Fotografia ed elaborazioni originali di Fotografia ed elaborazioni originali di Antonio FlorinoAntonio Florino

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NorciaNorcia is a town and is a town and comunecomune in the in the province of Perugiaprovince of Perugia ( (ItalyItaly) in southeastern ) in southeastern UmbriaUmbria, located in a wide plain , located in a wide plain abutting the Monti Sibillini, a subrange of the Apennines with some of its highest peaks, near the abutting the Monti Sibillini, a subrange of the Apennines with some of its highest peaks, near the Sordo RiverSordo River, a , a small stream that eventually flows into the small stream that eventually flows into the NeraNera. The town is thus popularly associated with the . The town is thus popularly associated with the ValnerinaValnerina (the (the valley of that river).The area is known for its air and scenery, and is a base for mountaineering and hiking. It is also valley of that river).The area is known for its air and scenery, and is a base for mountaineering and hiking. It is also widely known for hunting, especially of the wild boar, and for sausages and ham made from wild boar and pork, to widely known for hunting, especially of the wild boar, and for sausages and ham made from wild boar and pork, to the point that Norcia has given its name to such products: in Italian, norcineria.Historythe point that Norcia has given its name to such products: in Italian, norcineria.HistoryTTraces of human settlement races of human settlement in Norcia's area dates back to the in Norcia's area dates back to the NeolithicNeolithic Age.The town's history begins with settlement by the Age.The town's history begins with settlement by the SabinesSabines in the 5th in the 5th century BC. It became an ally of ancient Rome in 205 BC, during the century BC. It became an ally of ancient Rome in 205 BC, during the Second Punic WarSecond Punic War, when it was known in Latin , when it was known in Latin as Nursia, but the earliest extant Roman ruins date from around the 1st century.as Nursia, but the earliest extant Roman ruins date from around the 1st century.St. BenedictSt. Benedict, the founder of the , the founder of the BenedictineBenedictine monastic system, and his twin sister monastic system, and his twin sister St. ScholasticaSt. Scholastica, were born here in 480. In the following century the , were born here in 480. In the following century the city was conquered by the city was conquered by the LombardsLombards, becoming part of the , becoming part of the Duchy of SpoletoDuchy of Spoleto. In the 9th century it suffered from . In the 9th century it suffered from SaracenSaracen attacks, which started a period of deep decadence.In the 11th century, it was part of the domain of St. attacks, which started a period of deep decadence.In the 11th century, it was part of the domain of St. Henry, Holy Roman Emperor.In the 12th century Norcia became an independent commune within the Henry, Holy Roman Emperor.In the 12th century Norcia became an independent commune within the PapalPapal territories, with an increasing political and economical prestige. The collaboration with the Benedictine abbey in territories, with an increasing political and economical prestige. The collaboration with the Benedictine abbey in PreciPreci led to the creation of the Schola Chirurgica: the latter's studies allowed Norcia's to improve their led to the creation of the Schola Chirurgica: the latter's studies allowed Norcia's to improve their swineswine breeding capacities. However, the vicinity of the powerful breeding capacities. However, the vicinity of the powerful SpoletoSpoleto and the 1324 earthquake thwarted the city's and the 1324 earthquake thwarted the city's ambitions, and in 1354 it returned definitively under the Papal authority.ambitions, and in 1354 it returned definitively under the Papal authority.Main sightsMain sightsThe The older core of Norcia is almost older core of Norcia is almost flat, which is relatively unusual among the towns of Umbria, and completely enclosed by a full circuit of walls that flat, which is relatively unusual among the towns of Umbria, and completely enclosed by a full circuit of walls that has survived intact from the 14th century, despite many earthquakes of which several were devastating (1763, has survived intact from the 14th century, despite many earthquakes of which