Todi - Piazza del Popolo

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 "Piazza del Popolo" is the historic center of Todi. Seen here is the "Palazzo dei Priori" on the southern side of the Piazza. It was begun in 1293 and later enlarged. To the left are the "Palazzo del Popolo", a Lombard-Gothic construction already existing in 1213, and the "Palazzo del Capitano", built around 1293, with two distinct levels.