municipality

San Gemini

Some people would want it like la Casaventum nominated by Plinio il Vecchio: probably its origin was that of a pagus linked double-stranded with the near Roman municipality of Carsulae. Today San Gemini is one of the most beautiful village in Italy and, for who pass along the old Flaminia is impossible don’t see the medieval architecture which draws the village solid on the green hill, from where you can enjoy of an enviable view on the Terni’s valley.

Santu Yemin
San Gemini and the history of Saint who gave the name

Known all over the world for its spring, its name, following the tradition, comes from Yemin who, around the XI century came to preach from Siria. Such was the fervor and admiration for his ascetic life that, after the destruction by the Saracens, the town that was born from it will have its own name, San Gemini, Santu Yemin.

Santu Yemin
San Gemini and the history of Saint who gave the name

Known all over the world for its spring, its name, following the tradition, comes from Yemin who, around the XI century came to preach from Siria. Such was the fervor and admiration for his ascetic life that, after the destruction by the Saracens, the town that was born from it will have its own name, San Gemini, Santu Yemin.

focus-porta-romana-san-gemini
The origins
At the origins of a village along the Flaminia Vetus

Of course the history of the little city is much older and linked to the roman period, when it was formed like a village along the most ancient tract of the Flaminia street, what from Narni pass through Carsulae (link a PDI)  to reconnect to Bevagna, the most modern tract.  

There are testimonials the roman sinus late republican with mosaics, the underground cisterns and the remains of mausoleums along the consolar street, like what today it is called Grotta degli Zingari (Gypsy cave).

San Gemini between Middle-Age and Renaissance

Is the period of middle-age which left to us the image of the actual village, built on a hill, in a strategic position and embellished by different little architectural jewels. 

The news about the edification of the Abbey of San Nicolò in 1036, offers us the first written record of the existence of San Gemini which in the 1119 figure as gastaldate of Narni.

Like the rest of the other castles of Umbria, San Gemini participated to the wars between Empire and  Papacy and was sacked by Federico II in the XIII century, after a period beside to the gibbelins array, from 1330 was guelphs and in the firsts decades of the XIV century the Community got a statute and defenses its independence thanks to the Church.

Unfortunately was sacked by the forces which were back from the Sacking of Rome in 1527, and in 1530 was ceded to the Orsini with the next elevation to duchy in 1590. 

In 1722 the Orsini will ceded it to the Santacroce family, and in 1781 Pio VI, will confer the title of city.

After the Unity of Italy was included in the province of Umbria, in the District and Mandamento of Terni, and from 1889 industrial exploitation of the mineral waters will make the village famous all over the world.

What to see

Points of interest in San Gemini

Enclosed by two ranks of walls , San Gemini shows all the power in its structure of castle and medieval village that goes up from the Flaminia, passing to the Porta Romana to arrive in Piazza San Francesco, nerve centre of the village and headquarter of the municipality. 

Through a path long almost 1 kilometro, the Itinerary inside the walls brings us to all of the places of interest inside the walls of the city of the water.

Porta Romana and the Santacroce Palace

Beside Porta Romana, with the entrance even from Duomo Square, Santacroce Palace, today a beautiful hotel, and built in the year when the duchy of San Gemini passed from the Orsini to the homonymous family, maintains unchanged its charms of nobil residence.

San Francesco Square: the Church, the Municipality and Porta Burgi

Passed the door and going to Roma Street, between shops and activities, you arrive to the beautiful Piazza San Francesco which guests the Municipality Palace and the wonderful homonymous Fountain, the San Francesco Church, the access to Casventino street through Porta Burgi and, through the homonymous street, the rise toward Canova Palace and the Porta del Sale.

Via del Tribunale: the Church of Santa Caterina, the Museum Calori and the Roman Domus

Passed the Porta del Sale, going through the little streets, you arrive at the Church of Santa Caterina  and then the former convent of the Poor Clares which today guests the Museum Calori. One Hundred metres far away, the place where was found part of a splendid Roman Domus  with mosaics.

The Former Convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, Porta Tuderte and the Church of San Giovanni Battista

At the end of Via del Tribunale, leaving back shoulders the terrace from you can enjoy the beautiful view on the square which guests Palace Vecchio and the Church of San Carlo, you arrive to the Former convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, then to the Church of San Giovanni Battista that insists on Porta Tuderte.

Piazza Palazzo Vecchio: the Palace and the Church of San Carlo

Following back the Casventino street, you arrive again to Palace Vecchio Square, with the Church of San Carlo  and the Palazzo Vecchio.

