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Umbria - a Fascinating Region of History and Culture

Umbria is located in the geographical centre of Italy, between Tuscany and Le Marche. The capital is Perugia, a city founded by the Etruscans. Umbria is the region where in a relatively confined space the visitor can enjoy the best aspects of Italian life, history and culture. Improved communications are opening up the region to new types of visitors attracted by the artistic and cultural heritage as well as the opportunities for having a second home, taking holiday breaks in peaceful country locations, or enjoying outdoor sports in attractive settings.

The hills, covered with evergreen oak, account for the traditional description of Umbria as ‘the green heart of Italy’. Between the Tiber valley and the Tuscan towns of Cortona and Arezzo there is an attractive area of wooded hills. Just west of Perugia is Lake Trasimeno, Umbria’s largest expanse of water, and scene of the battle where Hannibal and his elephants defeated the Romans in 217 BC. South of Lake Trasimeno the landscape changes, becoming gently undulating rather than hilly or mountainous and the houses are built of terracotta bricks rather than stone, which gives a different look to the countryside.

Perugia is home to the National Gallery of Umbria with a rich collection of paintings by Renaissance masters such as Duccio, Giotto, Gentile da Fabriano, Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca and Pinturicchio. Città della Pieve to the south was the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, the Umbrian painter also known as ‘Il Perugino’. In Assisi the Basilica of Saint Francis is famous for its amazing set of frescoes by Giotto.

For sports-oriented visitors, Monte Cucco above Gubbio, and Monte Vettore near Norcia, are centres for hang-gliding enthusiasts. Gubbio is home to an annual international Arab horse endurance riding event. White water rafting and kayaking are available in the Val Nerina near Spoleto, as well as skiing in winter. Country walking, bird and nature watching, and pony-trekking can be enjoyed almost everywhere in Umbria. There are also several golf courses in the region.

Umbria has plenty of good food and wine: there are truffles in the Val Nerina, as well as fresh and smoked trout. Wild boar are hunted every autumn and the meat is turned into prosciutto and sausages . Olives grow all over the region and Umbrian olive oil is prized for its low acidity and delicate flavour. Montefalco red wine and Grechetto white have a justly merited international reputation.

Alongside the genial and hospitable Umbrians there is now a sizeable population of resident and holidaying foreigners. Most have come for the countryside lifestyle and settle in old farmhouses. Many of these have now been restored to levels of comfort the previous inhabitants could only have dreamt of, mixing traditional building materials such as stone, terracotta and chestnut wood fittings with state of the art Jacuzzis and fitted kitchens. There is also no shortage of town houses and apartments in historic buildings in very attractive towns such as Città di Castello and Assisi.

About the author:

Roger Coombes is a Director of Cluttons Italy, specialist Italian Realtors and Estate Agents with particular experience of buying and selling property in Umbria.

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Check out "La volpe e l'uva" farmhouse in Italy, and 'Cook in Umbria'. Holiday apartments with swimming pool in the heart of Umbria, 4 km far from the historic centre of Perugia, hands-on cooking lessons,
wine tours, day excursions and traditional meals.

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Umbria, The Green Heart Of Italy

Umbria is often referred to as "the green heart of Italy". This expression was used for the first time from the poet Giosu? Carducci, in the ode "Alle fonti del Clitunno" (you can read the complete ode at blog.libero.it/bbumbria). 

Fonti del Clitunno are the source of a small river called Clitunno; this place was famous in roman times too, since Pliny the Younger says about them: Have you ever seen the Fonti del Clitunno? If you haven't yet, and I think you haven't otherwise you would have told me, go and visit them. 
I've just been there and I regret not to have come earlier. 

Nowdays we can say that the colour green can be used for the whole Umbria. If you reach the top of the city of Assisi, you will remain breathless: you will dominate the whole Umbrian valley, from Spoleto to Perugia, a wonderful sight! If you want a nice look over the valley, you should also go to Montefalco, which is called "the balcony of Umbria" for its enchanting position on the top of a hill that raises in the center fo the valley of Clitunno, Topino and Tiber rivers. 

Umbria has many hidden secrets: you could walk in a city and find a small beautiful church. with an old woman inside praying or water flowers, or you could be driving by car and find the rest of an ancient roman building, or find a group of old man playing cards on a table in the middle of a village. In the summer you will find many typical manifestations called "sagre". These usually last a week and offer traditional and typical umbrian food: there is the sagra della lumaca (snail) or the sagra dello strangozzo al tartufo (typical umbrian pasta with truffle), the sagra dell'oca arrosto (roasted goose) or the sagra della granocchia (frog!) or the sagra degli asparagi, the sagra della ciliegia (cherry) or the sagra della fragola (strawberry). 

