Amelia\nis a delightful hilltop town overlooking the River Tiber. Access is through one\nof the four original Roman gates, the main one being the Porta Romana.\nAccording to some historians, it is also the oldest town in Umbria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arrone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Arrone\nis a fortress village in the Valnerina valley in the South East of Umbria and another\nvillage in Umbria which has earned the name of the \u2018borghi piu belli d\u2019Italia.\u2019\nThe village is perched on a rocky outcrop and its location means that it is\noften visited by sports enthuiasts who make the most of the opportunity to free-climb\non its natural cliffs or to enjoy rafting, canyoning and canoeing in the countryside\nnearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take\nthe time to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the\nAssumption) which is home to some incredible 16th<\/sup> century terracotta\nstatues as well as some incredible paintings from the School of Caravaggio.\nAnother church worthy of a visit is the Church of St John the Baptist (San\nGiovanni Battista) which is home to some 13th<\/sup> century frescoes. You\ncan\u2019t miss the wonderful bells that ring from the ancient bell tower thanks to the\nCampanari di Arrone (bell ringers of Arrone) who have worked to preserve and\npromote the traditional bell ringing tradition since they formed in 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nthird stopping point is the Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Scoglio where you\ncan enjoy wonderful views over the Nera Valley below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assisi <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Assisi\nis a popular pilgrimage site with Christians flocking to view the Basilica di\nSan Francesco sitting on what was previously known as the Colle d\u2019Inferno (the\nhill of hell). This was the site where criminals used to be executed and buried\nbut it was where St Francis had specifically asked to be buried hence the\nreason for the location of the church. St Francis is an important figure in the\nChristian church. St Francis was born in 1181, the son of a wealthy cloth\nmerchant of Assisi. But following a vision of Christ that Francis had in the\ncrumbling Church of San Damiano in which Christ asked him to help him repair his\nhouse, he sold his possessions to fund the repairs. His father was incensed and\nthreatened to disinherit him but this simply spurred Francis on. He publicly\nrenounced his family\u2019s wealth, even giving up the clothes on his back and from\nthat moment on lived a simple life in the woods, fields and mountains of\nUmbria. He was never ordained but following a meeting with Pope Innocent III\nwas given permission to found a new religious order and travelled to Egypt to\nintervene in the crusades. Here, he so impressed Sultan Melek-el-Kamel that he\nwas allowed to preach to his subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever\nyour religious beliefs, the Basilica di San Francesco is an impressive\nbuilding, home to some beautiful frescoes and extraordinary stained glass\nwindows which bathe the interior in light. In fact, the basilica is 2 churches,\nsat one on top of the other \u2013 the Basilica Inferiore and the Basilica\nSuperiore. The former is a relatively dark and sombre building building\ncompared to the upper church but it is home to the tomb of St Francis. The tomb\nwas never intended to be on display but the ground around it was dug out in the\nearly 20th<\/sup> century, leaving a central column which houses his body\nand to where thousands come each year to pay their respects. The Basilica\nSuperiore is filled with light and colour. Make time to admire Giotto\u2019s 28\nfrescoes which fill the nave and which illustrate the life of St Francis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make\nsure you cover up before heading inside. You will not be allowed in if your\nskirt of shorts are above the knee and you will also need to ensure that your\nshoulders are covered too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis more to Assisi than just its basilica though, as beautiful and as impressive\nas this is. The cobbled streets that wind their way uphill are absolutely\ncharming, lined with small boutiques and cafes. However, you will find that\nprices tend to be rather inflated in Assisi compared to other Umbrian towns.\nRest assured, your walk around its streets will be amply rewarded every now and\nthen with impressive views over the surrounding countryside and the valley\nbelow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other\nsights worth visiting in Assisi include the Pinacoteca Comunale di Assisi (art\ngalley housing paintings by Giotto and Perugino amongst others) and the Museo e\nForo Romano (one of the best archeology collections around, this museum is\nsituated in the Roman forum itself under the town\u2019s central piazza and\nsurrounding streets). A striking site in the main Piazza del Comune is the\nChurch of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Its portal is the front section of the\nancient Roman temple of Minerva. If you want to visit the site where St Francis\nhad the vision of Christ which changed his life forever, then head to the Porta\nNuova and then follow the pretty pathway downhill for around a kilometre until\nyou reach the Church of San Damiano. This is also where the death of the Patron\nSaint of Television, Saint Clare, is marked. Clare was made the saint by the\nPope in 1958 because of a miracle in 1252 when Clare, ill in bed, witnessed a\nvision of mass being celebrated several miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou\u2019d like to further follow in the footsteps of St Francis, then head about 4\nkm west of Assisi to the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. This is where\nFrancis first came when he gave up his possessions, to a tiny chapel in the\nwoods which survives to this day. It is also where St Francis founded his order\nof friars and where he died in 1226. It wasn\u2019t until the 17th<\/sup>\ncentury that the basilica was built to honour St Francis and, measuring 116\nmetres long, it\u2019s one of the largest basilicas in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assisi\ndoes get extremely busy with tourists in the peak Summer months. Try and head\nthere first thing in the morning before the coachloads arrive or head later in\nthe day and spend the evening there once the majority of tourists have gone\nhome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bettona<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bettona\nis a charming town that rarely makes its way on to the itineraries of visiting\ntourists. Whilst it dates back to Roman times, little remains of the original city\nsince it was largely destroyed in the 14th<\/sup> century by the Perugian\narmy. However, it can boast a lovely historic centre, a charming main piazza,\ntwo large churches (The Oratory of St Andrew as well as a church built by Benedictine\nmonks in the 15th<\/sup> century in honour of the patron saint of the city)\nand a museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bevagna<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike\nmany of the towns on Umbria\u2019s tourist trail, Bevagna does not sit atop a hill\nbut instead sits in a valley close to the Teverone River. What it does share\nwith other towns is its Roman roots though. Nero\u2019s mother, Agrippina, actually\nhad a villa here and the fertile land around Bevagna meant that it was\nimportant agricultural centre. Nowadays it\u2019s quite a sleepy town. Nothing seems\nto happen fast in Bevagna!