Foligno is a historic town built in a valley unlike other Umbrian towns. The medieval city center with the cathedral and the palace of the Trinci family has been preserved here.
The city was founded in the 8th century on the site of a Roman settlement, but no traces have survived. The period of its greatest prosperity was in the 12th and 13th centuries, when it was ruled by the Trinci family and pursued an independent policy. In later centuries, it came under the control of the Papal States, within which it remained until the unification of Italy.
As a result of damage during World War II, relatively few monuments have survived in Foligno. However, it was possible to save and rebuild the very center, which has a preserved urban layout from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is concentrated around two squares, the Republic Square and the Cathedral Square. Important buildings include the thirteenth-century cathedral and city palaces where the city authorities had their seat.
The biggest attraction of Foligno is the Trinci Palace. Built at the end of the 14th century, it represents a transition style between the Gothic and the Renaissance. Its interiors are especially valuable, with preserved frescoes from the beginning of the 15th century depicting cycles of historical and biblical stories.
