Narni, Umbria Region, Italy Narni is an old hilltown overhanging a narrow gorge of the Nera River, still very medieval in appearance, with stone buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. The imaginary land of Narnia, described in the works of CS Lewis, was named after Narni. It has been said that he came across the name in an atlas as a child.

Where to stay Hotels: 4-stars | 3-stars | 2-stars Agritourism | B&B Info Population: about 19,000 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 05035 -- Phone Area Code: 0744 History Narni was a town of the ancient Umbrians under the name Nequinum, and it was known already in the 7th century BC. Conquered by the Romans in the 4th century BC, was Narnia after the nearby Nar River. In 209 BC, it was destroyed by the Romans, for refusing to help pay for the war against Carthage. It was later rebuilt as an outpost for the legions of Rome along the Via Flaminia which connected the city of Rome to the Adriatic Sea. In the Middle Ages, Narni protected the edges of the Papal States. It was plundered in 1527 by the German mercenaries (Landsknechten, Lanzichenecchi in Italian) in the army of Charles V. What to see: The largest Roman bridge ever built, 30 meters high, by which the Via Flaminia crossed the Nera: about half of it still stands. The medieval fortress, or Rocca, which overlooks the town.

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