Valnerina

History

For many the Valnerina Valley is still a region to discover and for those who already have visited it became a real passion.

The Valnerina Valley in Umbria has a very special landscape and is characterized by the enthusiasm for beauty and antique culture, for handmade art and agriculture. There you can find places of religion and still unknown but special and beautiful events.

From the Marble Falls (Le Cascate delle Marmore) to the National park of the Sibillin Mountains there are city of art, little villages in the mountains, Roman churches, antique monasteries, mills, stone bridges and city walls of the Middle Ages. There are many possibilities for all kinds of ages and sport preferences to live unforgettable experiences and adventures.

You can not only discover hidden villages, traditions and ways of life, but also the past, the unknown and unusual. These are adventures that can be offered only by nature.

The Valley is also a synonym for spiritual profoundness and therefore it is a perfect destination for all those who are looking for an ideal place to meditate. It offers a great possibility to discover the religious tracks made by the Benedictines, Franciscans and Ritanes.

To live the Valnerina Valley means to participate also at the cultural events and historical feasts that take place during the year. These events show you the sounds and colours of art, history and culture.
You should also try the local products, called the “Norcineria” and those obtained by agriculture have the best quality and still maintain the old character, like strong emphasis, different ways of work and traditional roots of simple gastronomy.

Adventure and sport

An immaculate landscape in perfect synthesis with men: that’s the Valnerina Valley. An antique, unknown region that is worth to be discovered.
A part of the territory is occupied by the National park of the Sibillin Mountains. The name Sibillin comes from the ancient magician Sibilla who lived in a cave near the Mountain called “Vettore”. There you find also the lake in which, according to history, Pontius Pilatus was pressed by two bulls.  

Even if Sibilla’s cave and the lake of Pontius Pilatus lost their demonic significance, you can still feel some magic atmosphere. The average altitude is 1000 m and the highest mountain, Mount Vettore amounts to 2476m. Woods of deciduous and beech trees cover the mountains. On the high mountain position you can find rare flowers like the Apennine mountain stars.
In this region also the Fauna is very interesting, especially for tourists who like observe animals, like wolfs, deers and porcupine. Also birds, like eagles, hawks and sparrowhawks are very common. There is even a fish which you can only find in the Pilatius Lake. 

This unique nature invites you not only for hiking, but also for trekking and mountain bike tours or even for horseback riding. You have also the possibility to try paragliding from the High Plain of Castelluccio.

The Valnerina Valley is characterized by deep caves, rivers and wide plains. It is also a place for traditions and rites which were passed on from generation to generation and which also reflect the contemporary way of life.

On the whole territory, along the numerous tracks and antique streets, there are many possibilities not only for orienteering, pioneering and surviving courses, but also for photo safaris, cave discoveries, archery, rafting and canoe tours. In some parts of the valley it’s even possible to try free-climbing and sometimes you can participate at the search for gold in the rivers of Corna e Nera.

At least the region offers many sport facilities, like different types of skiing in Forca Canapine, or ice-skating, swimming, tennis, soccer, aerobic, horseback riding, fishing and many more.

Art and culture

The Valnerina Valley is full of immense wealth which you can admire in every little detail of history and art in the mountains and valleys. Authors and poets, like Dante Alighieri, Piccolpasso, Alberti, Giacomo Leopardi and Antoine Del La Sale praised in their works the Valley and the whole territory.
Painters, sculptors, architects and artists were inspired by these unique places and enriched us with their works.
This region is able to transmit certain feelings and unforgettable experiences during the whole year.
There is no season which would not be perfect for a visit, for example in one of the museums, theatres, cultural centres or religious buildings. The Valley has a good infrastructure and is easy to reach.

A few kilometres from Campi you can reach the city of Norcia which is famous in Europe for the gastronomy products and the birth place of Saint Benedict protector of Europe. The next city is Cascia, birth place of Saint Rita and a so-called little capital of art and culture. There you can still see the remains from the Middle Ages, like the Church of Saint Anthony from the 13th century with its well maintained frescos. Little, but valuable treasures are not only hidden in the Civil and Archaeological Museum of “Palazzo Santi”, but also in the library and in the historical archive of “Palazzo Carli” where documents from the 13th century are conserved. In the further surroundings you find the city of Monteleone di Spoleto, which is known for the Roman battle car with its bronze leafs and its scenes from the life of Achilles. At the present this treasure can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Another place to visit is the village Poggiodomo, one of Italy’s tiniest village and a real architectonic jewel: Usugni, the home of cardinal Fausto Poli (1581-1652) and Pope Urbano VIII.

