Cannara

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Cannara-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Cannara
name = Cannara
imag_coa_small=yes
mapx=42.9999|mapy=12.579|name=Cannara
region = Umbria
province = Perugia (PG)
elevation_m = 197
area_total_km2 = 32
population_as_of = January 1, 2005
population_total = 3880
population_density_km2 = 121
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|59.6|N|12|34.6|E|
frazioni = Collemancio
telephone =0742
postalcode = 6033
gentilic = Cannaresi
saint = St. Matthew
day = september 21
mayor = Giovanna Petrini (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.cannara.pg.it www.comune.cannara.pg.it]

Cannara is a town and comune on the Topino River in the floodplain of central Umbria, in the province of Perugia. It is located about 7 km west of Spello and 9 km north of Bevagna.

It is a low-key agricultural village: its main business is the growing of wheat and onions. Its railroad station is used for freight and does not serve passengers.

As indicated by the etymology of the name (from "canna", rushes), it is a medieval town, recent by the standards of the region, since in earlier times the site was underwater in the Lacus Clitorius that covered much of the area between Bastia Umbra and Foligno, and was only drained in the Middle Ages. At any rate Cannara is first mentioned in 1170 as "insula Cannaio" — "the island of Cannaio"; the lake had not been completely drained yet.

Main sights

Its principal monuments consist in a number of small churches, among which the most important is probably the Church of the "Buona Morte "(also known as the Church of the Stigmata of St. Francis), which may be associated with the foundation of the Third Order by St. Francis of Assisi.

In the territory of the comune, a shrine at Pian d'Arca commemorates the Miracle of the Birds of the same St. Francis; and the little hilltop town of Collemancio has two old churches and a ruined Roman settlement identified by some with Urbinum Hortense.

Local events

Cannara's main annual celebration is a "sagra" in honor of the onion: the "Festa della Cipolla". The week-long festival, featuring onion-based dining al fresco, draws over 10,000 visitors and is one of the best of the Umbrian "sagre".

External links

* [http://comune.cannara.pg.it/ Official website]
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Perugia/Cannara/Cannara/home.html Thayer's Gazetteer of Umbria]