace the footsteps of St. Francis completely.

SPOLETO

Ancient capital of the Longobard Dukes, Spoleto will leave you breathless thanks to the richness of the historical-artistic heritage of the city, witnessing the most diverse historical eras that saw its protagonist. The symbol of the city is the majestic Albornoziana Fortress; bordered by a high system of perimeter walls alternating with six square towers, illustrious testimony of the presence of the popes and governors in Spoleto. The Bridge of Towers that joins the Rock and the Monteluco is impressive and unique in its genre: 230 meters long and 82 meters high. Another noteworthy attraction is Piazza del Duomo and its Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a rare example of the synthesis of ‘ Romanesque architecture, which houses frescoes by Pinturicchio and Filippo Lippi. Every summer, Spoleto becomes the cornerstone and stage of the Festival of Two Worlds, the “creature” of Master Giancarlo Menotti, where artists around the world perform in concerts, dances and performances. A real tribute to art in all its forms!

PERUGIA

Perugia, the splendid capital of Umbria, with its medieval narrow streets, breathtaking views and many delightful specialties to enjoy, is able to offer a lot to the visitor, who can see interesting things even in one day. The heart of the city is Piazza IV Novembre with its famous Fontana Maggiore, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the imposing Palazzo dei Priori, where the National Gallery of Umbria is located. Near the Fontana Maggiore, in Piazza Danti, do not miss the Etruscan Well, an incredible hydraulic work built 300 years before the birth of Christ and, that descends underground for 37 meters deep. From Piazza IV Novembre begins Corso Vannucci, which with its shops and its local historians represents the center of Perugia’s social life. Finally, make sure to visit the Rocca Paolina, a true fortress that was erected by Pope Paul III after the sack of Rome. In October each year, Perugia hosts the biggest chocolate event in Italy: Eurochocolate, themed events, tasting tours, shows, cultural initiatives animate and involve the streets and squares of the historic center of Umbria’s capital city .

TRASIMENO LAKE

Immersed in the green of the Umbrian hills, Trasimeno Lake is the fourth largest in Italy. On its banks there are villages of breathtaking beauty such as Castiglione del Lago, Passignano sul Trasimeno, San Feliciano, Tuoro sul Trasimeno. Castiglion del Lago is one of the most important tourist centers of Trasimeno, we recommend visiting the Polvese Island, the Corgna Palace and the Lion Castle. Passignano sul Trasimeno is the main village on the northern shores of Lake Trasimeno, it is a small fishing village stretched out to the shores of the lake and dominated by the Rocca above. Thanks to the lakeside walks and the beaches for bathing, it is the ideal place to live the Trasimeno. Magione lies on the hills surrounding Lake Trasimeno, not far from the eastern shores of the lake, dominated by the Castle of the Knights of Malta, formerly called La Magione. The village of San Feliciano, in the municipality of Magione, is one of the most characteristic of those located along the shores of Lake Trasimeno. The narrow and picturesque streets intersect in the small village, among stone houses and panoramic views, the relaxing lakefront promenade and the marina with fishing boats, whose life still revolves around the lake today.

TODI

Todi is a medieval town of unique beauty and elegance that stands on top of a hill dominating the enchanting Tiber valley. Located a few kilometers from Perugia and Orvieto, the town is surrounded by three walls (Etruscan, Roman and Medieval) that surround innumerable treasures. Among the things to see in Todi, one of the most beautiful views is certainly that of Piazza del Popolo, the pulsating heart of the town, overlooked by some of the most important buildings of the historical center that contrast, with a striking effect, to the religious complex. Here you can admire the complex of the Palazzo Comunale, born from the union of the Palazzo del Popolo, where are housed the Lapidarium Museum, the Civic Art Gallery and the Roman Etruscan Museum, the thirteenth century Capitano Palace and the Palace of Priors. The Duomo, erected in the XII century on the remains of a temple dedicated to god Apollo, is characterized by a long access staircase and a beautiful Romanesque façade, not far away, about 20 meters from the square is the Church of San Fortunato, dedicated to the patron saint of the city and built in the 13th century, which preserves in the crypt the tomb of the humanist poet Jacopone from Todi. In our suggestions on what to see in Todi can not miss the Temple of Consolation, performed in the 16th century on Bramante’s design, which has a central plant structure surmounted by a beautiful dome and which houses on its altar an ancient image of Our Lady.

GUBBIO

Nestled on the slopes of Mount Ingino, Gubbio is one of the oldest cities in Umbria, wonderfully preserved over the centuries and full of monuments that testify to its glorious past. Testimonies of its ancient origins are the Eugubine Tables, one of the most important Italic documents and the Roman Theater just outside the walls. Overlooking the monumental Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo, which houses the Patron’s incorruptible remains, Gubbio hosts architectural masterpieces that symbolize and recall the power of this medieval city-state. At the beginning of the 14th century, the superb urbanistic complex formed by Palazzo dei Consoli, one of the most impressive city palaces, became the symbol of Gubbio, Piazza Pensile and Palazzo Pretorio. Even Renaissance lines are the Ducal Palace, which recalls and documented the period lived under the rule of the Montefeltro. The Cathedral of Gubbio preserves the relics of many saints and blessed, including those of San Mariano and San Giacomo. Among the most important events that are organized in the city of Gubbio, a special note is for the Corsa dei Ceri and the historical re-enactment of the Palio della Balestra. In Gubbio you can also win the “crazy driver”. Reach Largo Bargello where you will find a small fountain around which you will have to turn three times to earn your crazy driving license (and eugubin citizenship)!

ORVIETO

Orvieto, one of the oldest cities in Italy, dates back to Etruscan civilization: the first settlements date back to the 9th century BC. and they were located within the tufa caves found in the massif on which the Umbrian town stands. We can not start our Orvietan tour from the splendid Duomo, a colorful example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, rich in works of art, which houses the Sacred Corporal. The frescoes of the New Chapel will surely leave you breathless for their beauty and the brightness of their colors. In the back of the Duomo are the Palaces of the Popes, austere buildings of the thirteenth century, titled Urban IV, Martino IV, Boniface VIII. After admiring these wonders, what to do in Orvieto? Surely dive into the timeless atmosphere of the Underground City, which was entirely made up of caverns excavated by the inhabitants over the centuries, full of wells and caves; the most famous is probably the St. Patrick’s Well. Each year at Corpus Domini’s celebration, Orvieto relives the solemnity of the ceremony, both religious and popular, with a procession of 400 figures representing the history, culture and traditions of what was a powerful medieval commune.