Bevagna is 25 km (16 mi) south-east of Perugia, 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Foligno, 7 km (4.3 mi) north-north-west of Montefalco, 16 km (9.9 mi) south of Assisi and 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of Trevi.
It has a population of c. 5,000, with the town of Bevagna proper accounting for about half of that. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]
In 310 BC the consul Fabius broke the Umbrian forces here; but otherwise it is not mentioned until the 1st century AD. In 69 the army of Vitellius awaited here the advance of Vespasian.
There are important remains of a temple near the north gate, of a theatre built into modern houses in the (misnamed) via dell'Anfiteatro, lesser remains of a second temple in the church of San Vincenzo near the east gate, mosaics belonging to midsized baths in the via Porta Guelfa, and very scanty remains of an amphitheatre at some distance from the modern town. The original walls, which have disappeared, were, according to Pliny (Hist. Nat. xxxv.173), built of unbaked bricks. The town now has a complete circuit of medieval stone walls that are said to be very near, if not identical with, the Roman walls.
The legendary account of Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds took place in a field outside Bevagna. The stone on which he allegedly stood when preaching to the birds is now in the Ciccoli Chapel of the Church of San Francesco.[4]
Primavera medievale (April): exposition of local culinary and artistic products held by the Associazione Mercato delle Gaitte.
Arte in Tavola (end of April): Spring festival with exhibitions by local artists, concerts, exhibitions of local products and dishes with tastings.
Mercato delle Gaite (June): big summer festival with medieval banquets, processions, challenges between the four gaite (quarters – those of San Giorgio, San Giovanni, San Pietro, and Santa Maria) and taverns.
