Useful Information
Umbria is located in the center of Italy, and it is the only region that isn't touched by the sea. The territory is mostly made of hills and mountains.
The region is the green heart of Italy, immersed in the mountains of the Appennino, in a landscape of hills and large valleys.
This region's charm comes not only from the nature, but also from the gorgeous medieval towns.
The scenario it offers is one full of exhuberant torrents, waterfalls and sources with are born in the green woods which close around the numerous ancient towns, which have plenty of shrines, churches, towers and castles, revealing the important past of this region, initially inhabited by the Etruscans and the Umbri.
A holiday in Umbria means relax in the calm of the nature, but also a holiday dedicated to art thanks to the many masterpieces held in its centres. A visit to the most important locations starts from Assisi, with its gorgeous Duomo that attracts many religious tourists. The building was begun in 1228 and decorated by the most important artists of all times. In fact, in the last decades of the XIII century, many artists were active there such as Cimabue, painters of the Scuola Romana and disciples of Giunta Pisano. Later on, the decorations were left to Giotto and his pupils, and then by other artists such as b>Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti.
Perugia cannot be missed, with its University for foreigners, where different artworks are collected within its centre, such as the Fontana Maggiore, the Duomo, the Oratorio di San Bernardino, and the Palazzo dei Priori.
Another important town is Orvieto with its Pozzo di San Patrizio and the magnificent Duomo, started in 1290 by Frà Bevignate and ended by Lorenzo Maitani, where we can find the gorgeous cappella di S. Brizio del Signorelli.
Last but not least, Spoleto must be remembered, home of the Festival dei Due Mondi and the medieval Gubbio with its Palazzo dei Consoli.
Natural destinations are the Lago Trasimeno, fourth biggest lake in Italy, the Fonti del Clitunno, and the Cascate delle Marmore.
Gastronomy points towards the black truffle of Norcia, and a specialty of the region are the stringozzi, a type of pasta similar to spaghetti. |
