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Umbria Attractions & Landmarks Guide
What is Umbria known for?
This region of Italy is mainly famous for its agricultural characteristics, stunning landscape, various historical and artistic legacies, traditions, culture, and delicious cuisine. The place has been blessed with stunning natural beauty that is dominated by the dense and beautiful forests and rolling valleys with changing colors with the changing seasons.
You may enjoy various activities like trekking, hiking, free climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, caving, etc. The wine estates, as well as the vineyards, offer wine tasting tours of the local varieties. The delicious Umbrian food, paired with popular local red wine is another specialty of the region.
Where is Umbria
Also known as The Green heart of Italy, the beautiful, full of greenery region is located in central Italy, between Florence and Rome. Perugia is the provincial capital and also the largest city of the region, located at the heart of Umbria. Umbria is unique from other regions of Italy in that it is the only region without any large city, a border with other country or a coastline.
Maybe that is why it has failed to gain the attention of the world like its surrounding regions despite its various attractive locations. This, however, is an advantage for those who want to go to the region, as they won't have to face huge tourist crowds.
How far is Umbria from Rome?
The distance between the region of Umbria and Rome is about 118 km or 73 miles that can take about 2 hours and 15 minutes in total. There are four easy and economical ways to travel between the cities. The distance between the central city of Umbria, Perugia, and Rome is about 136 km or 85 miles. As the Umbria region is landlocked, you can travel between the cities by train, car, or airplane.
Top attractions in Umbria
Though landlocked area the Green Heart of Italy has many attractive spots that are worth visiting with a rich history, rolling hills and fertile landscape. The beautiful cities of the Umbria region will keep you engaged for numerous days and you will not want to go back.
1. Perugia
The huge regional capital of Umbria has modern outskirts as well as a medieval historical center. The historical center is built on the cliff top and is well-maintained with its medieval charm. Those who love art must pay a visit to the Palazzo dei Prior. The beautiful building of Galleria Nazionale dell'umbria has a magnificent gallery of medieval and renaissance art of Umbria.
Other important places include Piazza IV Novembre, San Lorenzo Cathedral and Basilica of San Domenico with various valuable works and statues made by local artists. If you are going to visit the beautiful city in summer, plan it in July to witness the world-famous Umbria Jazz festival.
2. Assisi
This mystic town is mainly famous because of San Francesco, who was born in 1181 at this place. Being one of the Unesco World Heritage sites makes this place even more popular among tourists. The ancient streets with stunning white stones will cast a magical spell. The stunning views of the valley from the mount Subasio slope of Assisi become more astonishing at the time of sunset.
Basilica di San Francesco is one of the most famous points, where San Francesco was buried. The other side of the town features Assisi Duomo with its Romanesque facade, which is dedicated to San Ruffino, another famous saint.
3. Spello
Situated among the foothills of Mount Subasio this magnificent walled town is special due to its narrow valleys, century-old buildings made of white stone and the small-town charm with a peaceful atmosphere. Spread above the Spoleto Valley, the place does not have many monuments to visit except the Santa Maria Maggiore church and Porta Venere.
Summertime gives the place a uniquely colorful touch as the streets and houses are filled with multicolored floral displays by the residents. The most famous activity of this city is the Infiorate tradition. The Christians on the day of Corpus Christi cover the streets with beautiful flowers with creative artworks. The decorations last till the end of a religious procession.
4. Todi
One of the prettiest towns of Umbria, the place will make you feel like walking through some fairy tale. Not very popular among tourists, this place offers a peaceful atmosphere with delicious local cuisine accompanied by dry white wine.
Roam about in the narrow cobbled streets of the hilly terrain while taking in the peaceful surrounding beauty. Build in 1213, Palazzo del Popolo is a beautiful and well-preserved medieval monument and also one for the oldest public building of Italy.
