Narni 469561 222666875 2008-06-30T14:48:34Z AndersBot 6986250 robot Adding: [[pms:Narni]] {{Infobox CityIT | img_coa = Narni-Stemma.png| official_name = Comune di Narni| region = [[Umbria]] | province = [[Province of Terni|Terni]] (TR) | elevation_m = 240| area_total_km2 = 197| population_as_of = [[December 31]], [[2004]]| population_total = 20212| population_density_km2 = 100| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]], [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+1 | coordinates = {{coor dm|42|31|N|12|31|E|}}| frazioni = Narni Scalo, Borgaria, Capitone, Guadamello, Gualdo, Itieli, La Cerqua, Montoro, San Faustino, San Liberato, Sant'Urbano, San Vito, Schifanoia, Taizzano, Vigne | telephone = 0744| postalcode = 05035 - 05036| gentilic = Narnesi| saint = | day = | mayor = Stefano Bigaroni (since [[May 26]], [[2002]])| website = [http://www.comune.narni.tr.it www.comune.narni.tr.it] | }} '''Narni''' is an ancient hilltown and [[comune]] of [[Umbria]] in central [[Italy]], with 20,100&nbsp;inhabitants according to the 2003 census; at altitude 240&nbsp;m (787&nbsp;ft) it overhangs a narrow gorge of the [[Nera River, Italy|Nera River]] in the [[province of Terni]]. [[Image:Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot 006.jpg|thumb|left|Bridge of Narni over the [[Nera River, Italy|Nera River]], [[Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot]], 1826.]] ==History== The area around Narni was already inhabited in the [[Paleolithic]] and [[Neolithic]] Ages, as attested by finds in some of the caves. Around the start of the first millennium the [[Osco-Umbrian]] (Ombrikoì in [[Greek language|Greek]]), a people with a language of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin that dominated the left bank of the [[Tiber]] that vertically cuts the region to the [[Adriatic sea]], settled in the area and called the town '''Nequinum'''. Records mention Nequinum as early as 600&nbsp;BC. The Romans conquered Nequinum in the 4th century BC and made it a position of force in this key point of the [[Via Flaminia]] the famous road which connected the city of [[Rome]] to the [[Adriatic Sea]] (at that time the road passed through the town descending to the right bank of the Nera to then carrying on to [[Carsulae]], [[Acquasparta]], [[Massa Martana]] and [[Spoleto]]). It supported the [[Gauls]] with the hope of freeing itself from Rome. The attempt failed and the victorious Romans changed its name to Narnia after the nearby Nar River; as in the case of [[Benevento| Benevento&nbsp;(q.v.)]], the former name was considered of ill augury: in Latin, ''nequeo'' means "I&nbsp;am unable", and ''nequitia'' means "worthlessness". In [[299 BC|299&nbsp;BC]] it became a Roman Municipality, and took the name '''Narnia'''. In [[209 BC|209&nbsp;BC]], it was destroyed by the Romans, for refusing to help pay for the war against [[Carthage]]. It was later rebuilt, and during the [[Roman Empire|Roman times]] it was an outpost for the [[Roman army]]. The [[Roman Emperor]] [[Nerva]] was born in Narnia in [[35]]. In [[Late Antiquity]] it suffered the events of the Greek-Gothic war and was plundered by [[Totila]]. Seat of a [[Lombards|Lombard]] [[gastald]] (''guastaldo''), Narni embraced the cause of [[Otho I of Saxony|Otho&nbsp;I of Saxony]] thanks to the mediation of its bishop, now Pope [[John XVII|John&nbsp;XVII]]. Narni was part of the possessions of the Countess Matilde, once more part of the Dominions of the Church in 726. From the 11th century it began to increase in wealth and power, was opposed to Pope [[Paschal II|Paschal&nbsp;II]] in 1112 and rose against Barbarossa in 1167. This insubordination cost Narni a ferocious repression imposed by the archbishop [[Christian