Bettona – one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy

An Italian municipality in the province of Perugia, Bettona is a village renowned for its history and beauty, to the point of being considered one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.

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The history of the village of Bettona

The history of this town, located on a hill that is part of the northern slopes of the Martani Mountains, is closely linked to its patron saint, Saint Crispolto, one of the first followers of Christ. Sent to Italy by the Apostle Peter and scourged by order of Emperor Maximilian, he became a Christian symbol but above all a symbol of municipal autonomy, since his body was stolen from the Abbey and brought within the walls of Bettona.

The town has Etruscan origins and was praised for its beauty by various Latin authors, including Pliny.

Monuments and places of interest

In addition to its natural beauty, Bettona is also known—despite its small size—for its numerous monuments, including:

• The Church of San Crispolto: built by Benedictine monks in the 13th century, it features a Latin-cross plan and, in the left transept, a pictorial cycle of 36 works depicting the legend of Saint Crispolto, copies made in 1797 by Stefano Notari.
• The Convent of Sant’Antonio: built between the late 1400s and early 1500s by the Observant Friars Minor, it was initially a fortification but is best known for having housed numerous paintings by Perugino, now displayed in the Municipal Art Gallery.
• The Church and Collegiate of Santa Maria Maggiore: the mother church of the territory, with origins dating back to the dawn of Christianity. Restored on several occasions, it features the Chapel of Saint Rita and several works now part of the town museum.
• The Torre del Molinaccio: located between Colle and Passaggio di Bettona, it served as an outpost during wars with Perugia to control the crossing of the Chiascio River.
• Villa del Boccaglione: built in the 18th century by the Bettonese Crispolti family, it later passed through the hands of several families. Today it belongs to the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, which has begun restoration work.
• The Museum: housed in the Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Biancalana, built starting in 1371 by order of Cardinal Albornoz, it features two sections: archaeological and pictorial.
  • The archaeological section provides evidence of the area’s origins, with Etruscan artifacts, late-Hellenistic sculptures, and Roman marbles. Among the most important pieces is a magnificent marble head of Aphrodite from the mid-Imperial age. Recent works in Piazza Cavour also uncovered an ancient monumental well dating back to the late 15th century.
  • The pictorial collection, displayed in the Municipal Art Gallery, includes around sixty works, among them the Madonna of Mercy with Saints Stephen, Jerome, and Donors by Pietro Vannucci (known as Perugino) and the Adoration of the Shepherds by Dono Doni.

Museum opening hours and tickets

The museum is open from Friday to Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm (with some daily variations).

• Full price: €7
• Reduced “A”: €5 (groups of at least 15 people and members)
• Reduced “B”: €2 (children aged 6–14)
• Free: residents and children up to 5 years old

Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy!