Umbria is perhaps our favourite region in Italy. There is nothing more relaxing than an Umbria villa holiday. We have to admit that we love the quieter pace of Umbria versus its busier neighbour Tuscany and we love the charm of the region’s hilltop towns and villages over the hustle and bustle of Tuscany’s cities. So today we’re throwing the spotlight on the top 5 hilltop towns and villages in Umbria, a visit to which should almost be a given on any Umbria villa holiday.
1) Montefalco
Montefalco is an historic town which has been settled since since pre Roman times. The town is still home to many historic buildings today. These include the Santuario Madonna della Stella. This is a church whose origins can be traced back to 1525 but whose original structure sadly fell in 1832 due to a violent earthquake from which only one of the original frescos remained. However it was rebuilt in the 1860s. A new earthquake damaged it again in 1878 but it was quickly rebuilt after this thanks to donations from Pope Leo XIII and others. Montefalco is also home to many bars, restaurants and enoteche. It is surrounded by vineyards which offer tours and tastings, perfect for a sunny afternoon.
2) Spello
Just south of Assisi, Spello is another historic Italian town. It is home to many Roman mosaics in the Villa dei Mosaici. A beautiful tradition in Spello is the Infiorata di Spello which is when flower petals are used to create mosaics on the streets of the idillic town, normally held at the start of June each year. The town is very welcoming and arguably the most beautiful in Umbria with the sweet scent of flowers filling the streets and a handful of small, independently owned shops selling local artwork and truffles.
3) Corciano
Situated between Perugia and lake Trasimeno, this walled town with narrow streets is great for exploring and offers the perfect place to go shopping for some unique gifts. The town dates back to the Neolithic times and was supposedly founded by Coragina, a mythical companion of Ulysses. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is the local church in the town which includes many ancient paintings. Further up the narrow streets is the Museo della Casa Contadina or ‘peasants house’ which holds a whole range of artefacts relating to the local residents. The town also includes small wine and olive oil shops, viewpoints and restaurants.
4) Assisi
Assisi is a slightly larger town compared to the others on our list. It is the birthplace of St Francis, one of the patron saints of Italy. The town overlooks the valleys of the Topino and Chiascio rivers. During your visit to Assisi, you can explore the small shops and buy local produce from the weekly market held every Saturday. Here you will everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to a new handbag! The main attraction of the town is the Basilica di San Francesco which is a massive two story basilica, home to the greatest repositories of Renaissance paintings in Italy. Assisi also includes a huge variety of restaurants and bars, perfect for a light snack or a large lunch.
5) Trevi
Trevi is another ancient town overlooking the wide plain of Clitunno. It is a great town to explore both during the day and night, with historical buildings, shops and museums to admire and discover. Surrounding the town there is a selection of tours available, allowing you to see the countryside at its best such as truffle hunting with a delicious lunch included. Just outside the centre of Trevi there is also an outdoor pool, perfect for cooling down in after a long day walking round the town.
Fancy exploring these five hilltop towns for yourself? Then why not get in touch with the team of experts at Bookings For You to book your next Umbria villa holiday?