of Mainz]], Barbarossa's Chancellor. In 1242 Narni, prevalently tied to the Guelf party, entered into an alliance with [[Perugia]] and Rome against the Empire. In the following century it was included in the reconquest of the papal patrimony by [[Gil Alvarez De Albornoz|Cardinal Albornoz]], who also had the mighty Rocca built. It was work of Ugolino di Montemarte, known as il [[Gattapone]]. He was also author of the plans for the Loggia dei Priori and the Colonnade that faces out onto the Piazza dei Priori together with the 13th‑century Palazzo del Podestà and the 14th‑century fountain. In 1373 Narni was enfeoffed to the Orsini to whom it returned in 1409. Occupied by Ladislao, [[Monarch|King]] of [[Sicily]] in the 15th century, to be soon again reabsorbed by the church, thanks to Braccio da Montone. July&nbsp;15, 1525 marked a decisive turning-point in Narni's history. The troops of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], mostly in fact the undisciplined Spanish soldiery and German mercenaries ([[Landsknecht]]en), put the city to fire and sword; it lost its ancient prosperity. Even the inhabitants of [[Terni]] took advantage of the situation to deliver their blame to give vent to their long-repressed hatred of Narni. Its reconstruction gives it a physiognomy characteristic of the cities in Papal territory. It became part of the Roman Republic in 1789. In 1831 it joined the revolt against [[Gregory XVI|Gregory&nbsp;XVI]] and was annexed to the [[unification of Italy|Italian Kingdom]] in 1860. ==Main sights== Like many of the smaller towns of Umbria, Narni is still of strikingly medieval appearance today, with stone buildings, and narrow cobblestone streets. The town is famous for the largest Roman bridge (''Ponte di [[Augustus|Augusto]]''[http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0001265]) ever built, by which the [[Via Flaminia]] crossed the Nera: about half of the bridge still stands; it is some 30&nbsp;meters high. Other sights include: *''Duomo'' (Cathedral). * [http://www.museoeroli.it Eroli Museum] with a [[Ghirlandaio]]'s [[altarpiece]]. *Church of ''Santa Maria Impensole''. *Communal Palace. *''Rocca Albornoz ''(Castle), overlooking the town, now hosting temporary exhibitions. *Romanesque church of ''Santa Pudenziana'', just outside the town. *Church of ''Sant'Agostino'', decorated with 18th century tromp-l'oeil frescoes. *Benedictine abbey of ''San Cassiano''. ==Narnia== The imaginary land of [[Narnia]], described in the works of [[C. S. Lewis]], may have been named after Narni. It has been said that he came across the name in an atlas as a child.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} ==Notable Narnians== [[Image:NervaBronzoRosso.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Bust of Nerva, [[Narni]], [[Italy]]]] *[[Nerva|Marcus Cocceius Nerva]] - Roman emperor 96-98. *[[Erasmo of Narni]], best known as "Gattamelata", a famous [[condottieri|condottiere]]. * Cardinal Berardo Eroli *[[Lucia Brocadelli of Narni|Blessed Lucy of Narnia]] ==External links == *[http://www.comune.narni.tr.it/ Official site] * [http://www.museoeroli.it/ Eroli Museum] *[http://www.narnia.it Narnia.It] *[http://www.narnisotterranea.it/ Underground Narni (Narni Sotterranea)] *[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Terni/Narni/Narni/home.html Bill Thayer's site] <BR> {{Province of Terni}} [[Category:Hilltowns in Umbria]] [[Category:Roman sites of Umbria]] [[Category:Romanesque sites of Umbria]] [[Category:castles in Italy]] [[bg:Нарни]] [[ca:Narni]] [[de:Narni]] [[es:Narni]] [[eo:Narni]] [[fr:Narni]] [[it:Narni]] [[nl:Narni]] [[ja:ナルニ]] [[nap:Narni]] [[no:Narni]] [[pms:Narni]] [[pl:Narni]] [[pt:Narni]] [[sv:Narni]] [[vo:Narni]]