Foligno, (Latin: Fulginiae, Fulginium ) an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, at 233 meters (764 ft) above sea-level, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system. It is 40 km (25 mi) SE of Perugia, 10 km (6 mi) NNW of Trevi and 6 km (4 mi) S of Spello. The 2003 census puts its population at 52,300.

Foligno is a station on the main line from Rome to Ancona, and is the junction for Perugia; it is thus an important rail center, with repair and maintenance yards for the trains of central Italy, and was subjected to severe Allied aerial bombing in World War II, responsible for its relatively modern aspect, although it retains some medieval monuments. Of its Roman past there is no significant trace.

History

Foligno seems to have been founded about the middle of the 8th century. It changed hands often during the wars of the 13th century, and was destroyed by Perugia in 1281. From 1305 to 1439 it was governed by the family of the Trinci as deputies of the Holy See, until in the latter year one of its members went against the church. Pope Eugene IV sent a force against Foligno, to which the inhabitants opened their gates, and the last of the Trinci, Corrado II, was beheaded. Henceforth Foligno belonged to the Papal States until 1860. It has suffered from several major earthquakes, among which those of 1832 and 1997.

Monuments

• Duomo (Romanesque but the interior completely reworked in the 18th century)
• church of S. Maria infra Portas, the oldest church in town, although the present edifice dates to the 11th century
• the abbey of Sassovivo, 5 km (3 mi) to the E, with cloisters of 1229 with pairs of small columns supporting arches, and Cosmatesque decorations.

External links

• Official Site
• Bill Thayer's site
• Foligno in Rete