Holiday apartment in Cannara: Churches, Piandarca and Festa della cipolla

Cannara lies on the left bank of the Topino River in the centre of the Umbrian Valley. The town combines churches and art with Franciscan history, the rural landscape around Piandarca and a strong onion tradition.

Culture between church and museum

The Chiesa di San Matteo was built between 1788 and 1793 to a design by the architect Giuseppe Brizi, who came from Assisi. The church houses a painting by Niccolò di Liberatore, known by the nickname “L’Alunno”: it depicts the enthroned Madonna with the Christ Child between Saints Francis and Matthew. For those interested in culture, the range extends from the church building and the subject of the painting to the large-format mosaic in the museum.

The Tugurio di San Francesco is located in Cannara in the Palazzo Majolica Landrini on Piazza del Terz’Ordine Francescano. The Museo “Città di Cannara” is housed in the former convent of the Salesian Sisters and displays a 65-square-metre mosaic from the baths of Urvinum Hortense.

The Chiesa di San Francesco is the church of the Third Franciscan Order, which was conceived by Saint Francis precisely in Cannara. The traditional procession to Piandarca begins at this church in the historic centre of Cannara. It follows the Sentiero Storico to the memorial stone and ends at the Edicola.

Piandarca and the Sentiero Storico

Piandarca is a rural area of approximately 6,000 square metres, surrounded by cultivated fields, olive groves and rows of poplars. A small path called the “Sentiero Storico”, approximately 2.5 kilometres long, also runs near Piandarca. For planning your day, the approximate length of 2.5 kilometres provides a specific guideline for a short stretch through the countryside. Near Piandarca, the cultivated fields, olive groves and rows of poplars shape the surroundings of the path.

Onion tradition in the historic centre

Cannara also has a clearly recognisable culinary theme: the Cipolla di Cannara is recognised as a traditional Italian agri-food product (P.A.T.). Since 1981, the traditional Festa della cipolla has been held in Cannara every September.

During the Festa della cipolla, numerous food stalls in the streets and squares of Cannara’s historic centre offer tastings of Cipolla di Cannara. The onion is prepared according to a great variety of recipes. In this way, the local speciality takes on a visible role in the townscape and in the culinary discovery of Cannara during the festival.

Travel planning between culture, countryside and festivals

For travel planning, culture and countryside can be treated as different areas of focus: at approximately 2.5 kilometres, the Sentiero Storico offers a specific, short stretch of path. In September, the Festa della cipolla adds a culinary event in the historic centre to your stay; the tastings of Cipolla di Cannara remain varied thanks to the wide range of recipes.

More places to help you plan

Other destinations for your travel planning include Ponticelli, Camporeggiano, Montecchio, Passaggio, Agello, Bonsciano, Fontignano and Cerreto Di Spoleto.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.