Todi: mith and history
American researchers have described Todi as one of the “most liveable towns” in the world. It is a place, which preserves real urban integrity, because it retains the features and characters of diverse historical periods in the face of passing time.
Todi was founded in 2707 B.C. by the Italic tribe of Veii Umbri, led by Tudero. According to legend, the new colony came along with a miracle. One night the new conquerors were eating their meat, which was placed on a red cloth, when, suddenly an eagle descended and seized the cloth with its talons. Soon after, the predator, proudly clasping its prize, flew away, high on to the top of the hill.
This was interpreted as a divine sign: the new town was built exactly where the eagle had shown and this was the origin of Tudere, Tudero's fortress. The insignia of Todi depicts the myth: an eagle holding the legendary red cloth. Later, the city was dedicated to Mars and changed its name to "Marzia". A statue of Mars bears witness to this fact. It was discovered in 1837 near Todi and is currently kept in the Vatican Museums.
The subsequent absorption into Etrurian territory decreed a semantic shift from Tudere to Tutere, meaning "border" and so described its key role as landmark of the Tuscan territory on the left side of river Tiber. In time the town became a main battlefield for Etrurians and Romans, until the emperor Octavius Augustus (1st century AD) handed over Tutere to his veterans: they gradually expelled the Etrurians from their new land. The Romans' rule is still evident in many of Todi's architectural features, for example the gates of Libera, Catena and Aurea, the theatre and amphitheatre, the temples of Jupiter, Mars and Minerva, the Forum with its niches and vaulted ceilings in travertine stone.
During the advance of Christianity in the middle ages, Todi became Catholic. After Charlemagne's victory over the Longobards, who had sacked the city, the feudal system flourished in Todi and sparked urban activity.
The turn of the century brought Todi into the Commune Period and during the wars against Orvieto and Spoleto the town duly expanded its boundaries.
During the 13th century the development and growth of the urban structure saw the erection of new buildings and palaces which bear witness to a glorious tradition and past.
The Piazza del Popolo, one of Italy 's most beautiful mediaeval squares, was built at the top of Todi. Beautiful buildings such as the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo flank each side. This palace, built in 1291, features a lofty loggia supported by a central pillar on ground level, whilst Gothic windows determine the character of the first floor. It is connected by a single flight of steps with the next door Palazzo del Podestà or Palazzo del Popolo, one of the oldest buildings of its kind.
Built between 1214 and 1228, the first floor now houses the Lapidarian Museum , whilst the later third floor accommodates the Municipal Pinacotheca and the Roman-Etrurian Museum.
The construction of the gorgeous Cathedral of Santa Annunziata was built by the “maestri comancini” on the ruins an ancient pagan temple. The facade is divided into three sections. The Cathedral has the shape of a latin cross, typical of the 11th century and featuring three naves. The painted crucifix dating back to the 13 th century and made by artists of the Umbrian school is exceptional.
In 1292, building started on San Fortunato's church, a homage to the patron saint and bishop of the city. The Franciscan order heavily subsidised the work. Work was suspended in 1348, the year of the devastating plague. It was not resumed until 1408 and the church was finally finished in 1464, the facade not complete due to the architect's death. The church is in late Italian gothic style and in its crypt Jacopone's relics are preserved. Not far from here there are the prisons of San Cassiano, first a Roman cistern, later a Christian oratory and the first cradle of San Fortunato's relics
Decades of political and military decline during the whole of the 16th century were mainly due to internal strife and led to successive families assuming power in Todi, the most significant of which was the clan of the Atti. Todi then became part of the Papal State . Apart from a short spell under Napoleonic rule, Todi was governed by the Pope until the Italian unification.
The 16 th century saw the construction of Santa Maria della Consolazione, probably based on original plans by Bramante. The large cathedral is just outside Todi's mediaeval walls.
Todi has no less than five patron saints: St. Fortunato, St.Callisto, St.Cassiano, St.Degna and St.Romana, all of whose relics are buried in the church of St. Crocifisso , dating to 1591-1595.
Last, but not least, we should point you to the Municipal Library, which looks after a great cultural heritage in the form of 246 manuscripts from the 10 th and the 11 th centuries, 1517 from the 15 th century and 66 “incunabulae”.
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