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The Walls of Castagnola

[image ALT: missingALT. It is a partial view of the medieval walls of Castagnola, Umbria (central Italy).]

Looking along the W side of town; if that tree were not in the way, on the hill to the N we'd see Gualdo Cattaneo.

The walls haven't been used for defensive purposes in many centuries, but why tear them down? They give a town cohesion and protect it against the wind.

[image ALT: missingALT. It is a view of the medieval gate of Castagnola, Umbria (central Italy).] [image ALT: missingALT. It is a view of the medieval gate of Castagnola, Umbria (central Italy).]

The gate: looking into town first, then out of town.

And to cast ourselves for a minute into a medieval frame of mind — in which this gate is not a tourist attraction, but a fortification — a message from its sponsor:

[image ALT: missingALT. It is a view of the medieval gate of Castagnola, Umbria (central Italy).]

Thruout central Umbria, eagles like this over the gates of little towns — not just any eagle, notice that it's holding a cloth in its talons — mean one thing: this town once belonged to Todi.

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Page updated: 31 Jul 05