Todi - San Fortunato

Todi was founded by the Umbri, in the 8th-7th century BC. The settlement on top of a mountain was named "Tutere", which meant "border", as it was located on the frontier with the Etruscans` area. It was conquered by the Romans in 217 BC and changed its name to Tuder.

Christianity reached Todi very early and already in the 2nd century, a bishop resided here. The Ostrogoths took the town after a siege and in 759 the Longobards followed. After negotiations between Pope Paul I and Desiderius, the last King of the Lombards and Charlemagne´s father-in-law, Todi became incorporated into the Duchy of Rome.

In 771 Charlemagne had the marriage annulled. Soon after he attacked and defeated Desiderius, assumed the title King of the Lombards (774), and disposed of his ex-father-in-law, who lived the rest of his life in the abbey of Corbie.





The church was likely built at the site of an ancient Roman temple. The acquisition of the relics of San Fortunato made the church a site for his veneration. A Benedictine monastery became attached to the church by the 1100s.

The church was acquired by the Franciscan order in 1292 and led to the construction of the church building we see today. Only the lower portion of the was faced in polished stone; the rest remains in bare brick. Built from 1295 to 1460, the church has a Gothic central portal with richly decorated spiraling pilasters, leafy and animal details, and depictions of saints and apostles.