www.Umbria-Traveller.com - Itineraries

Exploring Trasimeno

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The tranquility of the lake, the quiet of the Umbrian countryside, and the beauty of the medieval villages dotted along the lake shores. Lake Trasimeno and the towns which overlook it have, for centuries, been a major tourist attraction, much loved by nature lovers, bird watchers, and gourmands keen to savor the excellent Umbrian cuisine for which the area's hotels and farm-stays are famous.

This trip around Trasimeno commences in Castiglione del Lago, a town built on a peninsula of limestone rock which projects into the lake. Included in the list of Italy's most beautiful small towns, Castiglione del Lago's medieval aspect dates back to the times of Frederick II of Swabia, who built his Rocca del Leone here. The 13th century fortress is now used as an amphitheater, where a series of high profile summer concerts are staged. Like its castle, the town's Palazzo della Corgna, is well worth visiting. This sumptuous edifice, which once belonged to one of the area's most powerful noble...

Gourmet heaven

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Despite measuring just 8456 square kilometers, the small land-locked region of Umbria has some of Italy's most beautiful landscapes, and wonderfully fertile land on which food and wines of worldwide fame are produced. Umbria has long been the much dreamt of destination of gourmands from every corner of the globe. Connoisseurs of good food and wine are seduced by the spectacular, unadulterated flavours of Umbrian cuisine: the fruit of the region's age old farming traditions. The Umbrian countryside is suffused with the colors of the region's most highly prized ingredients: the glistening green gold of its extra virgin olive oil, the ruby red of its wine, and the purple of its saffron flowers.

You have only to follow the aromas coming from any of the tiny kitchens hidden away in Umbria's medieval towns and cities to discover the gastronomic delights of the place. The region's "norcinerie", or pork butchers, have come to symbolize the wisdom of Umbria's rural community. It is...

The Renaissance in Umbria

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A journey admiring some of Umbria's most beautiful artworks, produced in a period which was to signal the intellectual and artistic rebirth of Italy: the Renaissance.

This tour of Umbria starts in Spoleto, city in which the Renaissance has more than left its mark, and no more so than in the Duomo. Although the Cathedral was built in Romanesque style, its splendid Renaissance portico is the first indication of how the building was significantly altered during the 16th century. The interiors are embellished with Filippo Lippi's splendid fresco cycle, recounting the Life of the Virgin, and an especially poignant Madonna and Saints by Pinturicchio. Taking pride of place in Spoleto's Art Museum, is the figure of Mary Magdalene, attributed to Guercino.

From Spoleto we head to Montefalco, which, with its panoramic position dominating the valley, more than deserves its reputation as balcony of Umbria. This is where to visit the ex Church of San Francesco, now transformed in museum, and...

Umbria, the sacred cradle

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

This itinerary take us on a journey through some of the greenest landscapes in the whole of Italy, where a number of Umbria's most famous gastronomic products are produced. We start in Norcia, Saint Benedict's birth town. This first Christian monk was responsible for the founding of the order based on the principles of "Ora et Labora" (pray and work). The town's church dedicated to the saint is a veritable masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Another religious building worthy of note is Norcia's cathedral. Built in renaissance style, the appearance of the church was extensively altered during the baroque era. The imposing Rocca della Castellina, designed by Vignola, is now home to the Diocesan Museum. No visit to Norcia can be considered complete without having first paid visit to one of the inviting Norcinerie, where to purchase some of the town's famous spicy sausages or a jar of black truffles.

From Norcia we make a brief detour so as to visit the little town of...

Città di Castello, Assisi and the delightful Gubbio

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Our journey commences at Città di Castello, one of Umbria's most visited tourist destinations, a place where ancient and contemporary art forms live side by side in perfect harmony. The tour of the town starts in Piazza Garibaldi with a visit to Palazzo Vitelli a Sant'Egidio, built in the mid 16th century and on to Palazzo Albizzini; historic edifice which is now home to some 130 works by the Citta di Castello-born artist, Alberto Burri (1915-1995). The impressive collection includes sculptures, paintings, and sketches for the designs of stage and film sets. A number of Burri's works are also housed in the buildings of Città di Castello's old tobacco drying plant.
Those interested in sacred art will, no doubt, enjoy a visit to the Duomo Museum, located next to the cathedral. Last, but not least, there is the Pinacoteca Comunale, which occupies a part of the prestigious Palazzo Vitelli alla Cannoniera, and contains important renaissance masterpieces by Raphaele and...

Art, nature, and jazz

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Well on the way to being considered a miniature New Orleans, for more than thirty years, during the month of July, Perugia provides the stage for Umbria Jazz, the most important Jazz festival in the whole of Europe. Over the years, a steady flow of internationally renowned artists have played here; talented musicians such as Stan Getz, Keith Jarret, Sting, Miles Davies, Dizzy Gillespie; to name just a few of the performers to have honoured the festival with their presence.

For the sweet toothed, October is the ideal month to visit this stunning Umbrian city; when the great Eurochocolate exhibition takes place, and the streets are lined with stalls brimming with chocolate in every form imaginable. Of course, Perugia offers mush more than this delectable combination of music and confectionary, and, in fact, is home to one of the region's most important art collections.

The walls of the National Gallery of Umbria, situated in the splendid Palazzo dei Priori, are hung with the...