Also interesting is the Castorian Valley and the city Preci, an old castle-city where you can still admire the noble buildings from the Scacchi family which belonged to the pioneers of modern surgery. A surgery school was connected to the old monastery of Saint Eutizio which has still an unbelievable fascination.
The city Cerreto di Spoleto is famous for its inhabitants, the so-called “Cerretani” or “Ciarlatani”. The inhabitants were known for their natural medicine which they created to escape from poverty. If they couldn’t heal with their medicine, they were able to sell with their ability of chatting. The city is also the centre for anthropological documentation of the Valnerina Valley with diverse sources of local traditions.

The village Sellano is famous for its production of files. In the village Vallo di Nera, all houses and streets are made of stone. It seems that every part of the village has been built for theatre scenery. S.Anatolia di Narco with its monastery of Saint Felix was built near the river Nera; next to it you find the village Scheggino which is famous for the production of truffles.

From the Valnerina Valley you can easily reach the bigger cities like Spoleto, a city of art and culture where the “festival of the two worlds” (Festival dei due Mondi) takes place once a year. Even the cities like Assisi, the city of Saint Franciscus, and also Perugia, the regional capital, are very well connected to infrastructure.

The city Terni with its impressive waterfalls, called “Marmore” is very interesting. Also the next Italian Region, the Marchs, should be visited. Thanks to the tunnel of Forca Canapine you can also reach easily Ascoli Piceno and the Adriatic Sea.

Gastronomy

This is the region of the black truffles which were dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite. The region is also famous for its “Norcineria”, a so-called production and conservation of pork beef. They make different products from pork beef, like sausages, ham, salami and bacon. For the conservation they still use traditional methods and the cold and dry climate is therefore very supportive and gives a very good taste and a high nutrient level.                     

The Norcia ham has also received the regional award IGP. Another speciality are the lentils from the Castelluccio Plain, also awarded by IGP. These lentils are cultivated on the High Plain where the climate and the ground give them a high quality. The cooking time is very simplified.

And we should not forget the production of spelt which is cultivated in 1200m and since Roman times it has been a part of wedding rituals. It is a sign and confirmation that the woman changes her life to obey to her husband.

Also the different cheese types are very tasteful, from sheep cheese to the salty Ricotta to various cheese types made of cow milk. Even Saffron belongs to the local products. The tradition of its cultivation near the village Cascia has been again initiated since it stopped after 1545.

At least there are also the trout and crawfish from the Nera River and different sorts of game, honey and wild plants, like mushrooms, asparagus, raspberry, currant and blackberry.
The excellent Umbrian wines, which are protected by brands, like DOCG (product from controlled cultivation), DOC or even ITC, perfect many dishes and have an international fame.
That is the rich and large range of food that offers the Valnerina Valley. During the year there are many events and possibilities to try the different tastes and aromas.

Events

To know better the Valnerina Valley, you should participate at the locale traditions and events.
In this region every city and village contributes to maintain the historical and local traditions organizing events, concerts, theatre shows or markets.

January
On January 17th starts the Carnival season and you can participate at the celebration for Saint Anthony or at the benediction of animals. This is an event that goes back to rural traditions, especially in the village Cascia where they organize an exposition of the "Pasquarelle". The Carnival ends with many parties, dances and celebrations. This is the time for concerts, theatre shows and the discovery of old traditions.

February
On February 14th there are many celebrations in the city Terni which are organized in honour of Saint Valentine. All the attention goes to persons, associations and institutions which during the year acted with solidarity, peace and love. There is also an exposition of the art of golden jewellery, called "Golden Valentine".
On the last weekend in February and the first weekend of March the international Black Truffles Exposition takes place in Norcia. Here you can discover the real taste of the Valnerina products of high quality,

March
On March 21st starts spring time with the celebrations in honour of Saint Benedict. A historical parade that has its origins in the 14th century, takes place in Norcia. All the different parts of Norcia and the surrounding villages arrange various games and at the end they offer big candles to the Saint.
The parade of hundreds of persons in historical costumes which present different works and different parts of the city has its highlight on the main city square where various games are played, like archery.
At the end of the celebration there is a procession and the relict of Saint Benedict is carried through the streets of Norcia.

April
The rites of the "Saint Week" (the week before Easter) have been maintained for centuries in every part of Umbria and are celebrated every year. These traditions are very popular. The main part is the procession of Christ which goes back to the year 500. Also the procession on Good Friday is very impressing.
Due to an old reconciliation rite, in the night of April 30th the villages Preci, Ancarano, Campi and Norcia organize big festivities where they place in every village the "May tree". This is an old tradition which has been passed on from generation to generation with every simple symbol. The days before they choose an adequate tree, fell it and bring it to the village. First all branches and the bark are cut off, then the tree is decorated and placed in the centre of the village. All actions have a certain significance which should support fertility.

