Terni Attractions

There is a very attractive drive to the beautiful Lago di Piediluco (368m/1,214ft; boat trips available; not suitable for bathing), on the north side of which is the charmingly situated village of Piediluco (377m/1,244ft), towered over by a ruined castle.

The heart of Terni comprises the Piazza della Repubblica in which stands the Town Hall and the Piazza Europa, with the massive Palazzo Spada (16th century). To the southwest, in the Piazza del Duomo, is the cathedral (13th-17th century), with a crypt of the 10th century. A short distance south of the cathedral are the outer walls of an amphitheater (A.D. first century). Beyond the cathedral and the amphitheater extends the municipal park, from where there is an attractive view of the Nera valley.

The Palazzo Fabrizi in Terni contains the Picture Gallery (Pinacoteca), with pictures by Benozzo Gozzoli (Wedding of St Catherine, 15th century), Niccolò Alunno, Giovanni Spagna, Domenico Alfani, Francesco Melanzio, Arrigo Fiammingo, Gerolamo Troppa and other artists.

In the north of Terni the interesting church of San Francesco has notable frescoes (c. 1400) in the Cappella Paradisi (on the right of the choir), with scenes from the "Divine Comedy". The bell-tower (1445) was designed by Angelo de Orvieta.

In the south of Terni is the church of San Salvatore, the town's oldest building, probably erected in early Christian times (fifth century) on the site of a Roman building. The church is a rotunda with a cylindrical dome, a vestibule and the Manassei Chapel, which is decorated with frescoes by an Umbrian painter (14th century).