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Everchanging, untouched landscapes in the green of winding valleys make Umbria a region that will never fail to amaze. This region comprises mainly hills, mountains, hollows and plains and extends along the Tiber’s central basin.
At the heart of the boot, it is the only region with no coastline;. It includes Lake Trasimeno, central Italy’s largest lake. The area still has the remains of Etruscan settlements, particularly around Castiglione del Lago, where the loveliness of the natural landscape combines with the romanticism and stillness of the lake. Moving on from the two lakes, we come to the Cascate delle Marmore waterfalls near Terni, one of the most beautiful in Europe. The waters dive into the River Nera with a spectacular 165 metre drop, and are surrounded by lush vegetation. This is the spot sports lovers who enjoy canoeing, kayaking, and other water fun head for.
Still in the province of Terni, tourists looking to get the feel of Umbria should not miss out on two little gems: one of them is linked to history and the other to the territory. Carsulae is an ancient Roman town traversed by the ancient Via Flaminia, where important public buildings have been discovered. We can still see the remains of the S. Damiano Arch, with particularly beautiful and fascinating surroundings. The other gem, closely linked to the area’s make-up is the Dunnarobba fossil forest, a rare example of a forest that existed 3 million years ago, with very well preserved tree trunks set in a lunar landscape.
The provinces of the region are Perugia (regional capital) and Terni.
The charm of Umbria comes from the fusion between art and nature, peace and calm, which are the inspiration behind its places reminiscent of Renaissance masterpieces and the small medieval towns embedded in the hills.
Gubbio is one of these, the oldest town in Umbria that reached its full splendour in the Middle Ages; the cathedral, the Consul’s Palace, symbol of the town, and the Ducal Palace, are just some of the attractions that testify to the the town’s desire to become the jewel of Umbria. Gubbio not only attracts visitors with its art, but they come too to see with the spectacular traditional festivals of the Corsa dei Ceri (Candle Race) and the Palio Balestra (medieval crossbow contest on horseback), the former in honour of the Patron Saint and the latter in memory of its ancient past. Another of the countless charming places in Umbria is Orvieto, with its famous Duomo, one of the masterpieces of Italian Gothic art, and St. Patrick’s Well, a 62-metre-deep feat of engineering characterized by two spiral staircases that wind around the well yet never meet, with 248 steps down to the water.
Then there is Spoleto, a picturesque town that boasts a thousand years old history and still preserves the images of the past in its medieval and Renaissance architecture. Its stone lanes and its most famous monuments are the setting for International cultural events, such as the Festival of the Two Worlds, a wonderful chance to enjoy a high-quality artistic atmosphere.
Between art and spirituality, a visit to the medieval town of Assisi is essential, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing “a series of masterpieces of man ‘s creative spirit”. Everything revolves around its most renowned citizen, St. Francis, Patron Saint of Italy: from the Basilica, which is dedicated to the Saint and contains his tomb, to the hermitage (Eremo delle Carceri), a few kilometres outside the town walls, where St. Francis used to retreat in prayer.
Assisi is very welcoming and lively, and its inhabitants seem to want to share their age-old traditions with visitors; Calendimaggio, for instance, is a splendid historical commemoration that turns Assisi into an old medieval town inhabited by knights and ladies, bowmen and standard bearers that belong to a distant past.
Perugia, Umbria’s main city, dates back to antiquity, and has a higher section on the hill, from where the medieval villages spread out along the slopes. The historic centre teems with cultural and architectural masterpieces, with one of the most extensive museum collections in Italy. With its vibrant cultural centre, two universities and internationally influential expos, Perugia is a great draw for tourists wishing to enjoy its cosmopolitan feel.
Set like a gem in the heart of Italy, Umbria is perfect for those who love nature and want to discover its woods, castles, sanctuaries and, why not, Assisi and Spello, right up to the slopes of Mount Subasio, on mountain bikes. Near Terni, the Cascate delle Marmore falls attract visitors from every part of Europe, not only for the splendour of their waters but also because perfect for canoeing and kayaking, and for the child-friendly itineraries that include exciting tours through the park.
Another charming route in timeless places is that of faith and spirituality, following in the footprints of the region’s most celebrated citizens, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare and St. Benedict of Norcia. Walking along the Via Francigena of St. Francis, you will see boundless landscapes in an intimate dimension, and enjoy the company of other pilgrims at the same time. Along the way are various places to stay and to eat.
A different kind of route is the one that connects man to his homeland; the famous “wine trails” satisfy the five senses through an itinerary of nature, taste and the memory of time gone by. Besides the wine tasting, here we can find food and wine traditions as well as the old crafts, ceramics, glass and wood, small shops the typical expression of a traditional and ancient culture. Visiting oil presses will give you the opportunity to appreciate the “olive oil culture” of this region, the pride of all the farms and oil presses producing Umbrian quality olive oil.
Umbria, a small region with great tastes, satisfies all palates: the best dish for meat lovers is pork, masterfully treated by Umbrian butchers who turn the meat into delicacies like sausages, tasty hams and salami, like those of Norcia, to eat with unsalted bread to bring out the taste. The best Umbrian strong cheeses are mature pecorino sheep’s cheese and fresh or ripe goat’s milk cheese. The lentils of Castelluccio di Norcia, a tasty ingredient for soups, main courses or side dished, were awarded the PGI mark by the European Union (Protected Geographical Indication).
This rich array of dishes goes hand in hand with the genuine quality of these foods, including the truffle, the most precious of all The most common variety is the black truffle, very popular with pasta or with game, especially in the area of Norcia and Spoleto, but valuable white truffles can be found too, particularly in the Tiberina Valley, Orvieto and Gubbio. Everything is seasoned with the golden and fruity olive-oil produced in this region, which enhances any dish without covering its flavour and whose high quality level was rewarded with a PDO quality mark (Protected Designation of Origin).
For dessert, you must try the typical Umbrian cake, panpepato, and other regional desserts made with old recipes that we can still taste thanks to the skilful hands of local pastry-cooks.
Finally, Umbria is particularly suitable for wine growing and the mild climate gives this land top quality white and red wines, including, among the many well-known labels, Assisi Grechetto and Sagrantino di Montefalco.
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