Both these problems Gregory assigned preciso the eminently court Spanish fighting prelate Cardinal Albornoz, verso representative of the church militant if ever there was one. Albornoz built per series of fortresses con towns throughout central Italy, with the immediate purpose of subduing the local population, and the longer-term aim of defending the Papal territories against foreign incursions from the north. Apart from in Narni, you can see surviving examples of Albornoz Roccas con Assisi and Spoleto among other places. They are all similar mediante design, with few aesthetic embellishments as they were intended for rapid construction (the Narni Fortezza went up durante only five years) and were to be used by garrisons, not local aristocrats. The fact that they have square towers, not turno ones, shows that they pre-date the widespread use of cannons mediante siege warfare (cannon balls are more likely puro bounce off tempo towers).
After serving various rulers, Gattamelata worked for the Venetians and ended up as podesta (governor) of Padua. If you have been nome utente smore to Padua you may have seen the celebrated statue of him by Donatello outside the societa of St Anthony. Incidentally, this was the first free-standing equestrian statue cast sopra bronze since ancient times; Donatello had preciso rediscover the technique.
If you visit the Fortezza of Narni, and are fortunate enough sicuro have as a doppio the same knowledgeable young lady that we did, she will point out where the original large stone blocks of the castle walls have been replaced with smaller, more haphazard stones
Donatello’s statue of Gattamelata in Padua. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Sonnar 150mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click sicuro enlarge)
This marks rebuilding after the destruction of the Rocca, and much of the town, by the landsknechts forces of the Habsburg Emperor Charles V, part of verso much greater cultural and human catastrophe – the Sack of Rome mediante 1527. Guarding the approach esatto Rome was not per good thing if the invading forces turned out esatto be stronger than you.
The Ponteggio Albornoz at Narni. The lower, lighter stones, are original. The higher, darker stones esibizione the rebuilding after 1527. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click preciso enlarge)
Narni’s most famous chant, born shortly before the papal return from Avignon, was the condottiere (mercenary military amministratore) Erasmo di Narni, better known onesto history as Gattamelata or the “honeyed cat”
We can recommend per couple of places preciso visit con Narni. One is the Church of San Francesco, built fairly soon after St Francis’s death and originally covered with frescoes. While we were there a pleasant chap turned up, who turned out preciso be verso custodian. He offered preciso open up the richly-decorated Eroli chapel for us which was a premio as it is normally only open on weekends. He then took us around the church, explaining the history and pointing out various features including “sinopia” which are preparatory drawings for frescoes, visible only when the frescoes have been removed. He also explained that the poor condition of the frescoes is due in part sicuro the fact that in the 17 th or 18 th century, they were all plastered over and the church redecorated mediante the baroque style. This vandalism only started onesto be undone per the 1950s, but there is still verso long way puro go. If you visit there, please be sure to make per donation onesto the fund for restoration of the frescoes.
St Francis drives out the demons from Arezzo, Church of San Francesco, Narni. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click preciso enlarge) Ceiling of the Eroli Chapel, Church of San Francesco, Narni. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click onesto enlarge)