The upper tiber valley
UMBERTIDE

The towns name, during Roman (or Carthaginian) times was Pitulum. It was destroyed by Totila and re-built at the end of VIII Century and given the name of "Fratta".
During the 14th century it had its own laws, but later the Papal State suppressed it until 1860 when it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. Three years later it changed its name to Umbertide.
The Fortress, built at the end of the 14th Century under the direction of "Trocascio"'s project, it has a large square tower 40 Mt high and three smaller crenellated embattled towers. The walls are more than two metres thick. It is now the symbol of Umbertide. Braccio Fortebraccio was kept imprisoned here in 1394. Now it is a Center of Contemporary Art.
Santa Croce Museum, set up inside the baroque church was built in 1610, and contains a wonderful Signorelli altar-piece (1515/1517) that is now in it's' original site. There are also other paintings of importance among which a Pomarancio painting of the Madonna and Saints, 1577. The Santa Maria della Reggia church, octagonal shape outside and circle inside (middle 16th century), contains another Pomarancio's painting.
The actual structure of the majestic Civitella Ranieri Castle (11th century) is the result of many renovations that have changed the original appearance.
Monte Corona Abbey, founded by Saint Romualdo (1008) has a nave and two aisles and an interesting octagonal and circular tower, perhaps used as defensive tower. It has a nave and double aisles crypt and "oratorium" shaped with 12th century roman capitals and a fresco representing an "Annunciation". Not far away is the hermitage (XVI Century) built by Camaldolesi monks, overlooking the 17th century abbey which is immersed in a beech tree, fir and chestnut tree wood.