When we moved from the North, we were really curious to discover Umbria. Even today, when we are free from commitments, we start looking for villages to visit and recommend to our guests. There is so much here to see! Centuries of history have made this region lively and rich in treasures, both natural and architectural.
There are not only well-known destinations such as Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Gubbio, Spoleto, Lake Trasimeno, Todi and Spello, but also small villages of Etruscan, Roman or medieval origin set among the hills of the Umbrian Valtiberina : Citerna and Montone, both inserted in the Club of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina and Lisciano Niccone, near the confine with Tuscany, Pietralunga and San Giustino, more moved towards Marche. Also, worth visiting are larger fortified centres, such as Città di Castello and Umbertide , both lapped by the River Tiber.
Umbria is a land of luxuriant nature thanks to the numerous waterways; you can walk for hours following a stream, or go rafting along the tributaries of the Tiber. It is the ideal region for sports lovers: you can practice hang gliding, paragliding, mountain biking, canoeing. You can explore the caves of the Cucco mountain or go trekking in the Sibillini mountains. To move at a slower pace or look at things from another point of view, you can try a horseback ride or a hot air balloon ride. Whatever activity you choose, just look around you to admire breath-taking views.
Regional food and wine: culture also passes through the plate
After a day outdoors or wandering around villages, museums and archaeological sites, the evening is the ideal time to relax in a trattoria or in a good farmhouse. In terms of food and wine, Umbria boasts a good repertoire of specialties: extra virgin olive oil, perfect for seasoning legume soups, spelled soups and the famous lentil of Castelluccio di Norcia; black or white truffle, to be enjoyed on croutons, egg pasta or pasta made with water and flour (such as umbricelli), on meats or with eggs.
For a tasty aperitif, order a platter of cured meats produced in one of the many Umbrian butchers, or tastings of pecorino and other cheese, accompanied by jams or honey. All served with the Torta al testo, a crescia cooked on a cast iron plate (called, in fact, testo). You just have to toast with a Rosso di Montefalco or, if you prefer white wines, with a fresh glass of Grechetto.
Traditions and experiential tourism
Do you want to immerse yourself completely in the local atmosphere? Take part in one of the historical re-enactments in costume that animate the small and large Umbrian villages: the famous Festa dei Ceri in Gubbio, the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna, the Corsa all’Anello in Narni, the Giostra della Quintana in Foligno, the Calendimaggio in Assisi, the Palio delle Barche in Passignano sul Trasimeno and many other events scattered throughout the territory.
Here are some of the centres of the Umbrian Valtiberina :
- Re-enactment of the ancient Republic of Cospaia in San Giustino (June),
- Re-enactment of the Santa Spina in Montone (August)
- Palio della Mannaja in Pietralunga (August)
- Fratta dell’Ottocento in Umbertide (September)
- Palio del Campo Franco in Monte Santa Maria Tiberina (October)
- Palio delle Quattro Porte in Città di Castello (four tournaments throughout the year)
You can plan your vacation here even if you love experiential tourism. You can book guided tours in cellars and oil mills, discover new recipes with cooking and chocolate courses, learn the art of embroidery or ceramic painting, collect and choose the flowers for the Infiorate, walk one or more stages of the Cammino di Assisi. Umbria will thrill you in every season. We will be here to welcome you with suggestions and advice to make you really know it, even with proposals out of the ordinary.
