San Manno

This complex is at Ferro di Cavallo, 5 km from Perugia.

Ex-monastery (13th century)

This was the site of an ancient Camaldolese monastery.  It later passed to the Templars, who established a fortified monastery on the site.  In 1307, after the suppression of the Templars, the complex became the residence of the Grand Master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, whose main priory was San Luca.  It passed to the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) in 1356 and it remains in their ownership.

The adjacent farmhouse was built in the 16th century, and the mill was installed early in the 20th century.

[Describe what remains of the church.  Traces of 13th century frescoes.  Restored in 2000 by the Comunità Magnificat.] 

The crypt was adapted from an Etruscan tomb that is now known as the Ipogeo di San Manno.

Ipogeo di San Manno (3rd century BC)  

Image ourtesy of the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell'Umbria

This chamber tomb was discovered many centuries ago, and no information survives as to its original contents.  Its Etruscan provenance has sometimes been doubted because of the sophistication of the vaulting of its roof, but the inscription (see below) that was uncovered on the left wall to confirms it.  The tomb seems to have been in use from the late 3rd to the early 1st century BC. 

The tomb is in the form of a Greek cross.  The main, rectangular room is dome-vaulted and faced with travertine blocks that have been laid without mortar.  Two small vaulted chambers open symmetrically at the sides.  The original entrance was on the side opposite the stairs that now provide access. 

Inscription

An important 3-line inscription has been uncovered above the entrance to the left cell.   This reveals that the tomb belonged to the brothers Avle and Larth Precu.  Their father, Larth and their mother, from the Cestna family, are also recorded.

The tomb can be visited on request: telephone 075 5057190 (Comunità Magnificat)