Todi, town and comune (township) of the Province of Perugia (Umbria) in Italy. Its population in 2003 was 16,800; it is perched on a tall two-breasted hill overlooking the east bank of the Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction.
The city's origins are essentially unknown but very likely Etruscan. Its ancient name was Tuder. Todi is surrounded by three more or less complete concentric walls: the outermost is medieval, the middle wall is Roman, and the innermost is recognizable as partly Etruscan.
Almost all its main medieval monuments — the cathedral church (Duomo), the Palazzo del Capitano, the Palazzo del Priore, and the Palazzo del Popolo — front on the main square on the lower breast of the hill: the piazza is thus one of the most picturesque in Italy and is often used as a movie set. The church of S. Fortunato and the sparse ruins of a medieval fortress (Rocca) lie on the other breast of the hill; a colossal Roman niched substructure of uncertain purpose (the Nicchioni), the slight ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, about a dozen smaller churches, and a few Renaissance or classical palazzi, among which the most important is one by Vignola, round out the sights.
Todi's most striking church, however, is on the flank of the hill: the beautifully sited domed Renaissance church of S. Maria della Consolazione, often attributed, although without sufficient reason, to Bramante.
Todi is the birthplace of the Franciscan poet Jacopone da Todi , who is buried in a special crypt in the church of S. Fortunato.
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For the Swiss mountain, see Tödi.
Last updated: 10-16-2005 06:18:05
