La Macchia - Eggi circuit

https://www-umbriatourism-it.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.umbriatourism.it/en/amp/-/amp/eggi-il-borgo-fortificato-a-due-passi-da-spoleto?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#amp_tf=Fr%C3%A5n%20%251%24s&aoh=16643741243150&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.umbriatourism.it%2Fen%2F-%2Feggi-il-borgo-fortificato-a-due-passi-da-spoleto Eggi is a fortified village a stone's throw from the Via Flaminia and Spoleto, where you can discover precious works of art Eggi is a village set among olive groves, just 2 kilometres from the Via Flaminia, and 5 km from Spoleto going towards Foligno, almost straddling the Nera and Spoletana valleys. The village, of Roman origin, has well-defined stages of construction that enable you to understand its history. The construction of the triangular castle corresponds to a first period (the 14th century). During the 15th century, the village began to develop beyond its walls, and housing was built just outside of them. Between the mid-16th century and the end of the 18th century, the village experienced a period of splendour thanks to the presence of distinguished citizens, who, with their considerable financial means, commissioned many contemporary artists to embellish the local churches. Not to be missed is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a religious building from the late 15th century, decorated with frescoes depicting the search for protection against the plague; the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista with an apse decorated between 1527 and 1532 by Giovanni di Pietro, known as Lo Spagna; and the Oratorio del Sacramento and hospital complex, with a gate to delimit its isolation, a vast area used as hospital wards, a kitchen and other service areas. The warehouse of Monte Frumentario is on the ground floor. The Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo houses interesting frescoes by the Master of Eggi, an anonymous 15th-century painter who worked in the Spoletina and Valnerina valleys, and who was identified by Federico Zeri based on the frescoes in this church. The village of Eggi is famous in Umbria for its Wild Asparagus Festival, between late April and early May, now running for 20 years. This event is well worth a visit to taste one of the traditional dishes of the Spoleto area: homemade strangozzi with asparagus sauce.

https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/web/umbria/-/church-of-san-giovanni-battista-in-eggi The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is located in Eggi, a gracious village 2 km from the Via Flaminia and 5 km from Spoleto in the direction of Foligno, almost straddling the Nera and Spoletana valleys A visit to the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is a must, with its frescoes painted between 1527 and 1532 by Giovanni di Pietro, known as Lo Spagna, with scenes of the Baptism of Christ between Saints Sebastian and Roch (in the semidome), the Madonna and Child between adoring Angels and Seraphim (in the apse), the Eternal Blessing, the Annunciation, Saints Jerome and James (on the triumphal arch). Lo Spagna (15th century) was an attentive and sensitive follower of Perugino, but also an interpreter of the new techniques of Raphael. His abundant production was particularly influential on the painters of southern Umbria, as demonstrated, among others, by the innumerable works inspired by Lo Spagna that decorate the churches and sacred buildings in Spoleto and the Nera valley. The name he is usually known by, "Lo Spagna", derives from the fact that he was probably from the Iberian peninsula. A curiosity: the Marmore Waterfalls, the town of Terni and the mountains above Cesi are present in the landscape of his Baptism. https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggi Church of S. Giovanni Battista (XVI century). The apse is decorated with frescoes by Giovanni di Pietro, known as Lo Spagna ( 1527 - 1532 ). Eggi is a fraction of the municipality of Spoleto , in the province of Perugia . The town is located on the top of a small hill (325 m asl ) in front of the mountains that separate the Valnerina from the Umbrian Valley , about 5 km north of Spoleto. It is inhabited by 481 residents (Istat data, 2001 ).

Ex-villa De 'Pazzi Morelli (19th century). Former Villa de 'Pazzi Morelli: Located at the south-western entrance of the Eggi hamlet and equipped with a chapel, it was built in the nineteenth century and has, in front of a park, a main body facing south while, the north-west side, is surrounded by warehouses and other rooms of service. Belonging to the prestigious Florentine noble family of the Counts Morelli de 'Pazzi , it is one of the most beautiful Umbrian patrician residences, today owned by the Saccone family . After being renovated it has been transformed into an elegant historic hotel residence. https://www.sentierinellafasciaolivata.it/attrattore/villa-morelli-o-dei-pazzi/ VILLA MORELLI OR "OF THE CRAZY" Built in 1787 by the Morelli counts, a family from the castle of Montesanto, a hamlet of Sellano. The family was related to the de 'Pazzi family of Florence which participated in the famous conspiracy against Lorenzo dei Medici. Hence the name. The villa complex also includes a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. The work is presumably due to Landini, a hermit architect from Monteluco, who at the end of the eighteenth century founded a school for young artists.

Oratory of the Sacrament and hospital complex (15th century). https://m.iluoghidelsilenzio.it/articolo.html?id=oratorio-del-sacramento-eggi-di-spoleto-pg Background The first news dates back to 1571, on the occasion of the pastoral visit of Pietro de Lunel; of the brotherhood there is very limited archival documentation, a statute of 1795 and three incomplete registers are known where the entries and exits from 1589 to 1742 are noted. In 1715 the hospital attached to the church and managed by the brotherhood had 4 rooms " Two to house the pilgrims and two for the use of the hospital ". The hospital closed in the same year by order of Bishop Lascaris " due to the serious inconveniences that arise in the rooms destined for the hospital annexed to the aforementioned fraternity ". Next to it there is the hospital, consisting of the house for the hospital, the gate to delimit the isolation, a large room used as a ward, a kitchen and other service rooms; on the ground floor the Monte Frumentario warehouse. External appearance The stone building has a gabled roof. It takes the light from an oculus, placed in the center of the facade, modest on the outside, is adorned with a single brick portal. Internal Inside the oratory is bare and essential, the left wall had to be entirely frescoed, traces of it emerge, including a Madonna and Child of the fifteenth century. The altar wall is decorated with a Deposition , dated 1574, attributed to an Angelucci da Mevale. On the wall behind the main altar, in an area intended as a sacristy and unfortunately not accessible, on the left the Resurrection of Christ , in the center the Christ on the Cross surrounded by the Madonna, Magdalene, San Francesco and San Giovanni Evangelista . Below, to the right and left of a small niche, there is an inscription that exalts devotion to Christ, with the date 1574, the image of ten brothers dressed in the typical sack of a company of discipline , on the right, above, the Nativity . Documentary sources NESSI-CECCARONI, From Spoleto to Trevi along the Flaminia, Spoletini Itineraries 5, Spoleto, 1979 Note The photo gallery and the text were created by Silvio Sorcini .

Church of S. Michele Arcangelo (XIV century). Resulting from several extensions, the bell tower was rebuilt in 1703 following an earthquake . Inside, by the so-called Master of Eggi (15th century), you find a number of frescoes in the Gothic style. https://m.iluoghidelsilenzio.it/articolo.html?id=chiesa-di-san-michele-eggi

The Castle (14th century) was built by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz  in the 14th century, with a triangular plan. On the top there is a double door decorated with two defense towers.

Votive building of the Madonna delle Grazie (late 15th century ). Consisting of two distinct portions, one with a trapezoidal plan and the other with a square plan, in Romanesque style. Inside are some frescoes depicting the search for protection from pestilences.