Passaggio: Art, Festivals and Umbrian Cuisine

Passaggio is an interesting destination if you would like to experience Italian culture in its various forms: in the theatre, in an old parish church, at small chapels, during festivals and at tables serving Umbrian cuisine. The plain at the foot of the hill of Bettona, historic buildings and events such as guided e-bike tours give your trip several possible focal points.

Art and Sacred Places

The inauguration of the Teatro Excelsior in Passaggio di Bettona was celebrated on 29 June 1957. The ancient parish church of Passaggio di Bettona contains a fresco by Bartolomeo della Miranda, dated to the first two decades of the 15th century. The Madonna del Ponte fresco depicts the Madonna and Child, surrounded by Saints Anthony the Abbot and Leonard. It is kept in the Bettona town library. Access to the fresco is available from May to September by appointment at 075.9885770.

The small Sant’Anna Chapel is located in the countryside surrounding the parish of Passaggio di Bettona and probably dates from between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It consists of a single room with an altar. Every year on 26 July, the faithful gather in the chapel for the Feast of Sant’Anna. The solemn procession to Madonna del Ponte also has a fixed date: on 8 September, it follows the Eucharistic celebration and passes through the streets of the town.

Villas, Abbey and Plain

The Villa del Boccaglione complex in Passaggio di Bettona includes gardens and the small SS. Annunziata Church, which has the character of a family chapel. The villa is located in Località Passaggio on the plain at the foot of the hill of Bettona. It was built in the second half of the 18th century for the Bettona family Crispolti, probably on a 16th-century building.

The Abbazia di San Crispolto monastery, founded by Benedictines, was built largely from reused materials from Roman buildings on site or in the immediate vicinity. The crypt of the Abbazia di San Crispolto della Piana consists of a single room supported by a central column with a roughly worked capital. The Abbazia di San Crispolto della Piana is a private home. Another spatial landmark is the Torre del Molinaccio: it stands between Colle and Passaggio di Bettona on the plain crossed by the Chiascio River.

Festivals, Regional Cuisine and Activities

The 2026 Fiera di San Crispolto in Passaggio included a market with agricultural products from regional and local production, as well as tastings of products from the surrounding area and the region, including short supply-chain products. The programme also included six guided e-bike tours on the Sambro, with packed lunches and advance reservation.

The Tutti in Festa festival in Passaggio di Bettona combines nightly music programmes with food stalls serving typical Umbrian cuisine. An association in Passaggio di Bettona preserves the tradition of historic peasant dishes and develops recipes for the Tuttinfesta menu. The culinary offering therefore ranges from regional products and tastings to traditional recipes and evenings celebrated together by the community.

More Destinations for Your Planning

Castel Ritaldi, Assisi, Todi, Massa Martana, Foligno, Pianello, Pian di Marte and Castiglione Della Valle

To the main travel overview: Perugia.