Terni
Terni is situated near the southern border of the Umbrian region, in central Italy and to the north of Rome. Originally founded as an ancient Roman town, the city has changed across the centuries. During the 19th-century it became an industrial town. Because of its great steel industries the city was heavily bombed during World War II. Today the city is deeply rooted in its past city but it is also a town where new buildings merge perfectly with the old ones
Terni promotes itself not only as the “City of Steel” but also as the "City of Lovers", as its patron saint, Saint Valentine, was born and became a bishop here. His remains are preserved in the basilica-sanctuary in his honour; and as the “City of Waters" for the abundant rivers which flow through its valley and also for the presence of the Marmore Waterfalls.
The church of Saint Francis is a medieval church in the centre of the town. It was originally built in the 13th-century. It originally comprised a single nave and a transept , it was similar in plan to the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi. The two aisles were added in 1437. The façade clearly reflects the building history of the church. Its central part preserves the original portal and rose windows. The side wings and their bifore windows date to 1437, when the aisles were added. The side portals were opened in the facade in 1532. In the 14th-century it was enlarged and the Paradisi chapel was built, which houses the frescoes by Bartolomeo di Tommaso, one of the most interesting 15th-century cycles of Umbrian art. The frescoes depict The Last Judgement with scenes of Paradise, Hell, and the seven major sins. The bell tower was built in the 16th century and is decorated with majolica tiles.
Roman and Medieval Walls
The surviving stretch of the ancient walls of Terni probably date to ca. 270 BC. These walls were of large squared blocks of travertine carefully faced and cut to Roman measures. Many of these blocks were reused and can still be seen in the long stretches of wall in the park La Passeggiata.
The walls were rebuilt in the 14th century to defend the city: this circuit was largely built on the Roman foundations, although a bit enlarged to host the medieval town.
Taxes were raised for the upkeep of the walls . The circuit had about 30 towers by the 17th century.
Gates
The Roman city had the conventional layout, with the orthogonal cardo and decumanus intersecting at the forum. There were certainly at least four gates in the Roman circuit, one of these four gates was that of Porta Sant’ Angelo.
This well-preserved gate probably stands on the site of the Roman gate that marked the west end of the decumanus maximus (now via Cavour). A series of modifications are documented in the 18th century, and further modifications occurred in the 19th century, when the area outside the walls was first developed. The gate was extensively restored after the bombing of the Second World War.