Clung to the hill watching the lowland stretch of the River Tiber, the town was described as the most “ascensional” one of Umbria by the travellers during the early 20th century, because of the pinnacle structure of the bell tower of the Cathedral (dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) which would represent its architectural triumph. The curvy and winding roads, the narrow areas and the staircases linking the different neighbourhoods make car passage difficult if not impossible. Therefore, you will be pleasantly forced to move in space and time at the pace of a walk, to pick up the details of a rich Old Town, still well protected and surrounded by the monumental travertine walls and the Medieval Gates: Orvietana, Perugina, Romana and Amerina (or Fratta).
Inside the fortified village, Parco della Rocca is located, the town green lung hosting St. Fortunato Temple where well-known Frà Jacopone remains are enshrined. Not far from the ancient Church, the modern Municipal Theatre, rises up. It was built and inaugurated in the late 19th century. Slightly above, climbing up via Mazzini, you can enjoy the majestic view of Piazza del Popolo, the throbbing heart of the town, framed by the wonderful Cathedral on its northern side and by the Municipal Buildings on the other sides: Palazzo del Capitano or Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo del Popolo housing the Municipal Picture Gallery, and Palazzo dei Priori where the well-known bronze eagle made by Giovanni di Gigliaccio in 1339 stands out, as the emblem of the town. Underneath the square surface area, a complex system of tunnels, cisterns and wells of different ages, commonly called “Todi underground” extends roughly five kilometres and lends the town a special look.
Finally, crossing adjacent Piazza Garibaldi and walking down Corso Cavour to then walk up via Cesia, you will discover a series of other monuments of different ages and cultures, from Roman Pagan to Catholic Medieval and Renaissance ones.
From Fountain of the Rua (or Cesia Fountain) and of the Scannabecco (13th century) to the Churches of St. Filippo (16th century), of St. Nicolò de Criptis (11th century), of St. Maria in Cammuccia (13th century, where the well-known wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, “SedesSapientiae“, is kept), of St. Carlo (13th century) and of St. Prassede (14th century), up to the still well preserved Roman Nicchioni (ruins of an ancient Basilica) and Porta Marzia, you will have no spare time to rest your sight, admiring the huge number of monuments nestled in the small Medieval village to be discovered.