Narni is an old hilltown of Umbria in central Italy, overhanging a narrow gorge of the Nera River in Terni province.

Narni began as an Umbrian city, under the name Nequinum. There exist records mentioning Nequinum from as far back as 600 BC. It was conquered by the Romans in fourth century BC, who renamed it Narnia after the nearby Nar River. In 209 BC, it was destroyed by the Romans, for refusing to help pay for the war against Carthage. It was later rebuilt, and during the Roman times it was an outpost for the legions of Rome. The famous Via Flaminia which connected the city of Rome to the Adriatic Sea, passed through Narni.

In the Middle Ages, Narni protected the edges of the Papal States. It was plundered in 1527 by the German mercenaries (Landsknechten) in the army of Charles V.

Like many of the smaller towns of Umbria, Narni is still very medieval in appearance today, with stone buildings, and narrow cobblestone streets. The town is famous for the largest Roman bridge ever built, by which the Via Flaminia crossed the Nera: about half of it still stands; it is some 30 meters high. Another attraction is the medieval fortress, or Rocca, which overlooks the town.

The imaginary land of Narnia, described in the works of CS Lewis, was named after Narni. It has been said that he came across the name in an atlas as a child.

Notable Narnians

• Marcus Cocceius Nerva - Roman emperor 96-98 AD
• Erasmo of Narni aka "Gattamelata" - famous condottiere

External Links

• Narnia.It
• Underground Narni (Narni Sotterranea)