What to see in San Gemini in one day
A walk in the centre of San Gemini, thanks to its state of perfect conservation, gives the thrill of a dip in the Middle Ages and the opportunity to visit and admire the extraordinary churches and palaces that preserve precious evidence of the past.
The itinerary starts at Porta Burgi and winds through ancient palaces and churches to reach the former convent of Saint Mary Magdalene, where now there are important public offices. A clear demonstration of how in San Gemini past and present coexist and blend in a harmonious and unique balance.
Discover what to see in San Gemini in one day following an itinerary that will take you to some of its most evocative places:
1 – Porta Burgi
Passing through Porta Burgi, you arrive in the medieval core of San Gemini where houses churches, palaces, and squares are the witness of the long history of this wonderful village.
Here you can find a network of narrow lanes overlooked by magnificent buildings, perfectly preserved, and a multitude of shops, where to buy both typical Umbrian food and artisanal objects.
2 – Palazzo Vecchio or Pretorio
Walking through the centre of San Gemini a first building that attracts the attention for its grandeur and majesty is the Palazzo Vecchio or Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo or Palazzo Pretorio.
For a century, this beautiful palace built in gothic style has been the seat of the city government and inside there are some interesting frescoes including the pictorial cycle of “Rural Works”.
This frescoes depicting the various activities in which the population of San Gemini was engaged, from the pressing of the grapes to the harvest.
On the right of the Palazzo Vecchio stands the Esperia Tower crowned by a bell tower that still houses the bell forged in 1318 by Mastro Matteo da Orvieto. This huge bell was used to announce Council meetings and to signal a dangerous situation.
3 – Church of Saint Mary de Incertis
In the square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, there is the charming little Church of Saint Mary de Incertis which houses marvellous frescoes from the 14th and 16th centuries.
Entering this church you are amazed by its simplicity and brightness and the gaze is attracted by the beautiful fourteenth-century ciborium embellished with a painting of the Madonna with the child between Angels and Saints with a golden halo.
Among the frescoes in the lateral niches stands out that of the Madonna enthroned between Saint Stephen and Saint Sebastian.
4 – Saint Francis square
During an exciting walk to San Gemini, it is impossible not to reach its pulsating heart: Saint Francis square in front of the Church and the College built in honour of this saint.
This square is, also, surrounded by the Palazzo Comunale that replaced Palazzo Vecchio as Town Hall and from the former Villa Santacroce, now Villa Mattina.
5 – Church of Saint Francis
The Church of Saint Francis was built in the thirteenth century to remember, with the adjacent former Franciscan Convent built in the following century, the visit and stay of the Saint of Assisi in the village of San Gemini.
This church, built in gothic-Franciscan style using local stone, is characterized by a beautiful ogival door, a single central nave and frescoes dating back to the fifteenth century, some in good condition others unfortunately deteriorated by time.
Among the best-preserved frescoes, there are the Adoration of the Magi, Saint Lucia between San Giovanni Battista and San Rocco, the Crucifixion between San Girolamo and San Leonardo and the Incredulity of Saint Thomas.
A beautiful wooden crucifix of the fifteenth century stands on the altar of this church.
6 – Cathedral
The Cathedral of San Gemini is dedicated to Saint Gemine Confessore and was built on the ancient Cathedral of Carsulae and Casventino dating back to 310 AD.
The current structure of the San Gemini Cathedral is the result of numerous restructurations that have changed its appearance until 1817.
In the Cathedral there are, in fact, a portal and various Romanesque sculptures that bear witness of the ancient origin of this place of worship, the gothic apse and neoclassical elements inspired by the famous works of Casanova who lived in San Gemini for a while.
Inside the Cathedral, there is a Crucifix of the fourteenth century and an urn with the relics of the saint.
7 – Church of Saint John the Baptist
The church of Saint John the Baptist has very ancient origins, it was built in 1199 on the baptismal font wanted by San Procolo between 276 and 310 A.C. and of which it still retains the shape.
The main facade of this church is characterized by a Romanesque style portal, made of mosaics created with white, red and green Greek porphyry and two bearded faces that symbolize the power of the Church and the power of the Empire.
Inside, this church there are several well-preserved frescoes and the ancient baptismal font.
8 – Former convent di Saint Mary Magdalene
The former convent of Saint Mary Magdalene built during the eleventh century was inhabited by one of the oldest female communities of the Benedictine rule and over the centuries have undergone various renovations.
Today, the purpose for which this building was created is witnessed by the presence of grates, two deconsecrated churches, the fresco depicting Saint Mary Magdalene at the entrance of the cloister and some interesting paintings.
Now, this striking building houses private homes, the social health district, a kindergarten, the library, and the historical archive.
At the end of your itinerary to discover San Gemini, the advice is to have dinner in one of the typical restaurants to taste the culinary delicacies of Umbria.