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The
Region of
Umbria
from Jesse's Journeys in Italy
by Arianna Andrews
Population: 825,826
Area: 8,456 kmē
Capital City:
Perugia
Provinces:
Perugia, Terni
Official website:
Umbria
Wikipedia:
Umbria
Map:
Umbria
South from Florence, north from Rome, is Italy's
heart, the geographic centre of the country,
Umbria. And whether
you
are visiting for the first time, or are a
veteran to the hearty
province,
Umbria never ceases to leave a traveller in awe.
Remarkable for
its lush hills and mountains, and wonderfully
preserved medieval towns, a trip through the
province can be one back through time.
A
long way from either coast, what is to be
enjoyed in
Umbria is the rolling sea of green. Many of them
cultivated, the undulating hills weave a
tapestry over the expansive province creating a
motley of patchy colours. The impressive slopes
give way to an even more impressive cluster of
medieval towns,
among them,
Perugia - Umbria's largest -
Orvieto,
Gubbio,
Assisi, and
Spoleto.
Bevagna is a
walled "valley town", with a history that
stretches back before the 2nd Century.
Umbertide is a
busy town on the banks of the Tiber, where
Etruscans and Umbrians used to barter. In
Deruta, they
continue the centuries old manufacture of
elegant ceramiche and majolica.
The towns
themselves are historical gems, but there is
much to be seen exploring them all individually.
Between art, architecture, hospitality, wine
tasting, and festivals, travelers are often
stuck trying to narrow down a selection!
Umbria's
beauty, however, can be enjoyed without too much
fuss. Walking by Lake Trasimeno, biking on hill
paths, or simply sitting in a cafe are all
possible and, in fact, characteristic of the
province's tranquil setting.
A voluptuous
landscape fixed at the heart of the country,
hill tops adorned with century-old towns and
villages, rich in agriculture and tradition, is
Italy's green beauty, Umbria. |
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