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bevagna\u2019s\ncentral square is the Piazza Silvestri and it\u2019s hard to explore the town\nwithout always returning to this central space. The town is definitely Medieval\nbut the important exceptions to the Medieval architecture are two Romanesque\nchurches \u2013 the smaller San Silvestro built in 1195 and the larger San Michele.\nBoth are worth exploring. Also of interest in the piazza is the 12th<\/sup>\ncentury Palazzo dei Consoli, home to the 19th<\/sup> century Teatro Torti.\nThe theatre is a delightful surviving example of the tiny provincial theatres\nthat once flourished in Italy. Visitors need to ask at the Museo di Bevagna to\nget admittance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nMuseo di Bevagna itself is devoted to telling the history of the village which\ndates back to Roman times. There are a number of Roman artifacts to view, all\nof which were found locally. Arguably none of these are as impressive as the\nblack and white Roman mosaic which can be found on the North side of Via Porta\nGuelfa. The mosaic originally formed part of a bath complex and visitors can\nglimpse an octopus, lobster and other sea creatures within it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou are visiting Bevagna, and enjoy either your wine or your architecture, then\nit\u2019s worth considering a visit to the nearby Tenuta Castelbuono winery. Sitting\na few miles North West of town, it\u2019s easy to spot due to its impressive\narchitecture. Its copper dome, nicknamed \u2018Il Carapace\u2019 (the tortoise) was\ndesigned by the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. Visitors can enjoy a rather\ndramatic tasting room that sits beneath the dome as well as enjoying a tour of\nthe cellars below. We recommend booking in advance to ensure availability and\nto avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buzziana<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nbrainchild of Tommaso Buzzi (1900-1981), Buzziana was the Italian designers attempt\nto create an \u2018ideal\u2019 city, built around the Convent of Scarzuola on land which\nhe bought in the 1950s. The result is clearly inspired by neo Mannerism. The\nlocation near the old convent allowed him to blend old and new, whilst the\ncreation itself is divided into seven \u2018theatres\u2019. The highest of these is the\nTeatro dell\u2019 Acropoli which stands above the other six \u2013 the Teatro delle\nArnie, the Teatro sull\u2019 Acqua, the Teatro della Torre, the Patio Tonde and the\nPatrio Infinito and the Teatro Sportivo. Stairs crisscross their way across the\ntown, the most notable of which are the Scala Musicale delle Sette Ottave and\nthe Scala di Giobbe, whilst numerous statues decorate the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carsulae<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Carsulae is an archeological site dating back to 220\nBC. For a small entrance fee, visitors can explore the old Roman remains, some\nstill partially buried. Still visible today are the Curia and Gemini Temples which\noverlook the Forum (Basilica, Theatre and Amphitheatre). The Church of San Damiano\ncan also be found here. This is actually a church dating back to the Middle\nAges that was built on top of the ruins of a Roman edifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cascia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors\ntend to visit Cascia in search of St Rita. Whilst she may be little known\noutside Italy, St Rita is widely celebrated among Italian women and thousands\nvisit each year to visit her shrine. For those who have not heard of her, Rita\nwas born in 1381, was forced to marry aged fifteen and then endured 18 years of\ntorment courtesy of her alcoholic husband. Rita lived an exemplary life though,\nto such an extent that even her husband saw the error of his ways. However, no\nsooner than he had repented, he died in a brawl and his death was closely\nfollowed by that of Rita\u2019s two sons who died attempting to avenge their\nfather\u2019s death. Widowed and childless, Rita became a nun. Within a week of\nentering the convent, a foul smelling sore developed in the centre of her\nforehead which was viewed as a kind of stigmata. Rita died in 1457 and after a\nlengthy campaign finally became a saint in 1900. These days, Rita\u2019s mummified\nbody lies behind grilles within the Basilica of Saint Rita in Cascia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart\nfrom the basilica, there is not a great deal to explore within Cascia and over\nthe years the town has been badly affected by a number of earthquakes but it is\nhome to a couple of museums and a couple\nof other worthy church buildings so it\u2019s easy to spend an hour or so wandering\nits streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Castelluccio<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This\nis a small farming village high up in the Sibillini mountains. For keen\nwalkers, it\u2019s a good base from which to start a hike with trails leaving the\nvillage in all directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Castiglione del\nLago<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Castiglione\ndel Lago lies on the shores of Lake Trasimeno and is arguably the lake\u2019s\nprettiest town. It\u2019s a charming place to visit with a number of food stores\nselling local Umbrian produce. Stroll along the streets and there will be\nplenty of opportunities to enjoy free tastings. Or take the time to relax in\none of the delicatessens to make a meal of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\nis possible to visit the town\u2019s fortress \u2013 the Rocca del Leone. Visitors can\nwalk all the way round it and up a couple of its towers from where you will be\ntreated to excellent views of the lake. A ticket to the fortress