Also an official ‘most beautiful village of Italy’, nearby Panicale is another perfectly preserved medieval village, well worth a visit. Enclosed by ancient walls, connected by ten towers, its narrow streets spiral up to the highest point. Here, they open onto a small piazza with a panoramic viewpoint, overlooked by the impressive stone tower of the Palazzo del Podestà. There is more superb architecture to admire in the lower streets, and paintings and frescoes to discover in the Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo and the Church of San Sebastiano.
The Caporali theatre is a key feature here too, originally built in the late 18th century but extended in the mid 1850s. At this time its wooden interior was redecorated in a rich and elegant style, creating a truly special atmosphere for performance. The theatre hosts a year round programme of plays, but also chamber music and opera events.
Panicale is also known for the handicraft of embroidery on tulle, popular here during the 19th century and revived in the 1930s. You can see many examples of this craft at the Tulle Museum within the Church of Sant’Agostino.