Palazzo: Castle, Church and Frescoes

Discover Palazzo through its medieval military history, church art and dated cultural events. At the Castello dei Figli di Cambio, the castle’s construction to defend Assisi, visible traces of a drawbridge and a small castle church come together. There are also examples of music, an e-bike tour and regional food. For your planning, you can choose between an interest in history, active pursuits and a specific event as the reason for your visit.

Castle, Church and Art

The Castello dei Figli di Cambio was built in 1385 to defend the city of Assisi. In the last quarter of the 14th century, it took on its definitive present-day form. Traces of the old drawbridge are still visible at the castle today. The year marks its origins; its form and the drawbridge traces tell of other aspects of its construction history and former defensive role.

The historic church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, also commonly known as Chiesa della Morte, is located in the Castello dei Figli di Cambio. The small castle church preserves recently restored frescoes by Nicolò Alunno. Two different themes thus sit side by side: the drawbridge traces point to the castle’s defensive role, while the frescoes add church art to the picture. If you include cultural history in your travel plans, architecture and painting can appeal to different interests.

Music, Cycling and Event Dates

The Cambio Festival was founded in 2000 to combine a passion for music with the enhancement of Umbria’s historical and artistic heritage. On July 16, 2026, the Paolo Ricca Group performed an Italian jazz-rock session at the Castello di Palazzo di Assisi as part of the festival. This event brought together a specific musical genre and the festival’s cultural ambitions. If live music is important to your travel dates, check for suitable events during your preferred period.

The e-bike tour Discovering Mount Subasio: The Castles of Assisi was scheduled for September 5, 2026. The Castello di Palazzo was one of its stops; the event was subject to booking conditions. Palazzo di Assisi is also located at kilometer 17 on the Strada del Vino Cantico. If you are planning a cycling tour, check route conditions before setting off.

Umbrian Food and Seasonal Events

The Sagra dell’arvoltolo farcito e delle norcinerie umbre was scheduled to take place in Palazzo di Assisi from August 28 to September 6, 2026; this period has now passed. The food on offer was to include freshly prepared fried arvoltoli filled with Umbrian specialties. On December 13 and 14, 2025, traditional Christmas markets featuring crafts, food and Christmas gifts took place at the Castello Figli di Cambio in Palazzo di Assisi. The two events offered different seasonal highlights: one was in late summer, the other on two days in December. If a festival is a deciding factor for your trip, check the dates for your preferred travel year.

Planning Your Trip

A Busitalia timetable effective from January 7, 2025, lists PALAZZO_1 as a request stop on line E007 between Perugia, Petrignano and Assisi. Check the latest timetable before travelling. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can first decide whether architecture and church art, a cultural event or festival, or a cycling tour should shape your stay. These priorities raise different planning questions: the right time to travel, how to get there and route conditions. Match your travel dates and mode of transport to the activities that interest you.

Discover more destinations: Triponzo, Cerreto Di Spoleto, Monte Castello Di Vibio, Vernazzano Basso, San Luca, Saragano, Rivotorto, Pietralunga

For the overview of the wider area: Perugia.