Perugia | Terni | Assisi | Gubbio | Foligno | Spoleto | Orvieto | Amelia | Todi | Trasimeno | Norcia-Cascia | C. Castello
 Versione Italiana |
Historical outline of Cascia Umbrian in origin and later a Roman settlement, Cascia is one of the principal towns of the Valnerina (the valley of the River Nera), the most mountainous region of Umbria. Its original name of `Cursula' was changed to Cascia when it was rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed it completely at the beginning of the first millennium. In 553 it was conquered by the Bizantine Narsete and later by the Lombards and Saracens and a number of other assailants, including the dukedom of Spoleto, ultimately becoming an independent republic with its own currency in the tenth century. It fought interminable battles against both Spoleto and the Church because it allied itself with the Ghibellines and the Emperor - it was occupied by Federico II in 1228 - and its defiance to the Church prompted Pope Leo X to order the destruction of the citadel in 1516. Worse was to come however: in 1703 almost the entire town was flattened by yet another earthquake in which 700 of its inhabitants lost their lives. But the town of Cascia is famous above all as the birthplace of Saint Rita, the `Saint of Lost Causes'. Born in 1381, she entered the Augustinian convent of Maria Maddalena after the murder of her husband and died there in 1457. She was canonized in 1900.Historical outline of Norcia  Settled by the Sabines in the fifth century BC, Norcia's origins have been traced as far back as the Neolithic period. It was known in ancient times as `Nursia' - and, on account of the skills of its medieval doctors and surgeons, `nursino' came to mean `one who cares for other people'; today, as the home of the sausage, the town is more famous for it's butchers. In 205 BC Norcia offered help to Scipio, commander of the Roman army in the Second Punic War, and subsequently became a Roman prefettura and later a municipio. It was converted to Christianity by S. Feliciano but was sacked in turn by Goths, Longobards (who placed it under the dominion of the dukedom of Spoleto) and Saracens, as a result of which Norcia's prosperity and population both declined. Its fortunes improved with the founding nearby of the abbey of San Eutizio by St Benedict, the father of monasticism, who was born in Norcia in 480. In 962, as a supporter of the Church, Norcia fought the Ghibelline town of Cascia, and in the twelfth century it became a free comune, but brief periods of calm were regularly interrupted by earthquakes and by territorial battles against its neighbours. It was placed under the rule of the papacy in 1354. Two centuries later, to improve Norcia's defences and increase its prestige, the papal fortress known as the Castellina was built in the centre of the town.
What to see at Cascia - Church of St. Francis (XIV century) - Church of Sant'Agostino dated 1380 - Basilica of Santa Rita - Monastery of Santa Rita - Remains of Castello di San Giorgio - The Pieve del XV secolo Villa of San Silvestro and remains of pagan temple - Pagan Temple (Il cent. a.C.) - The Montemeraviglie - Hermitage of Madonna della Stella - Il Tazzo: forest of ancient oaks - Roccaporena and Maltignano What to see at Norcia - The Town Hall - The Castellina - Cathedral of Santa Maria Argentea - The tempietto dated 1354 - Sant'Agostino - S. Francesco (XIV cent.) - San Giovanni - Santa Scolastica and Madonna della neve - Basilica of Saint Benedict (XIII cent.) Feasts and festivals in Cascia - 2nd Sunday in January: "Le Pasquerelle" traditional shepherds' songs of the Valnerina - 22 May: Feast of Santa Rita - 17 July: Feast of Saint Mary - Last Sunday in July: Palio del Fantasma Feasts and festivals in Norcia - February: Nursino Carnival and Truffle Fair - Good Friday: Passion Procession with tableaux vivants - 27 March: Celebrations to commemorate Saint Benedict - June: La Fiorita, held at Castelluccio - August/September: Traditional summer festival How to Get There By car - A1 Autostrada Rome-Florence, Orte exit, follow main Orte-Terni road. - A14 Autostrada Rome-L'Aquila, exit Civitanova Marche By train - Rome-Ancona line to Spoleto By air - Internal flights to Perugia S. Egidio airport |
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Perugia | Terni | Assisi | Gubbio | Foligno | Spoleto | Orvieto | Amelia | Todi | Trasimeno | Norcia-Cascia | C. Castello
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