Todi is a picturesque town in the Umbria region. it is located about 40 kilometers south of Perugia. The municipality is located in the Valle Tiberina and is one of the largest cities in the province of Perugia in terms of surface area. Especially the medieval part of the city is worth a visit.
Todi travel guide
Useful information
Region: Umbria. Province: Perugia. Postal code: 06059. Area code: 075. The Tourist Office of Lodi (the IAT Tuderte) is located in Piazza Umberto I, 6 (Tel. +39 07589433395 or 0758945416).
Public transportation: There is a direct, but not very frequent, bus connection (Autolinee Sulga) between the station Roma Tiburtina and Todi. It is much easier to take the train to Orvieto and then continue by bus.
Public transport within the city: A ticket costs 1,30 Euro and is valid for 90 minutes from the time of stamping. If you buy it on the bus it costs 2.00 Euro. A 10-ride ticket costs 11 Euro. This card is valid for 365 days from the first ride and is not personal.
What to see and do in Todi
Todi is an extremely picturesque town with, especially in and around Piazza del Popolo, many magnificent buildings. You can also see remains of both Etruscan and Roman civilisations. The Borghi neighborhood is characterized by its nedieval atmosphere.
Top 10 tourist attractions Todi
01. Santa Maria Annunziata Cathedral
The Cathedral of Todi is dedicated to Santa Maria Annunziata and was built in the 11th century, probably on the ruins of a pagan temple. The highlight is the fresco by Ferraù da Faenza, “The Last Judgement”.
02. Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo is Todi’s central square, and it is here that the city’s most imposing buildings are located, including the Palazzo del Capitano and the Palazzo del Popolo.
03. Palazzo del Capitano
The Palazzo del Capitano dates back to 1293 and has a Gothic facade with windows decorated with slender columns. Inside the palace, you can visit the art gallery and the Etruscan-Roman museum.
04. Tempio di San Fortunato
The Tempio di San Fortunato is a late 13th-century Gothic church, with fine works of art and a nice panoramic view from the bell tower.
05. Santa Maria della Consolazione Church
The Tempio di Santa Maria della Consolazione was built in the 16th century. Many famous architects (including Bramante) collaborated on this Renaissance church.
06. Parco della Rocca
The Parco della Rocca is the green heart of Todi. It is located among the ruins of what was once the city’s castle. Only the round watchtower still stands undamaged.
07. Nicchioni Romani
The Piazza del Mercato Vecchio features the Nicchioni Romani, “Roman niches” that probably formed part of a Roman basilica.
08. Palazzo del Popolo
The Palazzo del Popolo was built in 1214. It is characterised by an arcade and a magnificent battlement. Today it houses the Museo Comunale.
09. Piazza Garibaldi
The Piazza Garibaldi is named after the Italian freedom fighter whose statue stands in the middle of the square.
10. Palazzo dei Priori
The Palazzo dei Priori was built back in the 14th century. The beautiful bell tower is slightly younger than the palace itself. The building itself was constructed in 1334. Today it is the seat of the court of justice and the town hall.
More points of interest in Todi
The highlight of the Sant’Eligio Church is its façade, which incorporates part of the Porta Perugina, one of the ancient city gates
The Museo Civico and the Pinacotheque of Todi take up the top floor of the interconnected Palazzo Podestà and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. The most interesting part of the exhibition is the Ceramics room.
Chiesa del Crocifisso
The Palazzo Vescovile (“Bishop’s Palace”) has a courtyard witn an entrance gate designed by Vignola.
The Teatro Comunale was built in 1876. The architect was Carlo Gatteschi. The biggest attraction inside the theater is the big curtain, which was painted with a historical event.
The Palazzo Rolli is named after Paolo Rolli, who translated Milton into Italian. It was designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and was formerly called Palazzo Cesi.
The Gothic Tempio di San Fortunato was built in the 13th century on the ruins of an existing church. Main attractions are the tomb of the saint himself and the panorama from the bell tower.
The Fontana di Scannabecco was built in 1241 by the city’s then Podestà, Scannabecco dei Fagnani. The fountain’s tubs are located under an elegant portico with seven semi-circular arches.
Todi boasts three rings of protective city walls, built in different eras. Much of the medieval wall in particular remains.
The Santa Prassede Church is one of the main attractions in the medieval Borgo district, located on the south side of the city between the two outer walls.
The Montesanto Monastery with its church is located just outside the city.
Fontana della Rua or Cesia.
The Piazza Garibaldi is a short walk from the central Piazza del Popolo. It is named after the Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose statue takes up central position in the square.
A brief history of Todi
After the decline of the Roman Empire, Todi was annexed to the then Duchy of Rome in the 8th century. Later, it first became a free city, which lasted until 1367. After this, the municipality first became fiefdom of several powerful nobles, until it was annexed to the Papal State.
Origins and Roman times
The first inhabitants of the area (2700 BC) were river dwellers, the Veii Umbrii. According to tradition, they were sitting down to a meal when an eagle snatched a tablecloth and flew off with it to drop it on the top of the hill. This was seen as a sign that the city should be built there.
The name is derived from Tuder, which meant “border town” in Umbrian.
Later, first the Etruscans and, in the 3rd century BC, the Romans would take over. The Etruscans built the first city wall. Of Roman rule in particular, numerous traces remain, such as the water storage areas under the central square.
In the year 88 BC Marco Crasso looted the city, a fate that Todi would suffer several times after the fall of the Roman Empire.
In Roman times, the city was first declared a colony and then a municipality.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages were marked by enmity with neighboring Orvieto.
In the 8th century, the Lombard King Desiderio and Pope Paul I annexed the city to Rome. Simultaneously, the border with the then Duchy of Spoleto was established.
When Frederick I Barbarossa invaded Italy, Todi became a free city. However, there were internal struggles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, something that was the case throughout the region.
In the 12th century Todi became an independent city and began a period of great prosperity, which led to the construction of several impressive palaces on and near the Piazza del Popolo.
After a more difficult period starting in the 14th century, it was Bishop Angelo Cesi who brought prosperity back to the city in the 16th century and also financed the construction of some of Todi’s most important palaces.
In 1367, the city lost its autonomy. From then on Todi was in the hands of feudal lords, including the Malatesta, Braccio di Montone and the Sforza family, who originated from Rimini.
This was followed by a long period of decline, culminating in a plague epidemic in 1523.
After the Middle Ages
Todi became part of the Papal State. This situation lasted until the Napoleonic era.
Events and festivals
How to get to Todi by car
From Rome, take the E35 motorway to the north. At Orvieto take the exit for Todi (SS448). From Perugia take the E45 in southern direction.
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