Italy

Umbria

Region

Umbria in central Italy is the Apennine Peninsula's only landlocked region. Around 850,000 people live here; Perugia is its capital.

by Felix Gillen

Umbria in central Italy is the Apennine Peninsula's only landlocked region. Around 850,000 people live here; Perugia is its capital. The landscape shifts between hills, the Tiber Valley, Lake Trasimeno, and the mountains bordering Marche, where Monte Vettore, at 2,476 meters, is the highest peak. Numerous towns sit on hills, retaining their medieval character, including Assisi, Orvieto, Gubbio, Todi, and Spoleto.

The main destinations in Umbria are Assisi with the Basilica of San Francesco, Perugia, Orvieto with its Cathedral, and Spoleto. Many towns are accessible by train, but for mountain villages like Castelluccio, you need a car. Norcia and the Valnerina were hit by severe earthquakes in August and October 2016.

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Assisi

Assisi is on Monte Subasio's west slope, above the Umbrian Plain. It's the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare, and a major Italian pilgrimage site.

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Place 2 of 4

Orvieto

Orvieto is located in southwestern Umbria on a volcanic tuff plateau overlooking the Paglia Valley. The city dates back to an Etruscan settlement.

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Perugia

Perugia is the capital of Umbria and stretches across several hills. The city dates back to the Etruscan Phersna; a city gate and fountain from that era are preserved.

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Place 4 of 4

Spoleto

Spoleto is located in Umbria on a hillside below the Rocca Albornoziana. The city was a Roman colony and, under the Lombards, the capital of a duchy.

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Sights in Umbria

Discover the most important sights and attractions

Attraction

Cascata delle Marmore

The waterfall near Terni was created in 271 BC when Roman consul Manius Curius Dentatus had a canal built to direct the Velino's water over the rock edge into the Nera. With a total height of 165 meters, it is considered the world's highest artificial waterfall. Because the water is mostly diverted for a hydroelectric power plant, it only flows at full strength at set times; check current times in advance. Paths lead to viewpoints at the foot and at the upper edge of the falls.

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Museum

Palazzo dei Consoli, Gubbio

Gubbio is located on the lower slopes of Monte Ingino in northeastern Umbria. The Palazzo dei Consoli was built between 1332 and 1349 according to plans by Angelo da Orvieto. On the ground floor, the archaeological collection displays the Iguvine Tablets, seven ancient bronze tablets. On the summit of Monte Ingino stands the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo, destination of the Festa dei Ceri on May 15th.

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Historic Landmark

Piazza del Popolo, Todi

Todi lies on a hill above the Tiber Valley. The Piazza del Popolo, at the city's highest point, was once the Roman Forum. It is framed by the Cathedral, the Palazzo del Popolo, the Palazzo del Capitano, and the Palazzo dei Priori, which date from the 12th to 14th centuries. The Renaissance church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, built on a Greek cross plan, dates from 1508 to 1607.

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Park

The Trasimene Lake

Lake Trasimeno, at 128 sq km, is Italy's fourth-largest lake, averaging just 4-5 meters deep. On its shores lie towns like Castiglione del Lago on a peninsula, and Passignano sul Trasimeno with a port and station. Isola Maggiore has a small fishing village of about thirty residents. In June 217 BC, the Battle of Lake Trasimene occurred on its northern shore near Tuoro.

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Park

Piano Grande of Castelluccio

Castelluccio di Norcia's high plains lie around 1,350m in Monti Sibillini National Park; the village at 1,452m. Late May to early July, poppies, cornflowers, daisies bloom here; lentils are the main crop. On Oct 30, 2016, an earthquake almost completely destroyed the village. Blooming depends on weather; check beforehand.

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Attraction

Spello

The small town lies on the lower southern slope of Monte Subasio between Assisi and Foligno. Preserved are Roman city gates such as the Porta Consolare, through which the Via Flaminia ran, and the Porta Venere with two dodecagonal towers. In the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Pinturicchio painted the Cappella Baglioni from 1500. For Corpus Christi, during the Infiorata, images made of flower petals cover the streets.

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Food and Beverages

Umbrian cuisine is rustic and focuses on olive oil, legumes, pork, and truffles.

Tartufo nero

Black truffle from the Norcia region, classic with Strangozzi.

Norcineria

The word norcino for charcutier derives from Norcia, which is known for its charcuterie.

Lenticchie di Castelluccio

Lentils from the Castelluccio plateau with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), often stewed with sausages from Norcia.

Torta al testo

Flatbread, baked on the testo, a hot stone slab over embers, and filled with ham, sausage, or herbs.

Sagrantino di Montefalco

Red DOCG wine from Montefalco, dry or as a Passito. By volume, the most important DOC wine of the region is Orvieto.

Culture and History

Umbrians, Etruscans, RomansThe Tiber formed the border between Etruria and the territory of the Umbrians. Perugia was an Etruscan city on the west bank. Built in 219 BC, the Via Flaminia became the most important axis of Roman development in the region; in Spello, it passed through the Porta Consolare.Saints and Papal StatesFrancis of Assisi hailed from Assisi, and Benedict of Nursia from what is now Norcia. Until 1860, Umbria belonged to the Papal States, then it joined the Kingdom of Sardinia and in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy. Giotto in Assisi and Pinturicchio in Spello left behind significant fresco cycles here.FestivalsAmong the most famous events are the Festa dei Ceri in Gubbio on May 15th, the Infiorata in Spello for Corpus Christi, the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, and Umbria Jazz in Perugia.

On the Road in Umbria

TrainOrvieto is on the Florence–Rome railway line. The Terontola–Foligno line runs from Lake Trasimeno via Perugia and Assisi to Foligno, where it meets the Rome–Ancona line. Gubbio has no train station of its own; the closest is in Fossato di Vico.Bus and CarBusitalia operates public bus transport in large parts of Umbria. For mountain villages and the Monti Sibillini National Park, a car is practical. ZTLs are enforced in many old towns.AirportPerugia San Francesco d'Assisi Airport has direct connections within Italy and to Europe. Many travelers use Rome-Fiumicino due to the wider selection.

Round trips through this region

Tuscany & Umbria Classic

From Florence, via Siena and Montepulciano on the edge of Val d'Orcia, to Umbria and the old towns of Perugia and Assisi. Stages rarely exceed an hour's drive. In the old towns, ZTLs apply; park outside.

11 Days

5 stops

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