Massa Martana

Massa Martana (near the well attested ancient site of the Vicus Martis Tudertium on the Via Flaminia) is an ancient Italian town and comune in the Monti Martani mountain range in the province of Perugia (Umbria). It is 10 km N of Acquasparta, 18 km N of San Gemini and 32 km N of Narni; 14 km S of Bastardo and 27 km S of Bevagna. As of the 2003 census, the town had 3558 inhabitants.

Massa Martana
Comune
Comune di Massa Martana
Location of Massa Martana
Massa Martana
Location of Massa Martana in Italy
Massa Martana
Massa Martana (Umbria)
Coordinates: 42°47′N 12°31′E
CountryItaly
RegionUmbria
ProvincePerugia (PG)
FrazioniCastel Rinaldi, Colpetrazzo, Mezzanelli, Viepri, Montignano, Villa San Faustino
Government
 • MayorMaria Pia Bruscolotti 
Area
 • Total78.41 km2 (30.27 sq mi)
Elevation
351 m (1,152 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2017)[2]
 • Total3,741
 • Density48/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Massetani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
06056
Dialing code075
Patron saintSaint Felix
Saint day31 October
WebsiteOfficial website

It is one of the classic walled towns of central Italy, and in its main gate can be seen several ancient inscriptions, including a Roman one of some interest. The modern town has spread northwards along the road.

Territory

The territory of the commune includes three well-preserved Romanesque churches, each built in part of Roman stone in the abbeys of S. Fidenzio, of Santa Maria in Pantano and of San Faustino. The medieval abbey church of Santa Maria in Viepri was erected in the 12th century. The modern shrine at Colvalenza (6 km southwest) now draws pilgrims.

Other churches include:

  • Santa Maria della Concezione
  • Sant'Ippolito
  • San Giovanni Battista
  • Santuario della Madonna di Castelvecchio
  • San Pietro in Monte
  • Sant'Arnaldo
  • San Sebastiano
  • San Felice
  • Santa Maria della Pace
  • San Valentino
  • Sant'Ilario
  • Chiesa dell'Ascensione
  • Sant'Antonino de Castro
  • Santa Illuminata
  • San Pietro sopra le acque
  • Sant'Antonio del Busseto
  • Santa Maria delle Grazie
  • San Giovanni
  • Santa Degna
  • San Sebastiano
  • San Bernardino

Earthquake of 1997

The buildings of the walled town suffered major damage in an earthquake on May 12, 1997, a precursor of the 1997 earthquake which damaged much of Umbria, including the Basilica and city of Assisi. The Commune celebrated the completion of restoration works and the reopening of the old town in August 2006, ten years after the earthquake.

Culture

Massa Martana town has an annual ice-cream festival ("sagra del gelato") in early August each year. Similar food festivals are celebrated in summer months in a number of surrounding villages and hamlets within the commune, including Colpetrazzo and Villa San Faustino. During the Christmas period in Massa Martana is held a popular Christmas Exhibition, named "Presepi d'Italia" with Traditional Christmas Cribs and Art works: all dedicated to the Holy Nativity. The artworks are coming from all the Italian regions and are characterised by their local tradition and different culture.

(The text of this article is partly based on the article in Bill Thayer's Gazetteer of Italy, by permission.)

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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