Umbria would go almost unnoticed next to its prestigious and insolent neighbor, Tuscany, which siphons off regional tourism.
Yet the
Umbria
- authentic and somewhat secret - dazzles with its rural, mountainous and very green environment, crisscrossed by the legendary Tiber river and sprinkled with several natural parks.
So many sublime landscapes celebrated by Renaissance painters, from which emerge a few thousand-year-old small towns and old fortified hilltop towns, where time seems to have stood still in the Middle Ages.
These magnificent witnesses of a rich history - adored by the traveling writers of the 19th century - are sometimes classified as World Heritage by Unesco.
Umbria also delivers a nationally renowned terroir, much appreciated by gastronomes for its good wines, cold meats, cheeses and good food.
Andiamo velocemente
!
Perugia, the capital preserved in an authentic juice
Visiting Perugia is an essential stop on a trip to Italy.
COMUNE DI PERUGIA
To go up to Perugia, take the escalator!
Because the rich regional capital is perched on a steep rocky promontory, surrounded by ramparts and crisscrossed by narrow streets.
A curious “medieval-renaissance” atmosphere - alive and a nothing… confined - which has for its heart the magnificent
Piazza IV Novembre,
its 13th century fountain, its
Duomo
and without forgetting the
Palazzo dei Priori
(gallerianazionaledellumbria.it), which contains the richest collection of regional paintings, including masterpieces by Perugino, Raphael's master and native of the country.
It is in fact in the
chapel of
San Severo
that Raphaël painted an essential fresco… Another treasure, the
Basilica di San Pietro
, a church-museum known for its incredible collection of art.
Hôtel
Brufani (sinahotels.com)
:
5-star rooms - elegant and classic - in a 19th century building hanging on the panoramic edge of the city, with a superb spa pool under medieval vaults (piazza Italia, 12; tel: +39 075/5720210; double rooms 160 € - 560 €).
Antica Trattoria San Lorenzo
(anticatrattoriasanlorenzo)
:
a
fine modern kitchen, facing the Mediterranean.
The occasion also to taste the prestigious red wines of the Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG appellation, raised in the surroundings and counted among the most famous in Italy (piazza Danti, 19a; tel .: +39 075/5721956; menus 30 € - 120 €).
Tourist office
(turismo.comune.perugia.it)
:
corso Roma, 38;
Phone.
: +39 075/5736458.
Read also: Secret Italy: ten towns and villages far from mass tourism
Assisi, city-museum of pilgrimage
Place of pilgrimage since the 13th century, the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.
UMBRIA REGION
Entering the
Basilica of Saint Francis
(sanfrancesco.org), the great
Giotto
takes us by the hand.
Because its sublime colored frescoes - telling the life of the saint - adorn the two superimposed churches of the shining sanctuary, an intense place of pilgrimage since the 13th century.
But Assisi - nestled on a fortified rock and listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site - has many other stone treasures around its medieval alleys.
Like the
Basilica of Santa Chiara
(assisisantachiara.it), from the 13th century, which houses the giant crucifix in front of which God spoke to Saint Francis.
And without forgetting the attractive
Piazza del Comune,
where a surprising Roman temple with columns and several medieval palaces coexist.
Hotel Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum
(nunassisi.com)
:
cozy
5-star rooms with a minimalist design sublimating the architecture of this former medieval convent.
Magnificent spa in the basement, lined with Roman remains (via Eremo delle Carceri, 1a; tel: 075/8155150; double room € 265 - € 635).
Ristorante La Locanda del Cardinale
(lalocandadelcardinale.com)
:
local cuisine revisited with delicacies and served in a 16th century palace hiding Roman ruins (piazza del Vescovado, 8; tel .: 075/815245; menus € 50 - € 70 , à la carte € 50 - € 80).
Tourist office
(visit-assisi.it)
:
piazza del Comune;
Phone.
: +39 075/8138680.
Gubbio, the medieval beauty
The Feast of Candles, celebrated on May 15, is one of the great traditional Italian festivals.
MUNICIPALITY OF DI GUBBIO
The bearers of the enormous sacred candles (about 300 kg each and 7 m high) - sweaty and bawling in their white pants and colorful shirts - cut through the crowds of the steep alleys of Gubbio, in a mad race to the basilica Sant'Ubaldo, anchored at the top of Mount Ingino.
Celebrated every May 15 since the 12th century, the
Fête des Cierges
(ceri.it) sets this charming hilltop town ablaze with glorious medieval accents.
