Città della Pieve, Medieval hilltop commune in Umbria, Italy
Città della Pieve is a commune in the province of Perugia that sits on a hill 508 meters above sea level and consists largely of reddish-brown brickwork. The compact old town clusters around the cathedral and several smaller squares, while the newer neighborhoods extend along the access roads.
The settlement emerged after the year 1000 from a fortified place called Castrum Plebis Sancti Gervasii and received its current name in 1600 from Pope Clement VIII. The town shifted several times between Umbrian and Tuscan influences before finally becoming part of the Umbria region.
The narrow alley Via Baciadonna takes its name from the tradition that residents in facing houses could touch across the street. The cathedral preserves several frescoes and panel paintings by the locally born painter Pietro Vannucci, whose workshop shaped the artistic landscape of Umbria during the 15th century.
The town sits roughly 50 kilometers southwest of Perugia on the border with Tuscany and can be reached by regional roads. The old town consists of pedestrian zones and narrow alleys, so it is advisable to park outside the center.
The Via Baciadonna ranks among the narrowest alleys in Italy and measures less than one meter wide in places. At certain points, residents can extend their arms from opposite windows and shake hands.
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