Amelia

Perched at the top of a rocky hill in the midst of the Tiber and Nera river valleys, Amelia is one of the most interesting historic towns in Umbria. Periods and styles come together inside the mighty polygonal city walls encircling the town, creating an original, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, illustrating the seasons of art and architecture from Roman times up through the 18th century.
The churches and buildings provide evidence of the importance Amelia had in the period between the 16th and 18th centuries, especially as a center of Mannerist and Baroque art.
The entire surrounding area is a harmonious succession of landscapes that seem like a series of natural frescoes. The hills sloping down to the Tiber valley are covered with maquis and centuries-old ilexes

HISTORY
The earliest settlement was built in pre-Roman times on the acropolis, overlooking the scattered settlements in the area below. The building of the polygonal walls (6th-4th century BC) gave the town its definitive shape, which corresponds to the present-day historic center.
Amelia was founded in the 12th century BC by a legendary king named Ameroe, after whom the town was named. In 90 BC it became a Roman municipium. With its dominating position over the Via Amerina, one of the major roads through Umbria and central Italy, it served as a military staging post. Besieged by the Goths in 548, it was then occupied by the Lombards in 579. In 1065 it became an independent commune. The Guelfs and Ghibellines fought for control of the town. In the 14th century it became part of the Papal States, until the birth of the Kingdom of Italy (1860).

ART, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT
Entering the town, one notices immediately the mighty fortifications of the polygonal city walls, built in the VI-IV centuries BC to defend the town, giving it the unmistakable appearance of a walled city.
The walls have 4 gates: Porta Romana (the main access to the town), Porta Posterola, Porta Leone IV and Porta della Valle.
Monuments in town to be visited include the Cathedral, the most important religious building in Amelia, the Monastery of San Magno, the Church of San Francesco, the Church of Sant'Agostino and the rural church of Madonna delle Cinque Fonti, which according to legend gave hospitality to St. Francis.
Worthy of note are the 15th-century Palazzo Nacci and the 16th-century Palazzo Farrattini e Petrignani and Civic Tower, symbol of the independence of the commune, as well as the splendid 18th-century Theater.
The ex-Collegio Boccarini is now the home of the Archeological Museum, which holds the impressive bronze statue of Germanicus, nephew of the emperor Tiberius, and other important artifacts found in the Amelia area.
Just 3 km from the historic center, set in the verdant hills surrounding Amelia, is the magnificent Convent of the Santissima Annunziata, built in the 15th century over a preexisting hermitage

Amelia hold exciting surprises below ground as well, following a route leading to the discovery of the ancient Roman cisterns, a work of hydraulic engineering constructed sometime around the 2nd century AD, which are open to the public with an entrance on Piazza Matteotti.

Among the natural wonders is the lake called Lago Vecchio. Created by the Rio Grande stream, it can be reached by a footpath and is a popular spot for fishing. For those who love the woods, 4 km out of town there is a large park in the middle of an ilex grove, "La Cavallerizza," which also has an area for horseback riding.

THREE GOOD REASONS FOR VISITING AMELIA
Polygonal city walls
Roman cisterns (Amelia underground)
Archeological museum (Statue of Germanicus

EVENTS
Music and Art in the Historic Palazzi (February-April)
Amelia May Organ Festival - Organ concerts in the churches (May)
Ham Radio, Electronics and IT Trade Fair (May)
Sagra dell'Acciaccata, typical local pizza - Fornole (May)
Fieramelia - Crafts, food and agricultural products (June)
Amelia Summer Festival - Cultural and recreational events (July-September)
Commemoration of the Amelia Charters and Palio of the Doves (July-August)
Woodcutter's Festival - Macchie (last week of August)
Feast of St. Fermina, Patron Saint of Amelia - Candle offering and historical procession (24 November)
Christmas Concert by the Corale Amerina (26 December)

TYPICAL PRODUCTS
Extra virgin olive oil
Girotti figs, dried and stuffed with almonds, candied fruit and walnuts
DOC Wines: Amelia is part of the Etruscan-Rom