Foligno, Ancient Roman settlement in Umbria, Italy
Foligno is a commune in the province of Perugia that spreads across the Umbrian plain along the Topino river, between the Apennines and the Clitunno valley. The center features a medieval cathedral, palace facades from different centuries, and Piazza della Repubblica, where the main buildings cluster together.
The settlement became a Roman municipium after the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC and adopted the name Fulginiae from a local deity. In 1472, the Palazzo Orfini housed the printing of the first edition of Dante's Divine Comedy, a milestone in European book history.
The town takes its name from Fulginia, an Umbrian deity worshipped before Roman times. During carnival and September, the main square becomes a stage for the Quintana, a jousting event with period costumes where ten neighborhoods compete against each other.
The center can be easily explored on foot, as most sights stand near Piazza della Repubblica. Visitors interested in the surroundings will find paths along the Topino and access to nearby hills beyond the old walls.
The streets around the cathedral still carry the names of the craft guilds that once worked there in medieval times. In some alleys you will find small workshops keeping alive traditional papermaking and bookbinding techniques, a reminder of the town's printing heritage.
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