Culture and Mysticism in Umbria, Italy
Umbria is another region of central Italy and it has played a very dynamic role in three thousand years of its history. In the Middle Ages the Benedictine monasteries became the keystones of the protection of the culture, either classical or Christian, philosophical and mystical. In Umbria, there were various centers for the arts and studies in different fields, such as medicine, agriculture and science.
One of these was Perugia, an animated cultural center firstly in the Middle Ages, then during the Renaissance, just as it is still today. This city has one of the oldest Universities of Europe, founded at the beginning of 13th century. Another important center was Orvieto, which for many years has been one of the official residences of the Popes; and which had a great cultural and political significance.
Umbria had therefore a fruitful base from which the culture arose and flourished for centuries, mixing its loyalty to ancient cultural institutions to the openness to humanism, science and research. Umbrian universities, schools of art and music courses are today well-known not only in Italy, but also in Europe; and they call thousands of students each year from different areas. Additionally, several cultural valuable initiatives are regularly organized everywhere in the region, attracting many visitors from all over the world. The most famous events are the Two Worlds Festival in Spoleto, the Umbrian Festival of Sacred Music and Umbria Jazz. Beside these programs, the old popular culture of Umbria has been renovated and taken to a new level: various celebrations are the genuine expressions of this, such as the Candle Race and the Crossbow Contest in Gubbio, the May Day in Assisi, the Quintain Joust in Foligno, the Ring Race in Narni or the historical procession on Corpus Christi day in Orvieto.
During a holiday in Umbria, you can breathe the incredible atmosphere and the complex reality of this region, which expresses her particular character mixing modern and antique features. You can find several accommodations in Umbria and holiday apartments for rent in different locations, if you wish to visit this region.
Umbria has been, above all in the Middle Ages and the 13th/ 14th centuries, the area where the monasticism increased; and it became the region of religious movements and of Saints. St. Benedict is born in Norcia (480-547) and he founded the Benedictine monastic order, which had its expression at San Pietro in Perugia, at Santa Maria Valdiponte in Montelabbate (near Perugia), in Sassovivo (near Foligno), in San Benedetto on Mount Subasio, in San Salvatore on Mount Corona and in the Abbey of Petroia (near Citta’ di Caststello). St. Francis and Santa Chiara founded the Franciscan order in the 13th century and therefore new convents and monasteries appeared. In that period, characterized by deep religious fervor, other monastic orders born in the region such as the Dominicans, the Servants of Mary, the Augustinians and the “Disciplinati”.
The cities changed their design with the institution of those orders. Several religious buildings have been erected, for example San Domenico in Perugia and San Fortunato in Todi. Indisputably, the best expression of the religious zeal of those centuries is represented by Assisi, the gem of the region. This city is located on the top of Mount Subasio and it looks over the green Umbrian valley.
The influence of the medieval religion can be observed in the interior of the Basilica di San Francesco (St. Francis’s Basilica), with its marvelous frescoes made by Giotto, Lorenzetti, Cimabue and Simone Martini. Five kilometers away from the Basilica, is the astonishing church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in the place where St. Francis died. Not far from there, you can find the convent of San Damiano, very important place in the history of St. Francis, because the legend says that here the crucifix spoke to him in 1205 in his youngness; and also because here he received Santa Chiara and composed his famous “Cantico delle Creature”. On the hill of Mount Subasio is located the Carceri Hermitage: this is has been the first retreat of St. Francis and later the place where St. Bernardino constructed a monastery. In the small court, there is the Well of St. Francis from which water miraculously flowed and in the woods there are the grottoes of the Saint. Even if Assisi is the most famous and impressive of the artistic places to visit, other mystical destinations have to be mentioned. The monastery and basilica of Santa Rita are in Cascia, where you can see the cell of Santa Rita, the choir-stall, her plant of vine and her sarcophagus. The basilica dedicated to San Valentino is in Terni: this saint was a bishop martyred and he is commonly known as the patron of people in love.
Umbria is an ideal spot for a cultural and mystic holiday!
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