If you decide to visit Todi, you must be aware that in order to enjoy it, a good dose of patience, time and even physical training is required, because of its urban, architectural and landscape wealth!
Before accessing the town, a few hundred metres from the town walls, one of the most noteworthy buildings of Todi stands out: the Tempio del Crocefisso (Crucifix Temple), South-East of Porta Romana (Roman Gate) was made monumental by Bishop Cesi in the Renaissance, the Church of St. Maria della Consolazione, South-West of the town, one of Bramante’s architectural gems and, finally, Montesanto Convent which can be reached through a tree-lined road, West of Porta Orvietana, and was built in the 16th century as a fortress to defend Todi inhabitants against the attacks by nearby Orvieto. Even more distant from the walls, approximately ten kilometres from the town, the above seven-thousand hectares of the Tiber River Park unfold. Here the Gole del Forello and di Prodo (Forello and Prodo Canyons) will gift you extraordinarily beautiful landscapes.
By crossing the first of the three well-preserved walls, you will feel like going back in time, walking along the curvy and steep alleys of an Old Town, crystallised in the Medieval shapes of the 13th century: with Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square), the heart of the town and architectural gem of Umbrian Renaissance, with the popular public palaces: del Popolo, del Capitano e dei Priori (People’s Palace, Captain’s Palace and Priors’ Palace) as monumental frame of the beautiful Cathedral, with the numerous Churches of different ages dotting the urban space, from the oldest St. Nicolò de Criptis, St. Filippo, St. Stefano and St. Giorgio to the latest St. Prassede, St. Maria in Camuccia and Sts. Filippo and Giacomo where some of the most renowned Italian artists’ works are currently shielded
If you are drawn by ancient ruins, then the Civic Museum with the Pinacoteca (Municipal Picture Gallery)and the Lapidary Museum will fulfil your expectations, as well as the Roman Nicchioni nearby Piazza Garibaldi or the Scannabecco and Cesia Fountains.
And certainly you will not get bored if you prefer staying in lines with the times by enjoying the modern shows at the Municipal Theatre or by visiting the Contemporary Art exhibitions along the town roads.