several were devastating (1763, 1859, 1979). After the earthquake of August 22, 1859, the 1859, 1979). After the earthquake of August 22, 1859, the Papal StatesPapal States, to which Norcia then belonged, imposed a , to which Norcia then belonged, imposed a stringent construction code forbidding structures of more than 3 stories and requiring the use of certain materials stringent construction code forbidding structures of more than 3 stories and requiring the use of certain materials and building techniques.Many other Roman vestiges are observable throughout the city, especially in the walls of and building techniques.Many other Roman vestiges are observable throughout the city, especially in the walls of San Lorenzo, its oldest extant church.The main basilica is dedicated to St. Benedict, still attached to a functioning San Lorenzo, its oldest extant church.The main basilica is dedicated to St. Benedict, still attached to a functioning Benedictine monastery. Though the present edifice was built in the 13th century, it stands on the remains of one or Benedictine monastery. Though the present edifice was built in the 13th century, it stands on the remains of one or more small Roman buildings, sometimes considered to have been a Roman basilica, or alternately the actual house more small Roman buildings, sometimes considered to have been a Roman basilica, or alternately the actual house in which the twin saints were born. The façade, in Gothic style, is characterized by a central rose window and relief in which the twin saints were born. The façade, in Gothic style, is characterized by a central rose window and relief portraying the four Evangelists. Inside, the fresco of the Resurrection of Lazarus, (1560) was painted by portraying the four Evangelists. Inside, the fresco of the Resurrection of Lazarus, (1560) was painted by Michelangelo CarducciMichelangelo Carducci. The altar in the left hand transept houses a St Benedict and Totila (1621) by . The altar in the left hand transept houses a St Benedict and Totila (1621) by Filippo NapoletanoFilippo Napoletano.The Renaissance church of Santa Maria Argentea is the .The Renaissance church of Santa Maria Argentea is the DuomoDuomo, or cathedral, and houses some , or cathedral, and houses some works by Flemish masters, a richly decorated altar by works by Flemish masters, a richly decorated altar by DuquesnoyDuquesnoy, a Madonna and Saints by , a Madonna and Saints by PomarancioPomarancio, and a St. , and a St. Vicenzo Ferrer and the Infirm (1756) by Vicenzo Ferrer and the Infirm (1756) by Giuseppe PaladiniGiuseppe Paladini.The Gothic church of Sant'Agostino (14th century) has .The Gothic church of Sant'Agostino (14th century) has many votive frescoes of many votive frescoes of St RochSt Roch and and St SebastianSt Sebastian. San Francesco is from the same century: it has a notable portal, . San Francesco is from the same century: it has a notable portal, surmounted by a Gothic rose window, with pink and white stone decorations.A fortress, the Castellina, was built in surmounted by a Gothic rose window, with pink and white stone decorations.A fortress, the Castellina, was built in 1555-1563 as the residence of the Papal governors, under design by 1555-1563 as the residence of the Papal governors, under design by Giacomo Barozzi da VignolaGiacomo Barozzi da Vignola. It now houses a . It now houses a small museum with Roman and medieval artifacts, and documents of the Middle Ages and later periods.small museum with Roman and medieval artifacts, and documents of the Middle Ages and later periods.

La cinta muraria più esternaLa cinta muraria più esterna

I maialoni e simili hanno da sempre attirato le donneI maialoni e simili hanno da sempre attirato le donne

Piazza S. Benedetto La CastellinaPiazza S. Benedetto La Castellina

Palazzo ComunalePalazzo Comunale

La Basilica di NorciaLa Basilica di Norcia

Il portico delle Misure VI° secoloIl portico delle Misure VI° secolo

La Cattedrale di S. Maria argenteaLa Cattedrale di S. Maria argentea

Interni della BasilicaInterni della Basilica

Fondazioni romanicheFondazioni romaniche

Un’altra tappa delle meraviglie giunge a termine,ma noi continuiamo. A Un’altra tappa delle meraviglie giunge a termine,ma noi continuiamo. A presto Tina e Antoniopresto Tina e Antonio

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antonio.florino@gmail.comantonio.florino@gmail.com