NARNI (ane. Umbrian Nequinum, Rom. Narnia)  , a town and episcopal see of the province of Perugia, Italy, 65 m . N. of Rome by rail . Pop . (1901) 5200 (town), 12,773 (commune) . It is picturesquely situated on a lofty rock (787 ft. above sea-level), 48o ft. above the Nera valley, at the point where the river traverses a narrow ravine, and commands a fine view . The cathedral and the portico of S . Maria della Pensola are buildings of the 11th century with flat arches; the former has some good Renaissance sculptures . There are other interesting churches; S . Francesco has a good doorway of the 14th century . In the town hall is a " Coronation of the Virgin " by D . Ghirlandaio . The town also contains some picturesque Gothic houses and palaces .

Near the station, below the town, are factories of

india-rubber and calcium carbide . The Umbrian Nequinum was taken by the Romans after a long siege in 299 B.C., and a colony planted there against the Umbrians, taking its name from the river . It was among the twelve colonies that were punished for refusing help to Rome in 209 B.C . It was considered a suitable point to oppose a threatened march of Hasdrubal on Rome . It stood on the Via Flaminia, the great bridge of which over the river lies below the town . The original main road ran to Nuceria by Mevania; a branch by Interamna and Spoletium joined it at Forum Flaminii . According to some authors, the emperor Nerva was born at Narnia . The town is mentioned in the history of the Gothic wars . Procopius (B.G. i . 17) describes the site of the town, the river and the bridge—the latter as built by Augustus, and as having the highest arches that he knew . In the middle ages Narni was under the papal power . It was the birthplace of the well-known condottiere Erasmo Gattamelata .

See G . Eroli, Miscellanea Storica Narnese (2 vols., Narni, 1858-1862), and other

works by the same author .