also gets you\naccess to the Palazzo della Corgna, a palace that in its heyday hosted great\nartists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boats\nleave regularly from Castiglione del Lago to Polvese and Maggiore, islands in\nthe lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citta delle Pieve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nestled\non the border between Umbria and Tuscany, and sat among fields of bright sunflowers\nand olive trees, Citta della Pieve was a centre for brick manufacturing in the\nMiddle Ages so it\u2019s perhaps not surprising that the whole town is built from\nthese same bricks. The area around Citta delle Pieve is also known for its saffron,\nharvested by hand from the crocus blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citta\ndelle Pieve is the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci (more commonly known as\nPerugino) in 1446 and home to what locals claim is the narrowest street in\nEurope \u2013 the Vicolo Baciadonne or \u2018kissing ladies street\u2019. So narrow is the\nstreet that close contact with anyone coming in the opposite direction is\ninevitable! Visitors can buy a ticket for the Museo Diffuso for just a few\neuros which allows access to the town\u2019s five main sights the Cathedral, the\nPalazzo della Corgna, the Oratorio di Santa Maria dei Bianchi (where visitors\ncan admire the Adoration of the Magi, Perugino\u2019s striking nativity scene that\nhe painted in just 28 days), the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Servi and the Chiesa\ndi San Pietro. All except the palace house works by Perugno. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntown is perhaps more famous for its palio. Whilst it does not rival the fame of\nthe Siena palio nor is it as old founded as it was in the 1960s, the Palio of\nCitta della Pieve has become a majori tourist attraction. Taking place each\nAugust, the palio is between the three districts (terzieri) of the town. The\nevents always begin on Ferragosto (15 August) when the Pallium is returned to\nthe Podesta by the winning team of the previous year. The event itself then\ngoes on for a number of days, culminating in the historical parade to the games\nfield when hundreds of people dress in historical costumes. An archery\ncompetition then takes place between the three participants with the most\naccurate crowned winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another\ntime worth visiting is during the Infiorata held on the closest Sunday to 21\nJune, when the streets are covered with designs made purely from flower petals\nto honour the town\u2019s patron Saint, San Luigi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or\ntake in a trip to the theatre during your time here. The theatre in Citta delle\nPieve is beautiful, adorned with sumptuous satins and velvets and with\nwonderful private boxes to ensure that your trip here will feel like a really\nspecial treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citta di Castello<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As\nyou drive to Citta di Castello, you may well come across fields of tobacco\nplants, since this area is famous for the production of tobacco. You will see\nevidence of the industry on the outskirts but don\u2019t let this put you off\nvisiting the historic centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nhistoric centre itself is attractive and it\u2019s worth paying a visit to the\nPinacoteca Comunale as well as the two museums in town if you plan to spend\nsome time here. The Pinacoteca in the Palazzo Vitelli alla Cannoniera, one of\nfour surviving palaces in Citta di Castello once owned by the Vitelli family.\nThe gallery is laid out over two floors. A couple of its most famous works of\nart are the Martyrdom of St Sebastian by Luca Signorelli and the processional\nstandard \u2013 the Creation of Eve and SS Roch and Sebastian \u2013 by Raphael painted\nin the early 16th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nDuomo in Citta di Castello is a rather mixed set of architectural styles, the\nmost recent of which is a Baroque frontage which was begun in 1632 however this\nwas abandoned 15 years later before it was completed. The Museo del Duomo is to\nthe right of the cathedral. Another very different museum in town is the\nCollezione Tessile di Tele Umbra. This traces the history of textiles in the\nUpper Tiber Valley but what is most interesting here is what the museum is\nannexed to – a fascinating textile workshop set up in 1908 by the Franchetti, a\nlocal aristocratic family who wanted to provide employment to the local\ntownspeople and to keep alive the linen-making tradition in this area. It\u2019s\nstill in operation today and visitors can buy products made in the workshop as\na souvenir to take home with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deruta<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deruta\nis famous for its ceramics, an industry which has been in the town\u2019s roots\nsince Roman towns but which really came to the fore in the fifteenth century\nwith the discovery of the distinctive yellow and blue glazes and the\ninspiration from the Moorish designs of\nSouthern Spain. Perhaps not surprisingly, there is a museum devoted to Gubbio\u2019s\nceramic past in the old part of the town which houses exhibits from the Roman\nera to the present day. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase\nyour own piece of ceramics at one of the numerous roadside stalls and\nworkshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fabro<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Medieval village of Fabro is dominated by its Medieval\ncastle. Unfortunately, over the years the town has sustained damage, most\nrecently in WWII, but it\u2019s still worth a visit, not least in November when the\ntown holds its annual truffle festival. During this time, make sure to try not\njust the truffles foraged in the woods around the town but also the pecorino\ncheese flavoured with truffles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferentillo<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferentillo is a small town with rather a gruesome museum,\nhome as it is to the Museo delle Mummie. This is not a museum for the feint\nhearted. The museum holds several hundred skulls as well as numerous gruesome\nnaked dead bodies, mainly of which clearly display the reason for death and can\nhave preserved hair, teeth and clothing. The corpses include two French\nsoldiers one of whom was hanged whilst the other was tortured, as well as a\nbell ringer who died after being knocked off the tower by his own bell, his\ntongue still between his teeth. All fill the crypt of the Church of Santo\nStefano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferentillo is famous for other things though, not\nleast free climbing. The cliffside is one of the most popular climbing spots in\nEurope and offers routes for all climbers from the beginner to the most\nexperienced. The latest equipment is provided and those free climbers brave\nenough to scale its heights will be rewarded with stunning views of the\nValnerina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foligno<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike\nmany of the other towns and cities in Umbria on the tourist trail, Foligno is a\nmuch more modern place as unfortunately many of its most impressive sights were\nbombed during WW2. The third largest town in Umbria, it\u2019s also larger than many\nof the other visitor spots. More recently, it was also badly affected by the\n1997 earthquake when the town\u2019s Torre Communale dramatically collapsed.