Along with the building are various boutiques and cafes. The stunning main square has been used to shoot for numerous movies. The Palazzo del Capitano, the co-cathedral church (Duomo), and the Palazzo del Priore are some other important spots.
5. Orvieto
The delightful hilltop town sits near the Lazio border, at a volcanic butte. The ancient town has been inhabited since Etruscan times and the various museums and monuments depict the millenniums’ long history of the town. The stunning Orvieto Cathedral is one of the best monuments from medieval times with its St. Patrick's well.
This 14 centuries old Gothic building has vibrant facade and stunning frescos inside. Below the city, there is an astonishing myriad of tunnels and grottos from Etruscan-era that are used and wine storage.
Open to guided tours, these tunnels were used as a bomb shelter during World War II. These underground passages have a long history of serving as escaping sieges during the 2,500 years of this town.
6. Gubbio
This small town is one of the oldest in Umbria and is famous specifically for the rich culture and history. Located in the steep Mount Ingino slopes the town has various historical attraction points.
Entering the town you will witness the remains of Roman Theater that was built in the 1st century. Take a walk through the winding streets and explore the central square of the town, Piazza Grande. Besides the panoramic views of the town, the Piazza is also famous for having the 14th century Palazzo dei Consoli.
The medieval structured Civic Museum contains various archeological treasures belonging to the city's history as well as a huge iron cage that used to be the prison for criminals and robbers.
7. Norcia
Situated in the foothills of Sibillini Mountains this lovely town has a huge variety of delicious foods to offer. Try the huge variety of truffles, cheeses, lentils, salamis, and hams. This leading gastronomical center of Italy is not going to disappoint you at all. The city is so famous because of its pork meat items that characteristic shops selling and producing them in Central Italy are called Norcinerie.
Apart from the food, the place is a must-visit spot for nature as well as history lovers. Piazza San Benedetto, the stunning main square is home to various old buildings like Castellina, the 16th-century fortress with Renaissance architect, stunning Basilica di San Benedetto having a Gothic facade from the 14th century.
8. Bevagna
This beautiful hamlet is one of the most amazing cities of Italy that is built on an ancient Roman road, the Via Flaminia, and is situated between two rivers. Constructed in the middle ages, this valley town now has a fascinating central square, Piazza san Silvestri.
There are also two beautiful Romanesque churches; San Michele on one side of the square has beautiful macabre gargoyles above the main door and the San Silvestro from the dark ages. If you are an art lover, go towards the south of the town to discover Tenuta Castelbuono, the vineyard with a carapace like looking wine cellars
9. Nera River Park
The beautiful park is filled with green meadows, fast streams, hidden gorges, and thick forests. The park is famous to have Italy's tallest waterfall, the Cascate delle Marmore, which is about 165 meters high. Just below the waterfall lies the Nera River offering the best rafting spots in the region. Conclude your day trip by having a thrilling rafting experience in this stunning park.
Enjoy canoeing, canyoning, and rafting on the various trails in the park. Various operators offer different levels of thrill so that you can have an adventure as per your experience level. This huge park is unarguably one of the most beautiful locations in Umbria.
Umbria tours are incomplete if you have not taken any of the wine tours of the region. Umbria has four wine routes, namely the Strada dei Vini del Cantico, the Strada del Sagrantino, the Strada dei Vini Etrusco Romana, and Strada del Vino dei Colli del Trasimeno. Discover the excellent wine production in Umbria and have an entertaining trip around the cellars and vineyards.
Food to try in Umbria
Food is undoubtedly a major specialty of Italy. In Umbrian cuisine, a specialty is to utilize the natural ingredients to produce centuries-old traditional dishes. Regional dishes and wine are an important part of Umbria tours. Salami, lentils, game birds, olive oil, grilled meat, honey, and chocolate are some of the Umbrian specialties.
1. Truffles
This delicious delicacy has been popular since ancient times. This divine creation grows abundantly in the countryside of the Green heart of Italy. You will find huge varieties of this delicious delight throughout the region.
