CITIES TOWNS & PLACES

SAN GIUSTINO

WHAT TO SEE

San Giustino is in the northern part of Umbria, bordering Tuscany. As most of the towns of the Upper Tiber Valley, the area of San Giustino offers both history and nature, to all the tourists who wants to have a relaxing and cultural holiday.

In the centre of San Giustino, rises the wonderful BUFALINI CASTLE. It was given to Nicolò di Manno Bufalini on 1487 and it was changed in a private and elegant villa. The internal parts were decorated with frescos by Gherardi depicting ancient Greco-roman mythological figures and furnished with ancient furniture from the Bufalini family. It was enriched with some works of art, a collection of inestimable value. The villa is in the middle of a splendid external park with a star form, gifted with a lemon-house to protect flowers and citrus trees during the winter period. The park is realized with a labyrinth of box hedges, with fountains and basin decorated with 16th Century mosaics. The villa was bought by the Italian State and it is possible to visit the two rooms frescoed by Gherardi.

The ARCHIPRIEST CHURCH of San Giustino is very old as proved by some documents of 843. This church was one of the most important churches of the tifernate diocese. The construction of a new steeple was completed in 1886, and the new church was refurbished in neo-gothic style in 1900. Inside, we can find a valuable relic of San Giustino and an interesting paleochristian crypt.

The CHURCH OF THE HOLY CRUCIFIX is situated in the old part of the town and it was built at the end of 1600. Apart from the altar dedicated to the Holy Crucifix, the Church is adorned with two other altars, one of the Carmel Confraternity and the other of the Holy Rosary Confraternity.

Not to be missed:

The ROCCOLO PUBLIC PARK, where people can relax under the shadow of pines and oaks and can refresh thanks to the several water fountains. The undergrowth is rich in mushrooms and various species of wild orchids, all protected by law to prevent extinction.

VILLA MAGHERINI GRAZIANI, in Celalba, is not far from San Giustino. It is the country house of the homonym family, built in 1616. It features a small turret, a façade designed in three different styles, a beautiful lodge on the first floor and a small Baroque Chapel. Inside the Villa, there is the interesting popular traditional costumes division of the Centre of Documentation, where people can admire images, works instruments used before 1960 in the Upper Tiber Valley, linked to the cycle of wheat in the life and breeding of domestic animals.

The little town of COSPAIA, two kilometres from San Giustino, is interesting because it still bears traces of the Cospaia Republic. This 500 metres land became independent after an error committed in 1440 by the Pontifical State and the Dukedom of Tuscany, when they were discussing their mutual borders. The people of Cospaia were the first to grow the tobacco plant in Italy.

In the Renzetti area, in Uselle, a few km from San Giustino, exists an OLD MILL, whose stone press still works by the water of the river. Visits can be booked. (+39.075.858.3023)

OUTDOOR CAFES

Moon Music- Largo Crociani, 8 - 06016 - San Giustino - Tel. (+39) 075 856195
Il Castello di San Giustino - Largo Crociani - 06016 - San Giustino - Tel. (+39) 075 8560155
Caffè Belloni - Piazza Municipio 1, 06016 San Giustino Tel. (+39) 075 8560533
Garden Bar - Via Centrale 17 - 06016 - San Giustino Tel. (+39) 075 8582214
Not to be missed: Gelateria Ghignoni, in Sansepolcro, not far from San Giustino. They have the best home-made ice cream! They also have a large outdoor area to taste their big and various ice cream!

COLLECTIONS AND MUSEUMS

BUFALINI CASTLE
Largo Cruciani, San Giustino Tel. (+39) 075/856115.
Frescos by Gherardi and furnishings of great value.

HISTORIC AND SCIENTIFIC MUSEUM OF TOBACCO
San Giustino Tel. (+39) 075-8618449.
It talks about the history of tobacco cultivation in the Upper Tiber Valley.

VILLA MAGHERINI GRAZIANI
Celalba, San Giustino.
Interesting building of 15th Century.