\nHowever, it\u2019s a good destination if you want to enjoy a spot of shopping and\neven if many of the streets and buildings are more modern, the central Pizza\ndella Repubblica with it\u2019s eye catching Duomo, is beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ncity plays host to one of the most spectacular festivals in Umbria \u2013 the\nGiostra della Quintana. There are two opportunities to see it each year. The first\ntournament takes place on a Saturday night in June and the second (the counter\nchallenge) takes place on the second or third Sunday in September. Both feature\na jousting tournament in which ten horsemen (one for each of the city\u2019s wards)\ncompete to speer their lances into an ever decreasing sized ring. Both events\nare followed by a lively festival with Medieval parade and the whole thing is\ncolourful and exciting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But,\nof course, Foligno plays host to food festivals too, notably the \u2018First Courses\nof Italy\u2019 each September and October when top chefs, food critics and\nmanufacturers from all over Italy converge on the city to celebrate Italy\u2019s\nmost famous foodstuff \u2013 pasta! And let\u2019s not forget any music lovers out there.\nFoligno has a popular jazz festival each June \u2013 \u2018Young Jazz\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou do head to Foligno, then we can recommend a bite to eat at either Villa\nRoncalli or Cucinaa. Just outside the centre, the latter doesn\u2019t perhaps look\nlike anything special from the outside, wedged as it is in a parade of shops,\nbut we love the concept behind it and it offers great quality food, perfect for\na relaxed bite to eat en route to your next stop. Villa Roncalli is more formal\nand is set within a hotel. The dishes incorporate the produce from the chef\u2019s\nextensive vegetable gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gualdo Tadino<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gualdo\nTadino is a hill top town famous for its ceramics industry and each Summer it\nholds a big exhibition devoted to the craft. It also boasts a Gothic Duomo, and\neighteenth century Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo del Podesta. Unfortunately\nit did sustain damage during the 1997 earthquake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gubbio<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gubbio\nis a beautiful Medieval town, sometimes described locally as the \u2018Umbrian\nSiena\u2019. It\u2019s also affectionately known as the \u2018city of fools\u2019. According to\nlegend, if you run around the fountain three times, you will earn the \u2018fool\u2019s\nlicense.\u2019 However, it has an equally fascinating, albeit tragic, modern history\ntoo. In 1944, forty innocent civilians were murdered in one of its central\npiazzas by the Nazis as reprisal for partisan attacks in the surrounding hills.\nThe square was since renamed Piazza Quaranta Martiri as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This\npiazza is home to the Gothic Church of San Francesco and opposite this is the\nLoggia dei Tiratori. This is a long passageway covered with a terrocotta tiled\nroof and supported by stone columns. It was originally built by wool merchants\nwho used the building as a place to stretch wool and cloth in the shade of its\narches, the gaps between which allowed air to circulate and kept it cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also\nworth a visit are the Palazzo dei Consoli, the Museo Civico (home to Umbria\u2019s\nmost important archaeological find, the Eugubine Tablets), the Pinoteca and\nMuseo Archaeologico, the Palazzo Ducale, Museo Diocescano and Duomo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If visiting in May, try and time your visit to coincide with\nthe Corsa dei Ceri (Race of the Candles) on 15 May. This must be one of Italy\u2019s\ncraziest races. Running over 4 km and mostly uphill, it consists of a number of\nprocessions through the town before culminating in a race to return the candles\nto the hilltop Basilica di Sant\u2019 Ubaldo (which is where they had been taken\nfrom earlier in the day!) Not that anyone but the cero of Ubaldo has a chance\nof winning…. there are strict rules and the cero of Ubaldo can not be\novertaken! Even if you can\u2019t make it for the Corsa dei Ceri, either climb or\nuse the cable car to reach St Ubaldo\u2019s Basilica which host the remains of the\nSaint and the famous Ceri throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or if visiting in the Summer months, check to see if your\nvisit coincides with any events at Gubbio\u2019s Roman amphitheatre. At 112 metres wide, it\u2019s one of the largest\nsurviving Roman amphitheatres and it makes for a wonderful setting for various\nplays and performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lake Trasimeno<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lake\nTrasimeno is Italy\u2019s fourth biggest lake however it is under threat from\nclimate change. Fed almost entirely by rainwater, water levels have fallen in\nrecent years and it risks drying up entirely in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare two islands within the lake. The largest , quietest and arguably most\nattractive of these is the Isola Polvese. The island is a carefully protected\nnature reserve that is home to around 6000 olive trees and oak woods. In\nMedieval times, it would have been home to around 500 people, all of whom would\nhave made a living through fishing. However, nowadays it is uninhabited. Guided\ntours of the island are possible but visitors can equally explore alone too. Take\na walk around the island and you will come across the Fortezza Medievale.