Todi is a picturesque medieval mountainous town in Umbria, surrounded by medieval, Roman and Etruscan walls. Although it is a hill town, its hilltop center is flat. The central square, originally the Roman forum, has several beautiful medieval buildings. The views are very close together and there are good places to rest, enjoy the views and the atmosphere. Todi or its surrounding countryside would make a peaceful base to visit southern Umbria.
Todi Location
Todi is located in the southern part of the Umbria region, the region in central Italy. Like neighboring Tuscany, Umbria is dotted with mountain villages, but has fewer tourists than Tuscany. It is easy to visit as a day trip from nearby cities such as Spoleto (44 km), Orvieto (38 km) or Perugia (46 km). Todi is near the Tiber River with views of the Tiber Valley. See the Umbria Map on our Europe travel site for its location.
The tourist information office is located at the Palazzo dei Priori in Piazza del Popolo, right in the center of the city.
Things to do in Todi
- Piazza del Popolo , or town square, is the large central square built on Roman cisterns (open for visits). This was the site of the Roman forum. In the square, you will find the cathedral and three public buildings from the 13th century. The Palazzo del Popolo is one of the oldest public buildings in Italy, but it was restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. Palazzo dei Priori has an unusual bell tower in the shape of a trapezoid. There is a bar in the square where you can enjoy a drink.
- Palazzo del Capitano , next to Palazzo del Popolo , is a large building with elaborate windows built on a portico. It houses the Etruscan-Roman Museum and the Pinacoteca , an art museum. Museums are closed on Mondays.
- The Duomo , started in the 12th century, was built over a Roman temple. It has a prominent central rose window. Inside is a 14th-century altarpiece, frescoes, and inlaid wood choir stalls. Behind the Duomo is a Roman house with a mosaic floor. Beyond the Duomo, near the Convento delle Lucrezia , there is a great place to see. You will also see remains of Roman and pre-Roman walls here.
- Tempio di San Fortunato , in Piazza Umberto , was built in 1292 on the site of an older church. The exterior has a Gothic doorway and is decorated with sculpture and inside there are frescoes from the 13th to 14th centuries and magnificent inlaid wooden choir stalls. The crypt contains the tomb of Jacopone da Todi , a medieval poet and mystic whose statue is outside the entrance. From the bell tower, there are good views of the countryside. Next to the church there are gardens and a path that passes through the castle ruins and a good viewpoint to Santa Maria Della Consolazione .
- Santa Maria della Consolazione is below the city, near the edge of the 13th century ramparts. It is a large 16th century church with four apses and a beautiful dome, and it is one of the best Renaissance churches in central Italy.
- Santa María in Camuccia was erected in the 7th and 8th centuries and restored in the 13th century. It is in the area between the two Roman perimeter walls. Below the church there is an archaeological excavation.
- The former Iglesia de la Trinita ‘ now has a small museum.
- San Nicolo ‘de Cryptic was built in 1093 on the site of the Roman amphitheater whose remains are visible in the courtyard.
- Piazza del Mercato Vecchio , or old market, also has some Roman remains.
Todi Festivals and Events
At the end of the summer, the Todi Festival has art exhibitions and performances of theater, opera, classical and modern music, and there are “summer nights” events scheduled throughout the summer. It held in July Internazionale Mongolfieristico Grand Prix, an international competition of hot air balloons with up to 50 hot air balloons from Europe and the United States. Carnevalandia is a large carnival festival that usually takes place in February. The theater takes place at the Teatro Comunale from November to April and there is ice skating in the main square from December 1 to mid-January.
Todi Hotels and Rural Houses
The 4-star Hotel Fonte Cesia is housed in a 17th-century building in the historic center. Many rooms have views of the valley.
The Hotel Tuder is a 3-star hotel 800 meters from the historic center with parking and restaurant.
In the countryside near Todi, all with swimming pools, are the Hotel Villa Luisa farmhouse, the Tenuta di Canonica farm and the exclusive Roccafiore Hotel & Spa.
Todi Transportation
Todi can be reached by bus from Perugia. Local buses run around the perimeter and into the center. The train station, Todi Ponte Rio , is connected by bus. By car, you are on the E45, about 40 km east of the A1 motorway. There is a large paid parking lot, Porta Orvietana , below the city center with a lift to the city. The nearest airport is in Perugia for flights within Europe and the nearest large airport is Rome Fiumicino, about 130 km away.