They are in the form of dumplings, scrambled into eggs, spread shaved on grilled meat, flavored into salami and cheese, blended with butter to made into pasta sauce and much more. You can also get preserved or even fresh truffles at various spots but the best of them can be found at Perugia Tartufi of Piazza Danti.
2. Cheese
Umbrian cheese is something you will not get somewhere else. The region prepares a fine variety of Pecorino and Caciotta cheese. The perfect Caciotta cheese, aged for twenty days, with a soft and light texture is one of the most delicious feasts. Also, try the local salted ricotta that is matured for two months to have a perfect taste and texture and mostly used in grated form over Italian dishes.
3. Porchetta
The delicious sandwich is found in abundance all over Italy but Umbria is its origin and still the best place to have one from the whole country. The recipe involves stuffing of gutted pig with salt, garlic, pepper, and fennel. The stuffed pork is then rolled up and spit-roasted for several hours on low flame. This gives a rich and juicy but crunchy meat that is then sliced and stuffed in bread slices to prepare the sandwich.
4. Torta al Testo
The Umbrian special flatbread is a combination of simple ingredients like flour, salt, water, and olive oil. Originally it was made on a flat circular stone, called testo that was heated over a fire to cook the meal.
Now the stone has taken the modern form of the pan to prepare the bread. Some Umbrian variations may include soda or yeasts to enhance the volume. Torta al testo is served with meaty stews or as a sandwich with stuffed cheese, wild greens, and cured meats.
5. Pasta alla Norcina
This is the most popular pasta dish of the region with the main ingredient being the sausage meat. Most of the varieties also included grated truffle and plenty of mushrooms to add the local touch. The creamy cause is prepared using the original pure cream and white wine. Paired with penne or strangozzi pasta dish is a heavenly delicious delight.
6. Salsiccia Secca
This typical sausage is another specialty of Umbrian cuisine. The dried sausage when sliced might look like a smaller salami version with its lean and lightly seasoned look. Served on a cheese plate with crackers or crusty bread, or with cheesy Easter Bread.
7. Fagiolina del Trasimeno
The nutrient bean has been growing in the region since Etruscan times but got nearly extinct due to the laborious manual process of cultivation. But gladly some of the family-run farms are still planting these nutty and buttery flavored beans. These tasty tidbits are used as a bruschetta topping, in salads, soups or eaten simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper seasoning.
8. Imbrecciata
One of the most popular items of the region is the grains and legumes. To cherish this bounty of the Green heart of Italy, have a bowl of harvest soup with beans, lentils, chickpeas, beans, spelt, and cicerchie, topped with sprint extra virgin olive oil.
9. Tegamaccio
Fresh fish from the lakes is cooked in this soupy stew type sauce over low flame. The sauce is made with a combination of celery, garlic, chopped tomatoes, and white wine. Any combination of fish can be used but the most common are eel and perch. The sauce is more liquid and saucy like a perfect stew.
10. Colombaccio
The perfect dish has its origin from Terni but depicts the Umbrian love for game birds. Colombaccio is a common wood pigeon that is cooked in Umbrian traditional way on a spit by slowly roasting it on fire. Most of the variations are cooked in an oily loose sauce, salsa ghiotta, which is given a unique flavor with the liver of the animal or bird being cooked. The same recipe is followed for all game birds.
Weather in Umbria
Having the Mediterranean climate, weather in Umbria is generally warm, getting more dry and hot in summer, while winter is mildly cold. The warm climate makes the air non-humid throughout the year. Summertime, from June to September, is hot with minimum rainfall. The crowds of tourists start to arrive by the mid of July and remain in the region until mid-September.
August is the most crowded time, despite hot and muggy weather so, you must avoid the month. If you are going to visit in summer you should better get a reservation or there is a great chance that you won't get good accommodation.