\nWhilst the origins of the fortress date back to the 13th<\/sup> century\nwhen it was much needed by the locals to provide protection from attack,\nnowadays it\u2019s used as a venue for concerts as part of the popular Trasimeno\nBlues Festival. The second building on the island \u2013 the Monasterio di San\nSecondo – served a very different purpose, home to monks who inhabited the\nisland from the end of the 15th<\/sup> century. Head to the north east of\nthe landing point on the islands and you will discover a beach area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second of the lake\u2019s islands \u2013\nthe Isola Maggiore \u2013 is much more developed with a range of shops and\nrestaurants as soon as holidaymakers step off the boat. Boats run 12 times a\nday throughout the year from Passignano to the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lake\u2019s most popular town is\narguably Passignano, which is attractive and has a vibrant air about it. It can\nget extremely busy in the peak Summer months though. Other lakeside towns and\nvillages worth exploring around the lake include Castel Rigone and Castiglione\ndel Lago. The former is a charming village, filled with geranium strewn\nbalconies in the Summer months whilst the latter has is a pretty town filled\nwith food stores and boasting a couple of pleasant beaches from which to rest\nand enjoy the sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Magione<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nmay not be much to draw you to a visit to Magione however for racing\nenthusiasts, it is home to one of Italy\u2019s smallest racing circuits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nMarmore falls are among the highest man-made waterfalls in Europe. With a total\ndrop of 165 metres, the falls were created by the Romans but even today remain\nthe tallest man-made waterfalls in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare a number of different walking routes to take to view the falls. All involve\na number of steps and narrow pathways so be sure to wear sensible footwear. For\nthis reason, it may be unsuitable for the very young, elderly or infirm. If you\nfancy the route which goes via the \u2018Lovers Balcony\u2019, then bring a waterproof\njacket with you…. you are bound to get sprayed by the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please\nnote that it\u2019s worth visiting at certain times to be sure that you witness the\nfalls in action. They are controlled by the Galleto hydroelectric plant which\nreleases water only at certain times in the day. It does get busy too. Make\nsure you buy your entrance ticket from the main ticket office before heading to\nthe falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou enjoy water sports, the river around the falls is an ideal spot for\nrafting, canoeing and kayaking and there are a number of companies offering\nthese sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marsciano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Marsciano was historically a major brick\nmanufacturing centre and is home to the Museum of Brick Making and Terracotta. Visitors\nwill learn about the traditional brick making tradition as well as have the opportunity\nto view more decorative, everyday pottery ware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is more to the town than its museum though.\nMake sure you get the chance to admire the painting done by the School of\nPerugino in the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the 19th century Palazzo\nComunale and the Teatro della Concordia as well as a number of Art Deco buildings\nand the Palazzo Battaglia, adorned with decorations by the futurist painter, Gerardo\nDottori.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Montefalco<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montefalco\nis commonly known as \u2018the balcony of Umbria\u2019 due to its lofty position. The\ntown itself is a warren of narrow cobbled streets, all of which are too narrow\nfor cars. It\u2019s a very pretty place and whilst it\u2019s won\u2019t take you long to\nexplore its streets or it\u2019s central piazza \u2013 Piazza del Comune – there are a\nfew sights worth seeing. These include the church of San Francesco and its\nmuseum. The church is home to an impressive series of frescoes by Benozzo\nGozzoli called the \u2018Life of St Francis\u2019. Other artworks can be found in the\nmuseum upstairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For\nwine lovers, head to the town in late Summer when Montefalco plays host to a\nmajor wine festival each September \u2013 the Settimana Enologica (Wine Week) \u2013\nwhere visitors can sample the many wines produced in the region. These include\nthe Montefalco Rosso and Sagrantino. The latter is a dry red wine. We can\ndefinitely recommend you try the Sagrantino Passito typical of this region.\nIt\u2019s a sweet red dessert wine and is absolutely delicious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Montegabbione<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montegabbione\nis a Medieval walled hilltop village. Noteworthy sights in the village include\nthe fifteenth century tower which marks the entrance to the village as well as\nthe 17th<\/sup> century Church of Madonna delle Grazie nestled just outside\nthe village walls and which is home to a beautiful fresco depicting the Madonna\ndel Latte. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Monte Sibillini<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nSibillini mountains fall across Tuscany and Umbria and the whole area is a\nnational park. If you\u2019re a keen hiker, then walking doesn\u2019t get much better\nthan here. There aren\u2019t many marked trails but it is possible to get details of\nsome through the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Monte Subasio<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rising\nhigh above Assisi, Monte Subasio is snow covered for much of the year. It\u2019s\npopular with paragliders and a great place for hikers to admire the astonishing\nviews below. Paragliders have five different take-off areas to choose from on\nMonte Subasio as well as two different landing areas, both of which can easily\nbe reached by car or bus. For walkers and cyclists there are a number of\ndifferent paths and trails to choose from dependent on how long and how\nstrenuous you would like the walk to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Montone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montone\nis a delightful hilltop village. Whilst it doesn\u2019t feature on many tourists\u2019\nbucket lists, it is well worth a visit. One of the \u2018borghi piu belli d\u2019Italia\u2019\n(most beautiful villages in Italy), there is certainly much to fall in love\nwith, from the narrow cobbled streets to the colourful flowers that festoon the\nbalconies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit\nat certain times