Preci

PRECI
Town of monks and surgeons

Preci is a spiritual place but also a focal point for surgical knowledge. The Abbey of St Eutizio, founded in 470 by the Syrian Saints Spes and Eutizio, was an important monastic centre in the Middle Ages. The art of surgery was initially practised by travelling surgeons who were later replaced by illustrious Precian surgeons like Durante Scacchi who operated on the cataract of the Tudor Queen Elizabeth of England. It was they who brought the specializations of ocular surgery and kidney stone removal to their peak, spreading the Precian Surgical School all over Europe. MORE DETAILES

TO VISIT Leaving the Town Hall (1) behind, you come to the church of St Mary (2) built in Romanesque style and overlooked by a tall bell tower. Further on is the little palazzetto “Comunitas Precum” palace (3) . From the Scacchi quarter (4) , you can descend to the 14th century church of St Catherine (5) Externally there is a small bell tower, decorated with stone column-bearing lions at the sides, and a 14th century Gothic portal. The Finocchioli arch (6) offers beautiful views of the Castoriana valley (7) and from here you can quickly reach Preci Borgo, the centre of the little town. At the park of Peschiera, you can see the the church of the Madonna of Peschiera (8) which, in 1598, was completely rebuilt after the Madonna appeared to a young woman. The main altar is decorated with an evocative fresco of the Madonna. The interior, with a single nave, is light and airy and has a high trussed ceiling and windows to the front and sides. To the rear is the Peschiera fountain (9) .