Massa Martana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Massa Martana
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| Comune di Massa Martana | |
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| Country | Italy |
| Region | Umbria |
| Province | Perugia (PG) |
| Frazioni | Castel Rinaldi, Colpetrazzo, Mezzanelli, Viepri, Montignano, Villa San Faustino |
| Area | |
| • Total | 78.41 km2 (30.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 351 m (1,152 ft) |
| Population
(31 August 2017)
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| • Total | 3,741 |
| • Density | 47.711/km2 (123.570/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Massetani |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code |
06056
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| Dialing code | 075 |
| Patron saint | Saint Felix |
| Saint day | 31 October |
Massa Martana is an old Italian town. It is located in the Monti Martani mountains. This town is part of the province of Perugia in the Umbria region of Italy. A comune is like a local government area or a municipality in Italy.
Massa Martana is close to an ancient Roman site. This site was called Vicus Martis Tudertium and was on the old Via Flaminia road. The town is about 10 km north of Acquasparta. It is also 14 km south of Bastardo. In 2003, about 3,558 people lived there.
Massa Martana is known as one of the classic walled towns of central Italy. You can see old Roman writings in its main gate. The town has grown northwards along the main road. It is also recognized as one of "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" (The most beautiful villages of Italy).
Contents
What to See in Massa Martana?
The area around Massa Martana has many interesting old buildings. These include three Romanesque churches. Romanesque means they were built in a style common in Europe from the 6th to 10th centuries. These churches were partly built using stones from old Roman buildings.
Ancient Churches and Abbeys
You can find these churches in the abbeys of S. Fidenzio, Santa Maria in Pantano, and San Faustino. The medieval abbey church of Santa Maria in Viepri was built in the 12th century. A modern holy place called Colvalenza is also nearby. It is about 6 km southwest and many people visit it.
Other churches in the area include:
- Santa Maria della Concezione
- Sant'Ippolito
- San Giovanni Battista
- Santuario della Madonna di Castelvecchio
- San Pietro in Monte
- Sant'Arnaldo
- San Sebastiano
- San Felice
- Santa Maria della Pace
- San Valentino
- Sant'Ilario
- Chiesa dell'Ascensione
- Sant'Antonino de Castro
- Santa Illuminata
- San Pietro sopra le acque
- Sant'Antonio del Busseto
- Santa Maria delle Grazie
- San Giovanni
- Santa Degna
- San Bernardino
Earthquake Damage and Repair
The buildings inside the walled town were badly damaged. This happened during an earthquake on May 12, 1997. This earthquake was a smaller one before the bigger 1997 earthquake. The larger earthquake caused a lot of damage across Umbria. It also damaged the famous Basilica in Assisi.
Restoration of the Old Town
The town worked hard to fix the damage. In August 2006, ten years after the earthquake, they finished the repairs. The old town was then officially reopened.
Local Culture and Festivals
Massa Martana is a lively town with fun traditions. One popular event is the annual ice-cream festival. It is called "sagra del gelato" and happens every year in early August.
Summer Food Festivals
Many other villages and small towns nearby also have food festivals in the summer. These include Colpetrazzo and Villa San Faustino. These festivals celebrate local foods and traditions.
Christmas Exhibition
During the Christmas season, Massa Martana hosts a popular exhibition. It is called "Presepi d'Italia." This exhibition features traditional Christmas cribs and artworks. All the displays are about the Holy Nativity. The artworks come from different regions of Italy. They show off the local traditions and cultures of each area.
See also
In Spanish: Massa Martana para niños