Autumn is the best time to visit the green heart of Italy. The weather is pleasant during October with colorful trees and vineyards and stunning sunset. It can also rain at times during the month but not very common. By November the weather starts getting cold till mid of March. April brings with it the colors of spring, the pleasant weather and all the more reasons to visit the beautiful region.
This time is the most suitable to plan Umbria tours when the huge tourist crowds have not yet arrived and you can have all the attraction points to yourself. Enjoy exploring the historic sites, beautiful parks, huge mountain range, wine tour and the beautiful lake in the pleasant weather.
How long should you spend in Umbria?
This beautiful region has significant historical importance with an artistic essence. You will find various natural as well as historical sites in various cities of the region. Even the city of Perugia is so complex that you will need a lot of time to take in everything at a pace that you also enjoy your trip without getting too exhausted. Many beautiful cities like Assisi, Gubbio, etc. are worth paying a full-day trip.
The most relaxing and still quick enough Umbria tours are one week long. The 7 days’ time is enough to take in the major attractions with quite enough details and harmonical pace. A relaxed week tour will give you a glimpse of all the region has to offer, leaving only the unimportant places.
Festivals in Umbria
There is always some kind of festival going on in different regions of Italy so, there is a great chance that you might encounter one during your visit. If you are planning to visit Umbria and wants to enjoy some festivals, here is a list of the main festivals in Umbria:
1. Truffle Exhibition and Fair, Norcia
The stunning hamlet is famous around the world for its superb gastronomy and that is what makes this event even more attractive. This festival is held in February and March every year, where a huge and excellent food fair is conducted.
The fair is conducted entirely to the black truffle and you can witness numerous varieties while walking through the stalls. You might also come across some other Umbrian specialties like hams and cheese.
2. Spoleto Festival, Spoleto
This world-famous festival is one of the oldest and one of its kind festival in Italy. Starting in 1958, the purpose of the origin of the festival was to join the two artistic worlds of Europe and America and their cultures. Occurring from the end of June to mid of July, the festival is dedicated to opera, ballet, art, music, and movies. It features a wide variety of opera, concerts, visual arts, drama, dance, and discussions on science.
3. Umbria Jazz, Perugia
This world-famous and one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe is held in July every year, since 1973. If you are planning your trip in summer be sure to include it on your list. Various local and international musicians and performers play their music creating a unique and amazing musical vibe. For 10 days the place turns into a global music village where you can listen to a huge variety of music every minute.
4. Festival delle Nazioni, Città di Castello
This summer festival is held every year in the beautiful village of Città di Castello. The festival is solely dedicated to chamber music and takes place in squares, churches and other venues in the city center.
Starting in 1968, the main purpose of this music chamber festival was to have a virtuous encounter between the public and classical music. Since 1972, every year a European country is invited to come and present their cultural, artistic and music project, despite the political and cultural differences.
5. Festa di San Francesco, Assisi
Every October, this large religious festival is held in the beautiful town of Assisi. The event is held to commemorate the patron of Europe and Italy, Saint Francis, who is one of the precursors of the Italian literature. The religious and civil celebrations last for several days, keeping the whole city engaged through several events.
Also see all Festivals Tours in Italy
Umbria Reviews & Ratings
Tour leader very active in making trip
Tour leader very active in making trip enjoyable. He worked very hard and successfully to organise requests from participants without making a big deal of it. Very g...
Our trip through Italy was really great
Our trip through Italy was really great - we saw and did things that were of great interest with a really great group of people. Our tour leader, Serena, was outstan...
Well organised- despite using public transport it
Well organised- despite using public transport it was a safe, relaxing experience Quality of leader- travelling with a local made the experience better Pace of iti...
The tour leader, Mattia Villa was well
The tour leader, Mattia Villa was well organized and professional throughout. The group dynamic was outstanding and the sites covered on the trip were unique and spe...
The tour leader Mattia Villa was fantastic.
The tour leader Mattia Villa was fantastic. Made the trip.
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