May
This is the month which is dedicated to Saint Rita. This tradition goes back to a very mystic origin.
The figure of Saint Rita has always been connected to the city of Cascia and the faith healer fame spread quickly. Today she is doubtlessly one of the most famous and most popular Saints.
Before the main ceremony on May 22nd a "Novena" (festivity that lasts nine days) is organized which gives all believers the possibility to see the remains of Saint Rita in the Chapel where they are preserved. During the rest of the year the remains are visible only through bars.
This festivity in honor of the "Saint of the Impossible" presents a partnership to all Italian and European cities where they arrange an impressive torchlight procession which portrays, according to the legend, the march of 1457 after the Saint's Death.
In May 22nd starts the procession in the near village of Roccaporena, birth city of Saint Rita, and continues to the city of Cascia. There it ends with a historical parade which shows the different periods in the life of Saint Rita: daughter, wife, mother, widow, monk and Saint.
During the festivity the "international award of Saint Rita" is given to three women who outstand with peace, solidarity and forgiveness.

June
In the Month of June the "fiorita di Castelluccio" (flowering period of Castelluccio) celebrates the beginning of the most beautiful season which enchant inhabitants and tourists with its colours and smells. This is the return of herds and herdsmen with which starts the celebration on the second Sunday in June.
The Sibillin Mountains offer an ideal background as they have been representing for thousands of years one of the most valuable relics. In the Middle Ages the knights visited the mountains during their search of the Saint Grail and eternal life. In the mountains lived a great oracle, called Sibilla Apenninica, who was often been seen for counselling and predictions. This is one of the most magical places in the Sibillin Mountains.

July
On July 11th the ceremony in honour of Saint Benedict is waiting for you. For this ceremony a historical parade is organized which shows the medieval life. There you can taste local dishes and beverages. For a couple of years during the ceremony also a torchlight procession has been arranged which is also organized in many European and International cities to spread the message of the Benedictines.
In the city of Spoleto the "Two World Festival" takes place. In the year 1957 Maestro Giancarlo Menotti chose this city for this historical and cultural event which is a meeting point for Italian, American and European culture. Today it is one of the most important international festivity which offers different performances from Theatre, Dance, Concert and Cinema.

August
In the Valnerina Valley you can find many events, associations, concerts, theatre, dance and poetry performances. In the summer the Valnerina Valley is really worth to be discovered as you can see it in its flowering period.
The real main events during this intensive month take place on the main squares of the cities and villages where everybody meets.
In August you can find everywhere feasts and events, even in the smallest villages, for example the "festival of the Charlatans" in Cerreto di Spoleto which should remember the inhabitants from the 16th century.
Also the festival in the Nera Valley is very interesting.
All these highlights make the Valnerina Valley an interesting place to visit. In addition to that it is the fantasy and professionalism which lead to unique peculiarities, known on a national and international basis.

September - Oktober - November
The fall is a season that allows to discover the Valnerina Valley in all its details.
You can do this by following the old railroad tracks between Norcia and Spoleto, which presented a quick connection from 1926 to 1968. This is the ideal season to "hear the silence", for example in the woods, near the rivers, in a small village, visiting Italian or Roman relics, during sunrise and sunset, when a light covers the landscape and creates an intensive and indescribable atmosphere. 
You can also discover the Benedictian of Franciscan pilgrim tracks in Norcia and Assisi. The Valnerina Valley is a region that invites you with its spiritual and mental depth. You can dive in nature with the mountain range of the Apennine and the impressive caves, with it rivers and wide plains, the thick woods and the unique variety of plants and animals.
It is not necessary to climb the mountains to find your balance with nature. This region is also a dream of many simple hikers who are looking for hidden nature, a breath of clear and fresh air and some time far away from stress and routine.
Not many kilometres from the Valnerina Valley, in the city of Foligno, in the months of September and October the "Segni Barocchi" (the Baroque Signs) take place. This is an event of music, theatre, film and exhibitions connected to the baroque period. Parallel to this festival there are various festivities with costumes, games and funfair rides.

December
Many fires light the night of December 9th in Norcia e Monteleone di Spoleto for the ceremony, called "Ri Fauni". This has an heathen origin and was finally Christianized. Today it should remind the transport of the Madonna from Nazareth to Loreto on December 9th 1291.
Also Christmas and New Year's Eve have a special atmosphere.
During this period you can find many Concerts, Theatre spectacles, traditional dances and the "Pasquarelle", Christmas songs that are performed from singers from house to house.
The Monumental Museum in Cascia is really worth a visit, as it counts every year many visitors and tourists.
Even the different mangers in Spoleto and the "Event on New Year's" which take place on the main squares of the cities are surely very interesting.

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