Paciano
is a charming town, amidst the green Umbrian hills and
surrounded by rich vegetation on the slopes of Monte
Petrarvella, at 391 meters above sea level. It has a panoramic
view over theTrasimeno Lake, which is 6 Km. away.
Paciano
maintains its original medieval structure: the boundary walls
(over 0,5 km long), 7 towers, 3 ogival entrance doors and the
central inhabited area in chessboard fashion, from which you
will find three parallel streets that lead out, crossed by
typical alleys.
The
old doors are named Porta Perugina, Porta Fiorentina and Porta
Rastrella. The latter’s name probably descends from the
“rastrello” (a rake), a heraldic symbol above this door.
Not
so far away we can admire not only the sight of the Trasimeno
Lake, but also the lakes of
Chiusi and Montepulciano and a part of Val di Chiana.
Before
crossing the castle walls, we find the old church of Saint
Sebastian (X century), where the remains of a fresco
representing
Saint Sebastian are preserved.
Walking
along what was once the Via Aureliana, we get to the romanic
church of Santa Maria Peretula (nowadays Santa Maria Assunta)
with paintings by Guglielmo Ascanio.
Going
further, we cross the “Porta Fiorentina”, which leads into
the historic centre, and right after via Marconi, we arrive to
Palazzo Baldeschi, seat of the Naturalistic Museum.
In
the square of the Municipality
there is
the Confraternitą del S.S. Sacramento (Holy Sacrament
Confraternity), where we find two paintings from the XIV
century and a fresco from 1452.
Going
down again and we reach the church of San Giuseppe, also known
as “La Chiesa dentro”- the church within) for it was the
first one to be built within the boundary walls. There, the
“Gonfalone del Bonfigli”, allegedly a work by Fiorenzo di
Lorenzo, is kept. On the outskirts, there is the church of San
Carlo Borromeo.
Once
we get to Porta Rastrella, we are in front of Palazzo Cennini,
a Renaissance palace characterized by impressive lodges
which look over lovely gardens, and elegantly furnished
inner rooms.
Another
church which deserves to be mentioned is Madonna della Stella
(1562), with the frescos of Silla Piccinino inside.
From
the Porta Perugina, over the top of the hill, there is a
beautiful portal dating back 1770, also known as “Portale
della Madonnuccia”. We also find the grandeur of the
Orlando’s Tower (Torre di Orlando), an embattled tower which
stands out as the only token of the ancient castles in Perugia.
Besides the tower, the Convent of Sant’Antonio rises. It was
built in 1490 by Franciscan Brothers. Towards the valley there
is the church of San Salvatore, also known as “Church of
Ceraseto”.
