The best cycling routes around Montefalco

Giano dell'Umbria Provincial Road

Bring some cash to climb the tower 😀

Even under a grey sky, the outing filled my eyes with its beautiful varied landscapes (hilltop towns, fortified castles, abbeys, towers, vineyards, sunflower fields, yew trees, etc.) And above all, a cycle path away from vehicles!

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!!

This is one of the most famous wineries in Umbria, a true wine reference in Montefalco. It was founded in 1971 by Arnaldo Caprai, a successful textile entrepreneur with the dream of changing his life and producing wine, sensing the great potential of a grape variety that was then unknown to the general public, Sagrantino.

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

Ancient wash house of the village on the Clitunno river

This church in Bevegna has a patronal name that is truly on everyone's lips, but only a few will know the person behind it: San SILVESTRO's feast day is December 31st. He lived at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth century and was Bishop of Rome when Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity as a religion with the Edict of Milan - known as the "Edict of Toleration" - and thus ended (at least temporarily) the period of bloody persecution of Christians.