Bevagna

Bevagna is a charming medieval village in Umbria, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Unlike many of the region’s hilltop towns, it lies comfortably on the plain, surrounded by historic city walls and bordered by the Timia and Teverone rivers.

Its absolute centerpiece is Piazza Filippo Silvestri, a true masterpiece of medieval asymmetry. Towering over the square are the 13th-century Palazzo dei Consoli—which houses the tiny yet elegant Teatro Torti—and two extraordinary Romanesque gems: the churches of San Michele Arcangelo and San Silvestro, which retain their austere 12th-century charm intact.

Bevagna is internationally renowned for the Mercato delle Gaite, a meticulous historical reenactment that brings the town back to life as it was in the 1300s every year at the end of June. The four historic districts (the Gaite) compete for the town’s Palio in various challenges. The must-see attraction is the Gara dei Mestieri, which features the reopening of authentic, fully operational period workshops: the “bambagina” paper mill, the silk factory, the ancient candle workshop, and the mint for coin production. It’s a total immersion in the Middle Ages, brought to life by merchants in period costume, archery contests, and historic taverns serving dishes faithfully prepared according to original medieval recipes.