Todi

A historic hill top town 

We have been to Todi a couple of times, each time enjoying the town. The town has been described as "fairy tale" with stone houses, palazzi and bell towers. The church is stunning.

In ancient history, it was said that Todi was built by Hercules, who hilled Cacus here, and the city was given the name Eclis. Where is the proof. Well trip over the Florence and there is an impressive statue outside the Palazzo Becchia oof Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli.

There certainly was something of note here as in 1835 there was the discovery of the near life-size bronze statue of Mars of Todi which dates to the 5th or early 4th century was found near Todi. You will have to go to the Vatican Museums to see it.

The town is know for it main piazza, the Piazza del Popolo. It has the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata at one end, a 13th Century Palazzo del Capitano and the Palazzo del Popolo on an opposit end and the 14th Century Palazzo dei Priori along a side.

And for a town, it is always a good think to have a linkage with a Pope, Benedetto Caetanio, later to be Pope Boniface VIII, started his career as a Canon in the Catheddral of Todi in 1260. Pope Boniface never forgot about Todi and later under Bishop Angelo Cesi the town has a period of splendor such as the Cesia Fountain that was built and named accordingly.

There are ancient Roman cisterns, more than 500 pits, below the Piazza del Popolo. They were in use until 1925.

There are three sets of walls, the outer walls are medieval, the middle walls are Roman and the innerside walls partly Etruscan. So as you can sense, this town has seen alot over many centuries.

If you drive from Orvieto, you will approach Todi from the South West. This gives you a great view of the Tempio della Consolazione which is considered one of the most perfect Renaissance churches in Italy. It was designed in 1508 and not finished for an incredible 99 years later. Inside is a bright interior with Baroque statues of the twelve apostles.

Leave your car in one of the parking lots and walk up towards the Piazza del Popolo. There you will find the Duomo with its rather harsh square appearance. Walk up the steps and go inside. There is a great rose window and the back wall has a 16th century version of the Last Judgment that was painted by Farraù da Faenza.

Visit the San Fortunato, it was built in 1292 located on a hill in town atop a broad stairway. It holds one of the greatest works of art in Todi, a fresco by Masoliono of the Madonna nd Child.

At the very top of Todd is the ruins of the 14th-century citadel There is a public park and a view out over the valley and the Tempio della Consolzione.