Discover Collestrada: Borgo, Nature and History

Collestrada between Borgo and Countryside

Collestrada shows, within a compact area, how medieval settlement structures, landscapes and regional history are interconnected. The borgo of Collestrada has preserved its original medieval layout. The village lies on a small hill that forms the natural watershed between the plain crossed by the Tiber and the nearby plain of Assisi. The hill on which Collestrada stands belongs to the Natura 2000 network. For planning your trip, this makes it a destination whose character is shaped by its townscape, historical traces and natural surroundings.

Historic Centre and Notable Buildings

The historic centre of Collestrada is surrounded by 14th-century walls. The main portal of the medieval borgo has a pointed arch with travertine voussoirs; above it is the griffin emblem of the Municipality of Perugia. An impressive tree-lined avenue leads to the castle on the summit of the Collestrada hill.

Individual buildings also give the village historical depth. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta dei XII apostoli in Collestrada houses an old painting from the school of Perugino. The Oratorio della Confraternita del SS. Sacramento has a historical archive of considerable age. The Ospedalone San Francesco is a late Mannerist building of unknown authorship, constructed on the site of the San Lazzaro chapel in Collestrada. The former San Lazzaro hospital in Colle della Strada was founded around 1099 to accommodate pilgrims.

History and Festa Grossa

Collestrada is also associated with an event from 1202: during a battle in Collestrada, the later Saint Francis of Assisi was held captive for more than a year. The Festa Grossa adds a distinctive touch. It is a religious and cultural event held every five years in August, featuring an extensive programme of religious and cultural events. Its history can be traced back to 1884. Medieval traditions and a festival tradition extending into the recent past therefore meet in the village.

Nature Trail and Cycle Route to Assisi

The natural surroundings can be experienced via a nature trail that runs through the Bosco di Collestrada from the hamlet of Ferriera to the centre of Collestrada. For cycling travellers, the Perugia–Assisi cycle route begins in Collestrada at the Rifugio Enpa, at the junction with the Ciclovia del Tevere. It connects the Ciclovia del Tevere with the Ciclovia Assisi–Spoleto. The cycle route from Collestrada to Assisi is 12.8 kilometres long. The route therefore provides a clear, Collestrada-focused planning element for a cycling trip to Assisi.

Further Historical Connections in the Area

To the southeast, in the Collestrada area, lies Villa Pucci Boncambi, an 18th-century country villa at the foot of the medieval village. It is located in the Municipality of Perugia, near the border with the Municipality of Bastia Umbra. If you choose Collestrada as your base, you can therefore plan your days around various focal points: the walled borgo, the churches and historic buildings, the Natura 2000 hill, the Bosco di Collestrada and the cycle route to Assisi.

Other Places

Other places: Costacciaro, Montepennino, Tavernelle, Brufa, Nocera Umbra, Monteleone Di Spoleto, Corcia, Corciano

To the overarching travel overview: Perugia.