Uppello: Valle Umbra, Churches and Sassovivo Abbey

Uppello lies on a hilltop overlooking the entire Valle Umbra. At the same time, the town is located where the Valle del Menotre and the Valle di Sassovivo meet. This location gives Uppello a clear geographical setting: From the hilltop, the view extends across the Valle Umbra, while the two valleys define the town’s geographical context. This creates a destination where landscape and historical themes exist in close proximity. When choosing accommodation in Uppello, these two focal points can provide a practical basis for planning your trip.

Landscape between Menotre and Sassovivo

A notable natural feature is the Fonte di Sassovivo, an oligomineral spring. It emerges from the bare rock inside the Grotta dell’Orso at an altitude of around 600 metres. On the ascent in the vicinity of Uppello, you encounter this spring. An ancient seven-hectare holm oak forest also extends around the nearby abbey. It forms the setting for the Passeggiata dell’Abate and its walking paths. The spring and the woodland thus create distinct landscape features.

Uppello in its historical context

The early medieval Via Plestina ran through Uppello; via a branch of the Via Flaminia, it connected Foligno with Plestia. Only sparse traces of the Castello di Uppello remain in Uppello. The Chiesa di San Venanzo originally stood outside the walls of Uppello Castle and has a stone baptismal font with wooden doors. Uppello probably played a significant role in historical events connected with the origins of the Trinci family and the history of Foligno.

The original parish church was abandoned before 1860 because of the risk of collapse. From 1860 onwards, services were temporarily held in a small chapel in the Castello di Uppello dedicated to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The Castello belonged to the family of the Counts Orfini.

Churches, art and Sassovivo Abbey

Nearby is the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo di Marano, founded by the Trinci family at the beginning of the 15th century. It contains a true-to-scale reproduction of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem from the 17th century. Also located there is the painting Martirio di San Bartolomeo: Niccolò di Liberatore began it, and his son Lattanzio completed it after his father’s death. The church, reproduction and painting provide the surrounding area with several specific points of reference in art and religious history.

The nearby Abbazia di Santa Croce di Sassovivo comprises a church, a Romanesque cloister and the Loggia del Paradiso. The abbey is located in a protected park and is one of the oldest testimonies to Benedictine presence in the Valle Spoletina. The upper cloister is considered a rare example of Romanesque architecture and sculpture from 1229. Thus, architectural history, monastic presence and the surrounding parkland come together directly at this site.

Other destinations in the same destination context

Other places in the same destination context include San Giustino, Torricella, Uncinano, Colbassano, Cerbara, Beroide, Bonsciano and Solomeo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.