of the year and you can also join in the many annual events\nthat the village plays host to. These include the popular \u2018Donazione della\nSanta Spina\u2019 held each August when the three districts of Montone compete to\nwin the palio and the Lady of the Castle. Those taking part will dress in\nMedieval costumes and bring the past back to life. Also well worth a visit is\nLa Festa del Bosco which celebrates the woodland harvest. Stalls, shops and\nrestaurants will all celebrate the very best of the local produce including mushrooms,\ntruffles, chestnuts, berries and honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Narni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Narni is a charming hill top town. Its Duomo is certainly\nworth a visit as is its two palaces \u2013 Palazzo dei Priori and Palazzo del\nPodesta – but we think that one of the most interesting sights in the town is\nNarni Underground. This is a fascinating hour long tour of the aqueducts,\ncisterns and secrets of the Inquisition hidden underground in Narni. Entering\nvia the church of San Domenico, the tour starts in what was once St Dominic\u2019s\nconvent, moves into a large room which is probably the remains of a Roman house\nand then into a dark room which was the Tribunal of the Inquisition and where\naccused heretics were placed on trial. The suffering and pain endured by those\non trial here can be seen in a small cell covered with the graffiti and\nmarkings of those kept there whilst awaiting their fate whilst an exhibition\nshowing the instrument used to inflict torture leaves nothing left to the\nimagination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntown\u2019s main festival is held each May. Two weeks of festivities lead up to the\nCorsa dell\u2019 Anello which includes a torchlight procession and jousting festival\nwhen contestants from the three Medieval quarters of the town compete to get\ntheir lance through a ring (anello) suspended in Via Maggiore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just\noutside Narni\u2019s centre sits the Rocca Albornoz and Ponte di Augusto. Not much\nis left of the bridge today but the solitary 30m high arch that is left is\nrather beautiful in itself and leaves it to the imagination of the spectator to\nre-create in their mind the 160m length bridge that once existed. In contrast,\nthe castle is very much in tact and looms over Narni. Surrounded by parkland,\nits a very pleasant spot for a picnic or rest in the sunshine and a great place\nto admire the views over the surrounding countryside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Further\nout again are the ancient ruins of Oriculum. The ancient ruins here are impressive, the most well preserved of\nwhich are the theatre, amphitheatre and Capitolium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Norcia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Norcia is a beautiful walled town but, unfortunately, it has\nbeen plagued by the threat of earthquakes for many years. Due to historic\ntremors, a law was passed in 1859 which forbade any buildings above 12.5 metres\nin height. However, this failed to prevent damage in subsequent earthquakes,\nthe most damaging of which were in 1979 and more recently on 24 August 2016.\nUnfortunately, the latter completely destroyed the Medieval Basilica of St\nBenedict along with several other buildings. The process of rebuilding will\ntake years and is still very much work in progress but don\u2019t let this put you\noff visiting. The town has a real vibrancy and buzz about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Foodies will fall in love with Norcia, home as it is to its\nfamous salami, black truffles and wild boar. Numerous shops along Norcia\u2019s\nstreets will offer the opportunity to try some free samples. However, if you\nwant to try samples of the best that the town has to offer, we recommend lunch\nat Norcineria Ansuini Brothers. The shop itself is a sight to behold but they\noffer a few small tables outside where you can enjoy their wares on sight.\nWorst case, head here to stock up on provisions for dinner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We highly recommend you visit in the Spring, combining a\ntrip to the town with a trip a little further into the hills to view the\nspectacle on the plains of Castelluccio 1453 metres above sea level. In the\nSpring months (and most typically in June but the exact date of flowering can\nobviously vary), the wild flowers bloom with a multitude of colours and the\nresult is truly breathtaking. Not surprisingly, the spectacle attracts a number\nof flower lovers from all over the world. It\u2019s the most magical spot to enjoy a\nwalk or to go trekking and is not to be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t make it to Norcia to see the Spring flowers,\nthen try and coincide your visit with one of the food festivals instead. The\nmain truffle season runs from January to April and the last two weeks of\nFebruary sees a dedicated truffle festival. This has become a renowned\ninternational event where visitors can enjoy the famous black truffles of\nNorica as well as a whole host of other foods including capocollo, ricotta and\nother cheeses, proscuito and salame. Or the 3 day Proscuiti al Mondo festival,\nfeaturing prosciutto producers from all over Italy, starts on 1 November each\nyear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or for something more based in history, head to Norcia at\nthe end of March or end of August. At these times Norcia celebrates its patron\nsaint, Benedict. Visitors to Norcia at that time will be treated to a display\nof music, dance and shows in the main piazza along with a historical parade\nwith participants dressed in Medieval costumes and competing in an archery\ncontest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Orvieto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Orvieto\nis a beautiful town, filled with charming narrow streets, independent shops,\nstunning churches, interesting museums, historic palaces and as rich a history\nto explore underground as above ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First\nand foremost, Orvieto\u2019s Duomo is an impressive spectacle and is arguably one of\nthe greatest Gothic buildings in the whole of Italy. Inside, there are some\nbeautiful frescoes by Luca Signorelli whilst its facade is just stunning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other\nsights of interest include the Museo Claudio Faina, the Museo Archeologico\nNazionale and the Museo dell\u2019 Opera del Duomo. The first of these is perhaps\nthe most interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But\ndon\u2019t miss out on the opportunity to explore what is under your feet. The\nGrotta della Rupe is an extraordinary series of caves, cellars, aqueducts,\nquarries and tunnels. In total over 1200 caves have been discovered and it\u2019s\npossible to enjoy a tour of some of these to learn more about its rich history.