You shouldn't miss the enoteche (wine shops). Often they also offer someting to accompany the wines you are tasting, or other are small restaurants, that will delight you with home made pasta or wonderful cakes. They're often family run, and it wouldn't be strange if the owner will start talking to you about the wines and will end sitting with you, talking about his family and his life. 

There are also some modern aspects in Umbria. For example Umbria Jazz is one of the most prestigious jazz festivals of the world, taking places in the old city center of Perugia in July. There are some places to do rafting and Monte Cucco is one of the best places for hang-gliding. 

This is only a general look at Umbria, next time we will describe one of the beautiful Umbrian cities. Come discover Umbria with us!

More informations about Umbria and about Montefalco on farm houses in Spoleto, Perugia

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Food Festivals in Umbria - Delicious and Fun

Umbria is in many ways the most rural of Italy’s regions. It may be less visited and less-touristed than some other parts of Italy (such as Tuscany) but there is no shortage of excitement with year-round festivals and special events. Food really matters in Umbria and festivals are held all year round celebrating the unique tastes and delights of Umbrian produce and cuisine.
A food festival is known as Sagra (plural Sagre) and the best ones are small and celebrating a single dish. You will often see brightly coloured posters advertising them by the roadside.
Here we offer a roundup of just some of the region’s year-round festivals devoted to food and wine.
Black Truffle Fair at Norcia – mid to late February
More truffles are found in Umbria than anywhere else in Italy and Umbria is especially famous for black truffles. Gourmets consider them inferior to the white variety but they are nonetheless expensive and delicious. The annual truffle fair is held in the village of Norcia in South-eastern Umbria. Norcia is also famous for its meat products including prosciutto that compares well with that of Milan.
Cantine Aperte – late May
For the so-called Open Wine Cellars some of the Umbria’s wine producers big and small throw open their cellars to visitors. In its 15th year this important event offers visitors the opportunity to taste Umbrian wines including some that the Umbrians like to keep to themselves!
Mussel Festival Citta di Castello - 3rd week of July
Tressle tables are set up outside the city walls and open-air cooking stands prepare the shellfish. At least a ton of mussels will be consumed during the festival.
Fish Fry Passignano sul Trasimeno – last Sunday of July
The festival with the biggest pan in the world offered on the scenic shores of Umbria’s largest lake. There is also a boat race.
Celebration of 'Made in Italy' – early October
This nine-day event held in Orvieto each year, celebrates the wine and gastronomic tradition of the 'Made in Italy' marque. The prestigious event has been held since 1996 when the 'Slow Food' Movement had its first big meeting in the Umbrian city. The event features conferences inside the beautiful museums and historic monuments, food tasting, art exhibitions and themed dinners.
Chestnut Festival Preggio – mid-October 
All the basement rooms of the old houses of the village open up as tiny botteghe and restaurants, featuring varied menus that include roasted chestnuts and dishes made with chestnuts. Local artisans display their crafts.
Eurochocolate – mid-October
When in Perugia you can visit the Perugina chocolate factory at any time, but in late October the whole town becomes chocolate heaven for 8 days with tastings, cookery demonstrations and other chocolate themed events. In recent years there has been a reconstruction of the Berlin wall (made of chocolate) and a chocolate trial.
Frantoi Aperti – early November
The Frantoi Aperti festival, taking place during the first weekend of November, sees the doors open to several olive oil presses around Umbria offering visitors the chance to talk to producers, see how olive oil is extracted and attend seminars and guided tastings as well as learning the secrets of a Mediterranean diet! Numerous farms and restaurants also take part in the festival by incorporating quality olive oil with traditional dishes.
Trade Fair of the Truffle Citta di Castello – end October and early November 
Celebrates the white truffle (see above for the black truffle festival!)
National Truffle Show and Market Gubbio - Last weekend of October through the 1st of November Stands are set up in the historic center of this ancient town and the famous truffle is presented in every possible fashion. Also cheeses, marmalades, honey and local liquors.

About the author:

Seb Palmer does web development, photography, marketing and sales at Palmer and Parker Villa Holidays an old-fashioned (and old) agency offering vacation rentals in Umbria, Italy

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