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 in Todi
In the Piazza del Mercato Vecchio you can see the Nicchioni Romani, niches that were probably part of a Roman basilica.
The Palazzo del Capitano has a Gothic façade. The windows are decorated with small columns. Inside the palace you can visit the art gallery and the Etruscan-Roman museum.
The Tempio di Santa Maria della Consolazione was built in the 16th century.
The Palazzo dei Priori has a magnificent 14th century tower. The building itself was constructed in 1334. Today it is the seat of the court of justice and the municipal offices.
The bronze eagle on the facade is the symbol of the city and was made by Giovanni Gigliaccio in 1339.
The Chiesa del Crocifisso
Fontana della Rua or Cesia.
Todi’s Cathedral is located in the Piazza del Popolo.
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.