\nAlso underground is \u2018Il Labirinto di Adriano\u2019, a series of caves, wells and\nunderground rooms that were so named thanks to the owners Adriano and Rita who\ndiscovered it in the 1970s. Also heading deep underground are a couple of wells\n\u2013 the Pozzo della Cava and the Pozzo di San Patrizio. Both are open to visitors\nand the latter has an ingenious spiral staircase design that ensures you won\u2019t\nget clogged in pedestrian traffic as you make your way up and down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For\na completely diferent view of Orvieto, make your way to the Torre del Moro.\nVisitors can climb its many steps to a spectacular terrace where you can enjoy\n360 views over Orvieto and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adjacent\nto the Torre is the Palazzo dei Sette, one of a few palaces in Orvieto, another\nbeing the Palazzo del Popolo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Orvieto\nalso has a rich theatrical tradition and visitors may like to see if anything\nis on at the Teatro Mancinelli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paciano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not\nfar from the shores of Lake Trasimeno, Paciano is a perfectly preserved\nMedieval village, enclosed by thick 14th<\/sup> century walls and entered\nvia one of three gates. There are a number of churches in the village as well\nas half a dozen restaurants. It is also home to a well-kept secret \u2013 a fantastic\nbakery open twice a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Panicale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Panicale\nis a pretty hill town, enjoying views towards Castiglione del Lago and over\nLake Trasimeno itself. If you\u2019re an art lover, then take a look in the Church\nof San Sebastiano where you will find a couple of Perugino paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Papiano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Papiano is a small village and home to one of the most\nnoteworthy bell towers in Umbria. One of five watchtowers of the ancient 13th<\/sup>\ncentury castle built here, it is made entirely of stone and has a prominent clock\ndating to the 13th<\/sup> century along with two bells. The village is a\nfascinating place for a stroll, with a myrid of tunnels, arches, alleyways and\nfrescoes to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Passignano sul\nTrasimeno<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Passignano\nis arguably the most popular town on Lake Trasimeno. But be warned, it can get\nextremely busy in the peak Summer months and traffic tends to build up through\nits streets. The Rocca del Passignano dominates the town and its worth a visit,\nif only to climb the spiral staircase in its tower to reach the terrace 32\nmetres up. The climb will reward you with wonderful views over Lake Trasimeno\nand the surrounding hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors\nto the fortress will also come across the Boat Museum which houses a range of\nboats and equipment all used in their day for fishing on the nearby lake and on\nthe other Italian inland waters. These include \u2018fassoi\u2019 wich are boats made\nwith lake plants and used in Sardinia as well as boats typical of the Padule di\nFuceccio in Tuscany. One of the oldest exhibits is a mono-sail boat, a boat\ndating back to 1200 that was created out of the trunk of an oak tree and found\nin Passignano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perugia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perugia\nis the capital of the Umbria region. It\u2019s also an important university town and\nits thriving student population gives the city a buzz whatever time of year you\nchoose to visit. Many people choose to fly into it\u2019s small airport \u2013 Sant\u2019\nEgidio – and then don\u2019t even manage to visit but it\u2019s certainly worth a trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ncity\u2019s main street is the Corso Vannucci. This is a wide pedestrian street\nfilled with shops and cafes, at one end of which lies the Piazza IV Novembre\nand at the other the Piazza Italia. The street is named after Perugia\u2019s most\nfamous artist, Pietro Vannuccci, more commonly known as simply Perugino. The\nPiazza IV Novembre is home to both the Palazzo dei Priori and the Duomo whilst\nin its centre sits the beautiful fountain \u2013 Fontana Maggiore. The latter was\ndesigned in 1277 by the Silvestrine monk, Fra\u2019 Bevignate and sculted by Nicolo\nand Giovanni Pisano. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nPalazzo dei Priori has an imposing Gothic doorway and rows of trefoil windows.\nIt is home to 4 key sights, all worth a visit \u2013 the Sala dei Notari (a Medieval\nlawyers meeting hall dating from the 1290s), the Sala del Collegio della\nMercanzia (the seat of the merchants guild), the Collegio del Cambio (the hall\nof moneychangers whose walls are adorned with frescoes by Perugino) and finally\nthe Galleria Nazionale dell \u2018Umbria (a stunning art gallery which traces the\nartwork of Umbria from Byzantine times through to the Renaissance period when\nfocus falls heavily on both Perugino and Pinturicchio and then beyond through\nto the nineteeth century).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ncity also has a number of other important museums well worth visiting. These\ninclude the Museo dell\u2019 Opera del Duomo which is accessed through the cathedral\nsacristy and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell\u2019 Umbria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And,\nas with most Italian cities, there are also a number of beautiful churches. The\nDuomo is, of course, worth a visit as is the church of San Severo in Piazza\nRafaello. This contains one of Raphael\u2019s first complete works \u2013 A Holy Trinity\nand Saints (1505-8 and 1521). Also worthy of mention is the stunning interior\nof San Pietro and the ancient rotunda of Sant Angelo as well as the smaller\nchurches of SS Severo e Agata, San Filippo Neri and Santi Stefano e Valentino.