Porta Burgi

Going down toward what was the cardo maximum, you arrive again, passing through Porta Burgi, to SanFrancesco Square.

The Duomo: Church of San Gemine

Before to pass again Porta Romana, turning left, a little climb bring us to the most sacred place of each person of San Gemini: the Duomo dedicate to the Patron of the village, Church of San Gemine, whose edification, for tradition was dated in paleochristian epoque.

San Gemini outside the walls: the Geolab, the Botanical Garden and the Abbey of San Nicolò

Not far away from Porta Romana,to the direction of the ancient Via Flaminia which bring to Narni the Geolab is a permanent exhibition space dedicated to the divulgation of the Science of the Earth. Is worth a visit, just outside the walls, always on the side of Porta Romana, one of the most suggestive place of the Le Terre dei Borghi Verdi: the Abbey of San Nicolò that with its architecture and its gardens bring the visitors in the atmosphere of the first years of the XII century.

chiesa-di-san-francesco-san-gemini
What to see

Points of interest in San Gemini

Enclosed by two ranks of walls , San Gemini shows all the power in its structure of castle and medieval village that goes up from the Flaminia, passing to the Porta Romana to arrive in Piazza San Francesco, nerve centre of the village and headquarter of the municipality. 

Through a path long almost 1 kilometro, the Itinerary inside the walls brings us to all of the places of interest inside the walls of the city of the water.

Porta Romana and the Santacroce Palace

Beside Porta Romana, with the entrance even from Duomo Square, Santacroce Palace, today a beautiful hotel, and built in the year when the duchy of San Gemini passed from the Orsini to the homonymous family, maintains unchanged its charms of nobil residence.

San Francesco Square: the Church, the Municipality and Porta Burgi

Passed the door and going to Roma Street, between shops and activities, you arrive to the beautiful Piazza San Francesco which guests the Municipality Palace and the wonderful homonymous Fountain, the San Francesco Church, the access to Casventino street through Porta Burgi and, through the homonymous street, the rise toward Canova Palace and the Porta del Sale.

Via del Tribunale: the Church of Santa Caterina, the Museum Calori and the Roman Domus

Passed the Porta del Sale, going through the little streets, you arrive at the Church of Santa Caterina  and then the former convent of the Poor Clares which today guests the Museum Calori. One Hundred metres far away, the place where was found part of a splendid Roman Domus  with mosaics.

The Former Convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, Porta Tuderte and the Church of San Giovanni Battista

At the end of Via del Tribunale, leaving back shoulders the terrace from you can enjoy the beautiful view on the square which guests Palace Vecchio and the Church of San Carlo, you arrive to the Former convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, then to the Church of San Giovanni Battista that insists on Porta Tuderte.

Piazza Palazzo Vecchio: the Palace and the Church of San Carlo

Following back the Casventino street, you arrive again to Palace Vecchio Square, with the Church of San Carlo  and the Palazzo Vecchio.

Porta Burgi

Going down toward what was the cardo maximum, you arrive again, passing through Porta Burgi, to SanFrancesco Square.

The Duomo: Church of San Gemine

Before to pass again Porta Romana, turning left, a little climb bring us to the most sacred place of each person of San Gemini: the Duomo dedicate to the Patron of the village, Church of San Gemine, whose edification, for tradition was dated in paleochristian epoque.

San Gemini outside the walls: the Geolab, the Botanical Garden and the Abbey of San Nicolò

Not far away from Porta Romana,to the direction of the ancient Via Flaminia which bring to Narni the Geolab is a permanent exhibition space dedicated to the divulgation of the Science of the Earth. Is worth a visit, just outside the walls, always on the side of Porta Romana, one of the most suggestive place of the Le Terre dei Borghi Verdi: the Abbey of San Nicolò that with its architecture and its gardens bring the visitors in the atmosphere of the first years of the XII century.

itineraries
Itinerary inside the walls

Through a path long almost 1 kilometro, the Itinerary inside the walls brings us to all of the places of interest inside the walls of the city of the water.

itineraries
Itinerary inside the walls

Through a path long almost 1 kilometro, the Itinerary inside the walls brings us to all of the places of interest inside the walls of the city of the water.

experience the territory
San Gemini events and traditions

Between the end of September and the beginning of October, San Gemini turns to colors and smells in a middle-age that it is taste during the Giostra dell’Arme ancient knights’ tournament to honor the Santo Patrono Gemine , which is do every each second sunday of October.

Where to stay

Where to stay

Discover the accommodation facilities of the municipality.