Narni: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 63 - 99 Terra Umbra Hotel
 Terra Umbra Hotel is set in the green Umbria countryside between Terni and Narni, both 15 minutes´ drive away. There is a large pool with jacuzz… MoreEUR 160 - 230 Torre Palombara - Dimora Storica
 Get away from it all in Torre Palombara’s large, wooded estate and green gardens. Offering stunning views of nearby Narni, this beautiful 15th-centu… MoreEUR 56 - 95 La Rocca
 La Rocca is a converted, 18th-century farmhouse set in the countryside close to the medieval town of Narni. Take a bike from reception and explore the… MoreEUR 60 - 130 Hotel Il Minareto
 Il Minareto is situated on the outskirts of Narni, with panoramic views across the Umbrian countryside. It offers free parking and a large garden with… MoreEUR 62 - 110 Hotel Dei Priori
 Hotel dei Priori is in a medieval building on Narni´s main square. It offers free Wi-Fi, en suite rooms and breakfast served in a picturesque co… MoreEUR 60 - 115 Country House Ponte Caldaro
 Overlooking the Umbrian hills, Country House Ponte Caldaro offers free Wi-Fi, and air conditioned rooms with a flat-screen TV. The residence is 15 mi… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Narni: Guide
Narni, is an ancient hilltown and comune of Umbria in central Italy, with 20,100 inhabitants according to the 2003 census; at altitude 240 m (787 ft) it overhangs a narrow gorge of the Nera River, Italy|Nera River in the province of Terni.
History
The area around Narni was already inhabited in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages, as attested by finds in some of the caves. Around the start of the first millennium the Osco-Umbrian (Ombrikoì in Greek language|Greek), a people with a language of Indo-European languages|Indo-European origin that dominated the left bank of the Tiber that vertically cuts the region to the Adriatic sea, settled in the area and called the town Nequinum. Records mention Nequinum as early as 600 BC.
The Romans conquered Nequinum in the 4th century BC and made it a position of force in this key point of the Via Flaminia the famous road which connected the city of Rome to the Adriatic Sea (at that time the road passed through the town descending down to the right bank of the Nera to then carrying on to Carsulae, Acquasparta, Massa Martana and Spoleto). It supported the Gauls with the hope of freeing itself from Rome. The attempt failed and the victorious Romans changed its name to Narnia after the nearby Nar River; as in the case of Benevento| Benevento (q.v.), the former name was considered of ill augury: in Latin, nequeo means "I am unable", and nequitia means "worthlessness".
In 209 BC, it was destroyed by the Romans, for refusing to help pay for the war against Carthage. It was later rebuilt, and during the Roman Empire|Roman times it was an outpost for the Roman army.
The Roman Emperor Nerva was born in Narnia in 35.
In Otho I of Saxony thanks to the mediation of its bishop, now Pope John XVII|John XVII. Narni was part of the possessions of the Countess Matilde, once more part of the Dominions of the Church in 726. From the 11th century it began to increase in wealth and power, was opposed to Pope Paschal II|Paschal II in 1112 and rose against Barbarossa in 1167. This insubordination cost Narni a ferocious repression imposed by the archbishop Christian of Mainz, Barbarossa's Chancellor. In 1242 Narni, prevalently tied to the Guelf party, entered into an alliance with Perugia and Rome against the Empire.
In the following century it was included in the reconquest of the papal patrimony by Gil Alvarez De Albornoz|Cardinal Albornoz, who also had the mighty Rocca built. It was work of Ugolino di Montemarte, known as il Gattapone. He was also author of the plans for the Loggia dei Priori and the Colonnade that faces out onto the Piazza dei Priori together with the 13th‑century Palazzo del Podestà and the 14th‑century fountain.
In 1373 Narni was enfeoffed to the Orsini to whom it returned in 1409. Occupied by Ladislao, Monarch|King of Sicily in the 15th century, to be soon again reabsorbed by the church, thanks to Braccio da Montone. July 15, 1525 marked a decisive turning-point in Narni's history. The troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V, mostly in fact the undisciplined Spanish soldiery and German mercenaries (Landsknechten), put the city to fire and sword; it lost its ancient prosperity. Even the inhabitants of Terni took advantage of the situation to deliver their blame to give vent to their long-repressed hatred of Narni. Its reconstruction gives it a physiognomy characteristic of the cities in Papal territory. It became part of the Roman Republic in 1789. In 1831 it joined the revolt against Gregory XV|Gregory XV and was annexed to the unification of Italy|Italian Kingdom in 1860.
Main sights
Like many of the smaller towns of Umbria, Narni is still of strikingly medieval appearance today, with stone buildings, and narrow cobblestone streets. The town is famous for the largest Roman bridge ever built, by which the Via Flaminia crossed the Nera: about half of the bridge still stands; it is some 30 meters high. Albornoz' Rocca (Castle), overlooking the town, is another attraction, now hosting temporary exhibitions.
Narnia
The imaginary land of Narnia, described in the works of C. S. Lewis, was named after Narni. It has been said that he came across the name in an atlas as a child.
Notable Narnians
Marcus Cocceius Nerva - Roman emperor 96-98.
Erasmo of Narni, best known as "Gattamelata", a famous condottieri|condottiere.
Blessed Lucy of Narnia.
External links
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Narni". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.