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Today the Torrione is the home of the ContemporarySculpture Centre!
I knew when we arrived at CAGLI that it was a town known for craftwork in wrought iron. I also knew that it had as its landmark, an elliptical defense tower built for the Montefeltro dukes by Francesco di Giorgio Martinini, the famed Quattrocento military architect. The fortress was destroyed by Guidobaldo, the son of the Duke Federico, but this tower survived..
The Torrione was built into the City Medieval Wall. (I learned that a "semi-circular line of white stone in the present-day street pavement indicates the position of the wall which contained the moat until the end of the 18th Century and which fed the City water supply".
The rooms are "spartan". There are 5 gun-embrasures with smoke holes (these are chimneys which were used to draw away the gun smoke).
Amazingly, the oval room has a shaft where water can be drawn from the cistern six metres below. Most interestingly, beneath the 1st floor, there are 2 semicircular vaulted rooms, and from one of them, one can reach the long underground rescue passage with its secret route. The route cuts up through the hillside and into the barrack square of the Fortress above it!
The second floor room is elliptical and only has two narrow slits. A spiral staircase (built into the wall) leads to a tiny room where the draw bridge was raised (with the use of winches).
Even though I knew it was a landmark, when it appeared before me, I was taken back.
It's a dramatic oval torrione (tower) that is located to the west of the Piazza Matteotti, and it is all that still remains of the citadel that Duke Federico da Montefeltro had built at the end of the 15th century.
You have to realize that CAGLI is not a tourist town.
Updated Apr 14, 2008
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St. Mary's of the Assumption Basilica Cathedral (Duomo) was under a massive renovation because of the September 27, 1997, earthquake which caused severe structural damage. It took seven years to correct that damage. So, in April of 2004, mass was celebrated after a seven year absence.
The biggest problem for the church was the fact that the brick dome had separated from the wall. Even though the dome did not fall, it was quite dangerous; thus, the church had to close.
During those seven years, the congregation had to go to Mass at other nearby Catholic churches (there are nine located in Cagli).
The Duomo is a massive building. It literally forms one corner of the popular town piazza, directly in the center of town.
I did not go inside the Cathedral, but I was told about the earthquake and the repair and the heartache that it caused by an English-speaking local. I think that when you travel independently, you learn so much more about the towns. This is just one example; it seems so much more wonderful when you gain your information from those who have lived it.
Updated Apr 14, 2008
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I read that Cagli had a "steely medieval town hall" which had been another of Duke Federico's palaces (1463). What I did not know was that this structure was going through a major renovation. Wow! What was going on and had already gone on was fabulous.
It was called Palazzo Grande, and it faces onto the main Piazza. You can see from the photograph I took that there is a large balcony and the statue of the Madonna and Child (that was carved in Venice out of Istrian stone) which stands at the center of the main facade. Note that above the balcony is a clock.
To the right of the entrance are the ancient units of measure. The Cagli coat-of-arms can be seen at the center of the hip-vaulted ceiling in the entrance vestibule. There are symbols carved on the 15th Century stone portal, and beneath it are the carvings of the Duke of Montefeltro. (these are reminiscent of what can be seen in the Ducal Palace at Urbino).
The courtyard leads to the Palace of the Podesta which houses the Archaeological Museum and Museum of the Via Flaminia.
Photographs:
One: Picture of Cagli Town Hall that used to be Duke Federico's Palace.
Two: Picture of workman busy renovating the inside.
Three: Picture of a piece of art in the courtyard toward the back of the building. (I just love this iron sculpture!)
Four: Picture of pillars and arches inside (this portion has been renovated and has lovely shops in it.)
Five: Picture of a bakery/deli in the renovated portion. I also took this photo because the man in the jacket has CHICAGO emblazoned on the jacket. He was through and through Italian, but liked the look of his jacket, unaware of the significance, especially to us.
Both Allan and I really enjoyed the time (about 3 hours) that we spent in Cagli.
Updated Apr 14, 2008
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As one can see from the photographs, this lovely theatre opera house is magnificent. It's a late 19th century theatre with eclectic style.
The original theatre was built to replace the old Teatro delle Muse. Its inauguration happened in 1878 where the opera "The Devil's Violin"was specially written for this night.
It's good to know that the backdrops and wings of this theatre are still preserved on stage.
The foyer is covered with cross-vaulting decorated with central rosettes and supported by four marbled columns. There's lots of elaborate decorations on the boxes and the gallery. Carvings of Swans, a Harpies, and Pegasus (the flying horse from Mythology) are carved into the different tiers.
The ceiling is blue and there are many symbols there. I discovered that the wooden rosette in the center of the ceiling can be opened into two parts so that the gilted candelabra can be winched into the roof space!!
The curtain "depicts soldiers and cavaliers, page boys and dignitaries around the tent of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who in 1162 laid siege to the Guelf city of Cagli. The city can be seen in the background to the left..." (this information came from the Cumune di Cagli)
It still has its original stage machinery as well as the lighting machinery that has survived!
Today it is a civic theater and has been recently renovated.
Updated Apr 14, 2008
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I had read in Marche Voyager to "Search out the pleasing fresco of the Madonna and Child with Saints by Giovanni Santi--the angel to the left of the picture is said to be a portrait of Santi's better known son, Raphael."
That was all the information I had; thus, the search began. It was to be the church near the hospital. The only trouble was that there were two churches.
The second photograph is of the yellow sign that I discovered that announces that the church I'm looking at is SAN DOMENICO.
I go inside, and all the information is in Italian. To be safe, I take several photographs of Madonna and Child.
The first photograph is the one I was seeking: Madonna and Child with Saints by Giovanni Santi.
The Third Photograph is one such photograph. There are angels and friars besides the Mother and Child..
The fourth photograph is of a carved wooden statue of Christ in a tomb. From a distance, it looks like a real body.
The last photograph is a beautiful painting in a really elegant white carved frame.
I sure do hope that all of these photographs that I took are from the Church of San Domenico near the hospital!
Written Nov 2, 2006
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Reviews and photos of Cagli attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Cagli sightseeing.
I had read in Marche Voyager to "Search out the pleasing fresco of the Madonna and Child with Saints by Giovanni Santi--the angel to the left of the picture is...
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