From its past power, "
Gubbio-la-Bella
" preserves a network of alleys and staircases bordered by prestigious monuments, dispatched around its magnificent
Piazza Grande,
offering a panoramic view of the plain and its small
Roman theater.
Do not miss the
Palace of the Consuls
(palazzodeiconsoli.it), epicenter of power in the 14th century, which today preserves the treasures of the city museum, in particular the famous “eugubine tables”, these precious antique bronze plaques, engraved with important texts in the Umbrian language ...
Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini
(parkhotelaicappuccini.it)
:
in the countryside near the historic center, this former 17th century monastery houses a charming 4-star hotel, hesitating between classic and modern.
Superb design spa and excellent traditional restaurant open to fantasy (via Tifernate; tel: 075/9234; double room € 130- € 470).
Ristorante Taverna del Lupo
(tavernadellupo.it)
:
fine Umbrian cuisine renowned for a long time and directly
linked
to the local terroir.
So try the porchetta, a rustic boneless suckling pig cooked on a spit, a regional specialty par excellence (via Ansidei, 21; tel .: 075/9274368; menus 25 € -55 €, à la carte 30 € - 50 €) .
Tourist office
(ilikegubbio.com)
:
via della Repubblica, 15;
Phone.
: +39 075/9220693.
Orvieto, from the cellars to the bell tower
"Orvieto Underground".
This guided tour will introduce you to an unexpected aspect of Orvieto, the underground city.
SERVIZIO TURISTICO TERRITORIALE DELL'ORVIETANO
Fascinating!
The frescoes of the Apocalypse - by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli - are
displayed
in a chapel of the
Duomo
(opsm.it) before our eyes, dazzled by so many strong and serious images, in intense colors.
A formidable masterpiece of Italian Art which inspired the great Michelangelo to decorate the Sistine Chapel in Rome!
With its facade covered with mosaics - the most beautiful church in Umbria - completed in the 15th century, dominates alleys, squares, wells, palaces, papal residences, chapels and other ancient monuments of this prestigious city built on a tuff promontory, itself. even dug out of a vast network of caves and galleries -
Orvieto Underground
(orvietounderground.it) - absolutely worth exploring!
Hotel Borgo La Chiaracia
(borgolachiaracia.it)
:
lost in the agricultural countryside 12 km from Orvieto, this cozy 5-star hotel is perfect for going green!
Beautiful, soberly contemporary rooms.
Swimming pools (outdoor and indoor) with spa.
Inventive restaurant that sublimates local products (località Borgo La Chiaracia, in
Castel Giorgio
; tel: 0763/627123; double room 190 € - 340 €).
Ristorante I Sette Consoli
(isetteconsoli.it)
: a
wonderful restaurant for girls, where the classics of the Umbrian tradition are skillfully revisited.
The pleasure of learning about local white wines from the Orvieto DOC appellation (Piazza Sant'Angelo, 1A; tel: 0763/343911; menus € 50, à la carte € 30 - € 60).
Tourist office
(liveorvieto.com)
:
piazza Duomo, 24;
Phone.
: +39 0763/341772.
Around Lake Trasimeno, "little sea of Umbria"
In the province of Perugia, we will enjoy the Regional Natural Park of Lake Trasimeno.
UMBRIA REGION
The ultimate romantic getaway!
Classified as
a natural park
(parks.it), Lago Trasimeno is one of the largest lakes in Italy, surrounded by hills covered with woods, vines and sunflowers;
where some charming fortified towns and peaceful fishing villages stand out, whose names call to indolent reverie:
Castiglione del Lago, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Magione, San Feliciano, San Savino, Panicale, Paciano
("Most Beautiful Towns of 'Italy'), etc.
And beyond the stories and legends that inhabit Trasimeno, in the distance - between water lilies and reeds - float three islands accessible by shuttle boat, stinging between swarms of rare birds.
So many exquisite landscapes - sources of inspiration for Renaissance painters and 19th century writer-travelers - which perpetuate the fantasy of eternal and romantic Italy.
Dotted with a few beaches where canoeing, kitesurfing and sailing are practiced, the shores of the lake can also be discovered on foot and by bike.
Agriturismo Verbena
(agriturismoverbena.it)
:
5 km from the lake, this
azienda agricola
producing wine and olive oil is a nugget!
Neat and classic apartments.
Outdoor swimming pool with solarium on the fields (via Paganico, località Piana, in
Castiglione del Lago
; mob .: 328/7433184; apartment 100 € - 120 €).
