Things to do in Preci: what to see

Things to do in Preci: the map

The main sights fall into three areas. The historic center of Preci holds the main square, the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà and the museum of the school of surgery. The Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio lies outside the village, in the Valle Castoriana, near Piedivalle, though still in the municipality of Preci. The church of San Martino stands in the hamlet of Preci Abeto. Moving between these points therefore means a stretch of road, even if short, and not everything can be done on foot from the center.

Things to do in Preci: the main sights

The historic center. The village has kept a stately look, with noble palaces built by the many families of Preci doctors. The two entrance gates to the village still show medieval traces. The lanes lead to the main square, where the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà stands.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà. The church was founded in the 13th century by the monks of the Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio and was built together with the castle. The gabled facade has a 14th-century portal with a round arch and capitals decorated with human and plant motifs. Above the portal is an 18th-century oculus. At the far end of the left side rises the bell tower with its clock. The interior has a single nave and eight side chapels, each with its own altar. The dedicated page is Church of Santa Maria della Pietà (Preci).

The church suffered visible damage in the 2016 earthquake. In December 2022 a grant of more than €1.25 million was awarded to consolidate it and rebuild the collapsed parts. In February 2023 the work was assigned to a contractor. In 2025 the church was still a building site: check whether it is open before visiting. After the earthquake, the Vesperbild that belonged to the church was moved to the Deposito di Santo Chiodo in Spoleto. It is a stucco Pietà of Germanic origin, later restored.

Museo della Scuola Chirurgica Preciana. The museum is housed in the church of Santa Caterina, in piazza Marconi. It was opened in May 2009 by the Comune di Preci together with the University of Perugia and La Sapienza University of Rome. The exhibition presents portraits of eminent doctors and famous patients, reproductions of anatomical illustrations and display cases with the instruments used by the Preci surgeons. The museum is currently closed to the public. Other documents and instruments were displayed in the museum of the Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio, now being rebuilt.

The Preci school of surgery. The school grew out of the medical knowledge of the Syrian monks who settled in the Valle Castoriana. The surgeons of Preci specialized in removing cataracts, inguinal hernias and kidney stones. For stones, a success rate of 90% is reported. More than thirty dynasties of surgeons spread the school's fame across Europe. Durante Scacchi, a surgeon from Preci, operated on the cataract of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The anatomy of pigs, used for practice, is also linked to the birth of norcineria (pork butchery and curing).

Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio. The abbey stands where, in the 5th century, Spes and other hermits built an oratory dedicated to the Virgin, near a spring that still flows today. When Spes died, leadership of the monastery passed to Eutizio. The complex is one of the most important monuments of the Valnerina. The Romanesque facade has a double-arched portal with an inscription from 1190 on the lunette. In the sheer rock above the complex are the caves where Eutizio and Fiorenzo withdrew; the 17th-century bell tower that stood on top of the spur collapsed in the 2016 earthquake. At the old entrance you can still see the threshold worn down by pilgrims' knees. More on the page Abbey of Sant'Eutizio (Preci).

The earthquake badly damaged the abbey. Reconstruction began in December 2022, using the original stones. The facade has been almost entirely reassembled and the rose window, which had broken into more than 400 pieces, is back in place. In the spaces of the abbey museum, recent consolidation work uncovered original masonry from the late 6th century. The museum also held wooden sculptures, paintings, liturgical objects and goldsmith's work.

Chiesa di San Martino in Preci Abeto. The church, which dates from the 10th century, was significantly damaged by the earthquake. In June 2024 the restoration and seismic upgrading project was approved, with total funding of €1.3 million. The church is described on the page Church of San Martino (Preci).

Other places. The territory of Preci also includes the Collescille Tower (Preci) and the Church of Sant'Egidio. For walkers there are the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu, a waterfall, and the Sentiero Natura N10 (Nature Trail N10).

Things to do in Preci: tips for your visit

Preci can be visited in any season. Before leaving, though, it is wise to check the status of the churches, museum and abbey, because many buildings were damaged by the 2016 earthquake and are undergoing work. A weather check is useful above all for reaching the abbey and for walks.

A well-ordered visit starts from the center: the main square, the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà and the church of Santa Caterina with the museum. Then move into the Valle Castoriana toward the abbey. Anyone wanting to understand the history of the school of surgery should bear in mind that the instruments and records are split between the Preci museum and the abbey museum, whose opening should be checked before the visit.

Preci produces cured meats such as capocollo, pancetta and coppa, as well as the salami known as "coglioni di mulo". To choose what to taste and where to buy, see the page Preci local products and shops. Those staying several days will find accommodation listed in where to stay in Preci.