A visit to Terni, the city of Saint Valentine
A break in San Gemini is a perfect opportunity to discover this medieval village, but also the surrounding area with its important vestiges of the past as the Archaeological Park of Carsulae, its natural beauties as the Marmore Waterfall and its wonderful little towns.
Terni, the city of Saint Valentine and destination of thousands of lovers eager to solemnly celebrate their promise of love, is one of the towns around San Gemini that deserve a visit.
This little town offers its visitors numerous testimonies of its long history and of the splendour reached during the Roman period.
Discover, therefore, the must-see attractions to see during a day in Terni:
Questa cittadina, inoltre, offre ai propri visitatori numerose testimonianze della sua lunga storia e dello splendore raggiunto durante il periodo romano. Scoprite, quindi, le principali attrazioni da vedere durante una giornata a Terni:
Questa cittadina, inoltre, offre ai propri visitatori numerose testimonianze della sua lunga storia e dello splendore raggiunto durante il periodo romano. Scoprite, quindi, le principali attrazioni da vedere durante una giornata a Terni:
The Basilica of Saint Valentine
The Basilica of Saint Valentine, a very ancient place of worship dedicated to the Patron of Lovers is one of the main attractions of Terni. In this church there are the mortal remains of this Christian martyr who was killed on February 14th because, by defying the laws of his time, celebrated the marriage between a Roman soldier and a young Christian, replacing the pagan fertility festival with a religious celebration. The construction of this basilica dates back to the fourth century to offer a worthy burial to the remains of Saint Valentine but during the barbarian invasions was destroyed and then rebuilt only in the following centuries after being entrusted to the monastic order of the Benedictines. The current aspect of the Basilica of Saint Valentine is the result of numerous interventions that took place after its further reconstruction in the seventeenth century, during the pontificate of Paul V.- Useful information: in Terni are held many sacred and profane events during the week of Valentine’s Day and one of the most evocative celebrations is the Promise Festival where thousands of engaged couples exchange their promise of love in front of the Saint’s urn.
The Fausto Amphitheatre
The first settlements in the Terni area date back to the Iron Age, but only during the Roman Period, this town grew and flourished becoming an important centre. Even today the Roman testimonies are numerous and include the amazing Fausto Amphitheatre. This amphitheatre was built in the first century AD, before the Colosseum, and it represents a sort of its miniature as it can only hold 10,000 spectators against the 75,000 of Rome’s amphitheatre. A particularity of the Fausto Amphitheatre is its suggestive location between the Cathedral and the Church of Carmine in the historic centre of Terni.- Useful information: it is possible to access the Fausto Amphitheatre only during the numerous musical and artistic events that it hosts during the spring and summer. So, this marvellous Roman testimony can be admired only from the outside.
The CAOS Archaeological Museum
During a break in Terni, it is recommended a visit to the CAOS Archaeological Museum to learn more about the long history of this town. This archaeological museum housed in a foundry, to highlight the close relationship of this town with heavy industry, often Terni was called the Manchester of Italy, offers a journey to discover the habits and customs of the populations that lived in this territory. The CAOS Archaeological Museum has17 rooms that show the pre-Roman history of Terni with evidence dating back to the period between the tenth and sixth centuries BC. and its Roman period started in the first century B.C. Among the main evidence of the Roman era, there is the famous epigraph of Faustus Titius Liberalis and many other testimonies that illustrate how life took place in those times.- Useful information: the opening hours of the CAOS Archaeological Museum vary according to the seasons so it’s necessary to check them carefully before planning the visit. The cost of the full ticket is 5 euros.
The Palazzo Spada
If you love art, another attraction to visit in Terni is Palazzo Spada, an imposing stone building built in 1555. The interiors of this noble palace, now the seat of the Municipality of Terni, are embellished with fantastic frescoes, painted by the Flemish master Karel van Mander and depicting the Night of St. Bartholomew and the Battle of Lepanto, two bloody historical events occurred in the sixteenth century for religious reasons.- Useful information: Palazzo Spada, being the seat of the Municipality of Terni, can be visited only during the opening hours of the municipal offices.
The Church of Saint Francis
An important historical and religious testimony to admire in Terni is the evocative Church of Saint Francis overlooking the homonym square in the heart the historical centre. This church stands on an ancient oratory donated to Saint Francis in 1218 by the Bishop of Terni and its construction began about forty years after the death of the Saint, according to the traditional model of the Franciscan churches characterized by the presence of a single nave. Over the centuries, the Church of Saint Francis has undergone several restorations and extensions to meet the new needs of the ever-growing Franciscan community for which it has become an important point of reference.- Useful information: The Church of Saint Francis is one of the stages that dot the Route of Saint Francis and the Way of the Franciscan Protomartyrs, a path that winds and connects some of the places where the poor of Assisi lived and preached.