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This tour begins in the heart of town,
in front of the main facade of Palazzo dei Priori in Corso
Vannucci. The lunette of the vast portal contains statues of the
city's three patron saints : Lorenzo, Ercolano and Costanzo. There
is a spacious vaulted vestibule just inside the portal and to
the right an ample staircase. The National Gallery of Umbria
(Galleria Nazionale) is housed on the second floor. It contains
numerous paintings dating from the 13th to the 19th century by
Umbrian artists who figured prominently in the history of Italian
art. These include Masolino, Pietro Vannucci, better known as
Perugino, Pinturicchio, Beato Angelico and many others.
Back outside and to the left of the portal
we find the Collegio della Mercanzia (Merchants Guild)
and the Collegio del Cambio (Bankers Guild) built into
ground floor storerooms of the Palazzo dei Priori. They bear witness
to both the importance of the "humble arts" in the commercial
life of the city and the prosperity achieved in the epoch of the
Comune. We then begin to descend Via dei Priori from its
summit. The street begins under the archway below the bell
tower in Palazzo dei Priori. After a few meters we find Via
della Gabbia on our right. The gabbia (cage) for which the street
is named recalls a grim page of medieval history when condemned
prisoners were locked in a hanging cage. To the left we have the
Sant'Agata church. Continuing down the hill we come to
Piazza Ferri, where we can admire the Baroque architecture of
San Filippo Neri.
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Still further down the street and beyond
the escalator we find the Torre degli Sciri. It is the
only antique tower which survives in its original state. The
oratory of the Confraternitą di San Francesco, another fine
example of Baroque art, is next to the tower.
We pass by Porta Trasimena on our
left and after a few paces come to San Francesco al Prato.
The Prato is one of the rare grassy squares and in good weather
it turns into a crowded gathering place. Seated comfortably on
the grass we can take in the elegantly sober architecture of San
Francesco al Prato and the lovely facade of the Oratory of
San Bernardino in a single glance. The two buildings are joined
by an arch that spans the entrance to the former Convent of
San Francesco, present day home to the Accademia delle Belle
Arti (Academy of Fine Arts) and Museum. The Museum contains
a noteworthy collection including Antonio Canova's plaster casts.
Going back up the hill along Via del Poggio
and then in Via Armonica, we walk along the Etruscan walls
to arrive in Piazza Morlacchi. Then on to Via della Stella and
climbing Via Fratti, we arrive in Piazza IV Novembre. Seated on
the Cathedral steps -another popular gathering place- we
face the north facade of Palazzo dei Priori. This facade
and the stairs leading to the Sala dei Notari were part
of the palace's original structure designed by Lorenzo Maitani.
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