Trevi, or Trebe (house) Umbra,
as it was called by Pliny, soon became a Roman
municipium including the town itself as well as
the lands below towards the Via Flaminia, as testified
by the large number of architectural finds at
Santa Maria di Pietrarossa. During the Middle
Ages the inhabitants of Trevi retreated back into
the Roman fortifications (1st century BC). The
new circle of fortifications that still surround
the city today were not erected until 1264. The
valley below remained uninhabited until the 19th
century, until the land was reclaimed and a new
settlement - Borgo Trevi - developed near the
Via Flaminia. After a period spent as a Longobard
vassal under the Duchy of Spoleto, Trevi eventually
became a free city state in the late 12th century.
. In 1470 the first Umbrian printing press (the
fourth in Italy) was set up at Trevi. As from
1816 the extensive lands under the control of
Trevi, that once included Fabbri, Fratte and Santa
Luca towards Montefalco, along with Castel Ritaldi,
Picciche, San Giovanni, San Lorenzo and Cannaiola,
were drastically reduced.
The ancient village of Trevi
is nestled into one of the last spurs of Monte
Serano and it has a magnificent panoramic view.
Trevi town centre is surrounded by undulating
green olive groves which in some places reach
right up to its medieval walls. The "Passeggiata"
is a magnificent 800 m tree-lined road (close
to traffic during the summer) with spectacular
views onto the valley below. Cart tracks lead
up to an altitude of 1000 m. in 10 minutes from
where it is possible to continue for the peaks
of Monte Brunette (1425 m) and Monte Serano (1429
m) with no great difficulty. The origins of Trevi
are lost in time, paleolithic ruins in the area
tesify an earlier prehistoric civilisation. Its
importance grew in particular under Roman rule
whe the old Flaminia Way was restored. In ancient
times its territories covered vast areas of the
surrounding hills and valleys, with fertile land
around the river Clitunno and communications secured
by the Flaminia; it was also a diocese till the
end of the 11th century. Allied with Perugia against
Spoleto, it only became autonomous in 1389 after
various fights with neighbouring communes. Subsequent
dominions followed, the most disastrous being
the Trinci's of Foligno till 1438. It returned
under Perugia and Church control and then followed
the fortunes of the Papal States till the Unification
of Italy. Trevi was most prosperous in the early
Middle Ages and during the Renaissance Period.
SIGHTS TO SEE: the Church of St. Emiliano, Patron
Saint of the town. The square and tower, the focal
point of town life. The Mostaccio Arch , the original
entry gate to the ancient fortress. The ancient
Roman Walls are still perfectly preserved in via
Fantosati and in via del Fiscale.
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