Ristorante L'Acquario
(ristorantelacquario.it)
:
gourmet and well-
prepared
regional cuisine, which gives pride of place to fish and eels from the lake, washed down with local wines from the Colli del Trasimeno DOC appellation (Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 69, in
Castiglione del Lago
; tel: 075/9652432; à la carte € 25 - € 45).
Tourist office
(lagotrasimeno.fr)
:
piazza Gramsci, 1, in
Castiglione del Lago
;
Phone.
: +39 075/9658294.
Hiking and good food in the Sibylline Mountains National Park
The Sibylline Mountains National Park is the ideal place for horseback riding.
UMBRIATURISM
Gastronomes on your marks!
With its 71,000 ha distributed between Umbria and the Marche region, the largest wilderness area of central Italy is bristling with mountains culminating in
Monte Vettore
(2479 m).
Carved out of deep valleys, the landscape is dominated by lush forests, a few lakes and high altitude meadows, superbly flowered in spring.
A sublime setting - enhanced by magical legends - where a host of animal species frolic;
to discover on foot, by mountain bike, on horseback, in rafting and canyoning, but also on skis and snowshoes in winter.
And so take a bite out of this wonderful sanctuary!
Because truffles and cold meats are the incomparable specialties that make
Norcia's
national reputation
,
alongside pecorino cheese, lentils from the charming agricultural village of
Castelluccio di Norcia,
trout from the generous
Nera
river
...
Palazzo Seneca - Relais & Châteaux
(palazzoseneca.com)
: An
ideal “base camp” for exploring the park, this 16th century family palace has turned into a charming 4-star hotel with classic, sober and cozy rooms.
Spa and excellent starred restaurant,
Vespasia,
whose creative cuisine sublimates the flavors of local products (via Cesare Battisti, 10/12, in
Norcia
; tel .: 0743/817434; double room 150 € - 700 €).
Info Sibylline Mountains National Park:
sibillini.net.
Spoleto, muse of artists
The charming hilltop streets of Spoleto meander between arch and Roman theater, ramparts and Roman churches.
COMUNE DI SPOLETO
Travelers, think that here nearly three millennia of history contemplate you!
A history certainly eventful, sometimes glorious, but which gives us today a rich heterogeneous heritage.
Easily accessible by escalator, the charming hilltop streets of Spoleto wind between arch and Roman theater, ramparts, Romanesque churches, monastery, massive ducal fortress and numerous palaces with elegant facades.
If the
18th century
Palazzo Collicola
(palazzocollicola.it) has been transformed into a curious museum of modern art with a grandiose setting, the
13th century
Duomo
remains the highlight of the visit, as does the
Ponte delle Torri,
aqueduct medieval period that fascinated Goethe.
Spoleto also inflamed Stendhal, the painter Turner, the filmmaker Fellini and, long before them, Renaissance artists like Michelangelo.
More than a historic city of Art - which was the capital of a French department under the First Empire -
Spoleto
shows a real bewitching soul supplement!
B & B Palazzo Sant'Angelo
(palazzosantangelospoleto.com)
:
several beautiful elegant and classic suites, in a charming 15th century palace, with panoramic garden open to the countryside of Spoleto (via Monterone, 90; mob.: 331/3392926; double room 160 €).
Ristorante Il Tempio del Gusto
(iltempiodelgusto.com)
:
tasty traditional cuisine with original flights and connected to the local terroir.
An essential good restaurant in a romantic setting (via Arco di Druso, 11; tel .: 0743/47121; à la carte € 30 - € 60).
Tourist office
(comune.spoleto.pg.it)
:
largo Ferrer, 6;
Phone.
: +39 0743/218620.
Festival dei 2 Mundi
(festivaldispoleto.com)
:
founded in 1958 by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, it is a famous festival of classical and multidisciplinary music, in which artists and personalities from the world of music, lyrical art, dance, theater, literature, cinema… Unmissable!
Convenient
Go
The
international airports
of
Florence
(aeroporto.firenze.it) and
Rome
(adr.it) are the main gateways to Umbria, connected to France by many regular and low-cost flights.
Car rental
on arrival.
Otherwise, Florence and Rome are also connected by
train
(trenitalia.com) to
Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Orvieto, Castiglione del Lago, Spoleto ...
Umbria Tourist Office
(umbriatourism.it)
.
Umbrian Wine and Olive Oil Routes
(stradevinoeolio.umbria.it)
.
Italy Tourist Office
(italia.it).
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