Luxury Villas in Umbria
Close to Tuscany, Umbria is a charmingly authentic region in the centre of Italy. Known as the ‘green heart’ of Italy, it is just as beautiful as its more famous neighbour, Tuscany, but it tends to offer even better value for money. The region’s most famous city is Assisi but there are a whole host of other equally beautiful hilltop towns and villages to explore. These include Montefalco, Spello, Perugia, Orvieto, Trevi and Spoleto. And all of these are separated by the most idyllic scenery and rolling hills. We have a range of Umbria villa rentals available, from Umbria villas in the heart of the countryside to luxury villas in the heart of its hilltop towns.
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About Umbria
Landlocked Umbria sits to the east of Tuscany, to the west of Marche and to the north of Lazio. It can claim to be the only region of Italy that does not share a border with either another country or the Italian coastline. It is probably best known for being the birthplace of St Francis and certainly many make the journey to Assisi for that reason. But its capital, Perugia, is also well worth the journey.
Cities, towns and villages in Umbria
Whilst Umbria’s cities can not claim to be as well-known as those in neighbouring Tuscany, don’t for a minute think that this means they’re not as worthy of a visit. Far from it.
Perugia has much to recommend it to visitors, not least its annual calendar of events which include Umbria Jazz and Eurochocolate, a 10 day festival dedicated to this popular sweet stuff! And Assisi is one of the best preserved Medieval towns in the world. The Basilica di San Francesco is the first on most visitor’s lists of things to do in Assisi but also not to be missed is the Rocca Maggiore, a castle perched at the city’s highest point, and the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva amongst other things.
The smaller towns and villages in Umbria are also a delight to visit. Our favourite has to be Spello, but others worth a visit include Spoleto, Orvieto, Trevi, Todi, Montefalco, Bevagna, Foligno and Norcia.
Find out more in our A to Z guide to the towns and villages in Umbria.
Things to do in Umbria
Of course, first on our list of things to do in Umbria is to explore its beautiful hilltop towns and villages. However, there are plenty of other things to keep you busy, most making the most of Umbria’s rural backdrop. For example, Umbria is home to the Cascate delle Marmore. At 165 metres high and dating back to Roman times, this is the second tallest waterfall in Europe and the largest man-made waterfall in the world.
Umbria is also great hiking country. It can boast a number of parks including the Monte Cucco Regional Park, the Monte Sibillini National Park, the Monte Subasio National Park and the colourful plains of Castelluccio di Norcia. Visit in the Spring or early Summer to witness the incredible blanket of wild flowers that covering these plains. And, of course, you can always opt for a faster pace and either cycle or head out on horseback around the Umbrian countryside instead.
And, whilst Umbria may be landlocked, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a day at the beach. Lake Trasimeno is only marginally smaller than Lake Como but is far less well known. However, it can boast a number of beaches and also offers the opportunity to enjoy non motorised water sports.
Our guide to the top 60 things to do in Umbria will ensure the whole family are entertained during your next Umbria holiday.
When to visit Umbria
There isn’t a bad time to visit Umbria. Spring is certainly the most colourful time to discover Umbria. This is when you will be treated to fields and meadows awash with the vibrant colours of wildflowers. And, with the exception of Easter, when you will find pilgrims making their way to Assisi, you’ll find visitor numbers relatively low. It’s a great time for a walking trip and a superb time to discover Umbria’s hilltop towns and villages. July and August are the busiest, warmest and sunniest months in Umbria. This is a great time to visit Umbria if you’re looking to combine lazy days by the pool with some time sightseeing. Even in peak season, you don’t even need to worry about the crowds in Umbria in the same way as you would in the Tuscany’s cities. Umbria sees a tenth of the visitors that its busier neighbour does. As September comes and Autumn draws in, it’s a great time to get more active again in Umbria. Walking and cycling are popular at this time of year. And there are plenty of festivals to get involved in. Not forgetting this is now truffle season too. And we would definitely recommend a visit to Umbria in the Winter time too. Yes, the towns and villages will be much quieter and you’ll need to wrap up warm. But December will bring plenty of charming festive markets whilst January and February will be a time to mix with the locals, enjoy the hearty food and get absorbed in Umbria’s cultural scene.