Massa Martana between the Via Flaminia and the Monti Martani

Between castle walls and the Monti Martani

Massa Martana lies on a rocky promontory at the foot of the Monti Martani. The historic centre is located within the castle walls; its well-preserved entrance gate is decorated with dressed stones and the town coat of arms. San Felice stands on the main square, whose surroundings retain the features of a fortified centre. The present church building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, while the bell tower was built in 1637.

Roman traces along the Via Flaminia

Roman history can be seen in several specific locations. The Villa San Faustino Catacomb is located in the hamlet of Grotta Traiana, in the Villa San Faustino district of the municipality of Massa Martana, near the ancient route of the Via Flaminia and the Ponte Fonnaia. The Ponte Fonnaia is a Roman road bridge with a single arch; it was built in 220 BC from dressed travertine blocks and carried the Via Flaminia over a small tributary of the Naia.

Churches, settlements and medieval heritage

Santa Maria in Pantano was built between the 7th and 8th centuries over an existing Roman structure and is considered one of the oldest and most interesting churches in Umbria. Nearby lies Vicus Martis Tudertium, an ancient Roman settlement where excavations uncovered structures and finds from the Republican and Imperial periods. Along the ancient Via Flaminia, Santa Maria della Pace is located nearby; construction began in 1521 to protect a fresco of the Madonna del Latte from the mid-15th century. San Faustino Abbey was built on a Roman settlement near Villa San Faustino within the municipality of Massa Martana. The stone castle of Villa San Faustino dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries and is associated with the lands of the Arnolfi family; a Benedictine community lived in the nearby monastery and managed the complex until the end of the 14th century.

Museums with different approaches

The town museum “Spazio Martano: Storia e Territorio” consists of three sections spread across two different visitor locations. A smartphone audio guide for Massa Martana is available in Italian, English, Spanish, French and German. The antiquarium includes an interactive multimedia area with maps, backlit information panels and touchscreens for digitally exploring archaeological sites. The Museo Italiano Presepi d'Arte displays more than forty works.

Nature trails and a specific hiking stage

The remains of the Castelliere di Monte Cerchio form circular, dry-stone rings made of limestone. They are approximately 2.8 to 3 metres thick and no more than one metre high. From Le Troscignole del Pozzachiolo, the Castelliere can be reached via a 1.6-kilometre-long, gently uphill trail. The Martani Trekking routes are equipped nature trails extending across the Monti Martani area.

Practical information

Busitalia offers direct bus connections from Perugia to Massa Martana. The tourist office organises guided tours and trekking excursions by prior arrangement. Advance booking at least two days ahead is required for the Villa San Faustino Catacomb and the Ponte Fonnaia; tours are offered in Italian and other languages.

When choosing your hotel, Massa Martana may be of interest if you would like to combine Roman and medieval cultural sites with nature trails in the Monti Martani.

Discover more places

More places for planning your trip to Italy: Compignano, Bastia Umbra, Preggio, Casalalta, Pale, Papiano, Pompagnano and Monteluco.

To the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.