The Chronicles of Narnia

A small Umbrian town inspired CS Lewis to name the land he had invented Narnia. It is situated on a rocky hill above the coast of Nera, in the green heart of Italy.

In the Italian region of Umbria is the tiny Narni, a charming town with a long history. Like many Umbrian towns, visitors are struck by the medieval appearance of stone buildings and the atmosphere of narrow cobbled streets.

Attractions of Narni

One of the biggest tourist attractions of Narnia is the 13th-century Palazzo del Podesta . While in the town, it is also worth seeing the cathedral and the fortification erected in 1370. The town is one of the most fascinating centers of the Umbria region. It mainly attracts lovers of the architecture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era, but lovers of long walks among the greenery will also like staying there. It is quite quiet and peaceful here.

An impressive monument of Narni are the remains of one of the largest Roman bridges ever built - Ponte d'Augusto . Only a 30-meter long arch on the south side of the valley has survived to this day, but it still impresses anyone who admires this solid structure. The entire bridge was about 160 meters long.

According to the documentation for the building, the complexity of its structure, together with the number of irregularities discovered during archaeological research, suggest that the construction of the bridge was a long and difficult process. His existence was also not made easier by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes as well as intensive use. After all, the only surviving span to this day proudly testifies to the power of Roman construction.

Ancient town surroundings

Narni is a breath of the past for tourists. Beautiful buildings, majestic churches and atmospheric streets make you get to know the city slowly, automatically slowing your pace. Particularly noteworthy are the Church of Sant 'Agostino, the 12th-century Santa Maria Impensole and San Domenico with a charming chapel and frescoes inside. After a walk along the trail of monuments, you can go further and learn about other works of hands of the former inhabitants of the region.

Terni, the capital of Umbria, is approximately 13.5 km from the town. On the occasion of a trip to it, it is worth seeing Cascata delle Marmore , one of the highest waterfalls in Italy and at the same time the highest in the world, which was created by a human hand. The total height of the waterfall is 165 meters. It is the work of the ancient Romans, it is partially fed by the waters of the Velino River, and it falls into the valley of the Nera River. The water flow is regulated according to the schedule made available to visitors. Tourists try to arrive at the site just before the gates open, to see the massive masses of water migrate.

Overnight among sunflowers

If you want to get to know Narni and its surroundings and plan to travel on your own, consider staying overnight at Monti del Sole camp site . It is located about 5 km south of the town. For a place for a motorhome, you need to pay from 8 to 11 euros a day, and the cost of an adult's accommodation fluctuates around 7-10 euros.

Umbria is a very picturesque region in which to spend time with pleasure - it is sometimes referred to as the green heart of Italy for a reason. The vast majority of it is covered with forests, valleys and mountains embellishing the horizon with jagged peaks. Sunflowers stretch out across hectares of fields. Although it has no access to the sea, it is no less attractive than the more besieged neighbor of Tuscany. It's worth giving her a chance.