\nThe afore mentioned rotunda of Sant Angelo is one of the oldest churches in\nUmbria and was probably built on the site of a Roman temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ncity plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year. These include\nUmbria Jazz in July, Music Fest Perugia across both July and August and\nEurochocolate in October. Umbria Jazz is certainly Italy\u2019s most important jazz\nfestival. In the past it has seen jazz greats such as Miles Davis and Stan Getz\nperform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare also some regular markets in the city. There is a flower and terracotta\nmarket every weekend in the Piazza Danti whilst for foodies, there is a\npermanent covered food market (Mercato Coperto) just off Piazza Matteotti which\nopens every morning with the exception of Sundays. In addition, a more general\nmarket operates every Tuesday and Saturday mornings on the Scala di Sant\u2019\nErcolano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Piediluco<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Piediluco\nis a small village on the North shores of the Lago di Pediluco, famous for\nbeing a sailing and canoeing centre. The lake itself boasts a few small beaches\nbut it\u2019s certainly not the best lake in the region for swimming in with rather\nmurky waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n San\nFeliciano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This\nis a sleeping but charming fishing village set on the Eastern shores of Lake\nTrasimeno. It\u2019s possible to catch a ferry from here to Isola Polvese. It\u2019s a\nnice place to spend an hour whilst waiting for the boat. Enjoy a drink in one\nof the lakeside cafes whilst looking out over the traditional flat bottomed\nfishing boats and watching the fishermen mend their nets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n San Gemini<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n San\nGemini is a spa town with a Medieval centre, renowned for its mineral springs.\nFor centuries, the natural springs have had a reputation for their healing\nproperties and many visit the thermal spa each year<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis plenty more on offer in San Gemini though. The Medieval town centre has a\nnumber of key sites worth visiting including the Gothic style Church of San\nFrancesco located in the Piazza San Francesco at the heart of the town, the\nPalazzo Vecchio which is home to some beautiful frescoes and, adjacent to this,\nthe Torre Esperia, with its bell tower built in 1318 as a way to call the town\nto meetings. Also of note is the Duomo of the Church of San Gemine dating back\nto the 12th<\/sup> century and again home to some beautiful frescoes as\nwell as the relics of Saint Gemini, as well as the Church of San Carlo and the\n11th<\/sup> century Abbey of San Nicolo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As\nwith many of the towns and villages in Umbria, San Gemini also has some key annual\nevents that it celebrates. These include the Infiortata di San Gemini held\naround May or June when the city is decorated with flowers. Residents create\nreal works of art using flower petals and herbs. It is a spectacle not to be\nmissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More\nregularly, San Gemini also hosts an antiquity market every third Sunday of the\nmonth. This is an ideal chance to pick up a priceless antique as well as modern\nday crafts and draws visitors from all over Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spello<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Probably\nour favourite towns in Italy, Spello is a Medieval hilltop town. Unlike many of\nits neighbours in Umbria, its main piazza is nothing special, bordered as it is\non two sides by modern 20th<\/sup> century buildings. The town invested\nconsiderably in the square in 2017 but the modern buildings remain. And in any\ncase, the rest of the town more than makes up for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In May, Spello hosts the Infiorata of Corpus Domini which is\nan incredible spectacle. The local residents put together the most stunning\nworks of art within the streets of the town using only flower petals and\nleaves. Prizes are awarded for the best creations, all of which are started at\nthe same time on the Saturday and which the artists work through the night to\ncomplete. Not surprisingly, accommodation in the town gets booked up early for\nthis time of year, as people look to witness the beautiful artworks for\nthemselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In\nthe Summer, Spello remembers its Roman roots. Hispellum, as it was called in\nRoman times, was an important Roman centre. At the bottom of the town,\nexcavations have revealed an old Roman villa which has now been carefully\npreserved within a modern 21st<\/sup> century museum. There are hands-on\nexhibits for children to enjoy making it a suitable stopping point for all the\nfamily. Other Roman remains within the town include the Porta Consolare (the\nmain gateway at the bottom of the town), the Porta Venere (arguably the most\nimpressive of the gateways sitting to the West of the main piazza) and the Arco\ndei Cappuccini or Porta dell\u2019 Arce at the top of the town. From here, you can\nlook down on to the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At\nthe end of August each year, Spello celebrates the period of time in the fourth\ncentury AD when, under the reign of Constantine, the city enjoyed real\nprestige, becoming the Roman federal capital. Across 4 days at the end of\nSummer, the glorious Roman past is re-enacted with shows, parades, battle\nsimulations, banquets and more. It\u2019s not unusual to be sat enjoying an evening\naperitif and to see a Roman centurion or soldier walking past or a Roman lady\nfully kitted out in her beautiful toga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spello\u2019s\nchurches are also worth a visit. Situated in the Piazza Matteotti is the Chiesa\ndi Santa Maria Maggiore which are home to Pinturicchio\u2019s frescos in the Capella\nBaglioni. The nearby Church of Saint Andrea also houses another Pinturicchio\nmasterpiece \u2013 the Madonna and Child with Saints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntown is famed for its excellent restaurants. Our favourites include La\nBastiglia at the very top of the town. The setting here is superb. Ask for a\ntable with a view outside on the terrace and you won\u2019t be disappointed. Or in\nthe centre of the town there is La Cantina, serving delicious Italian cuisine\nin a fantastic atmosphere. For an unforgettable wine tasting experience, try\nEnoteca Properzio, a family run business whose owner, Roberto, knows everything\nthere is to know about wine and whose choice of wines is second to none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spoleto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spoleto\nwas an important Roman colony and has remained of importance to this day. It is\na thriving bustling centre and it\u2019s also incredibly beautiful. The town can be\nsplit into an Upper and Lower section. The majority of the architectural sights\nare in the higher area as the lower section was heavily damaged during WWII and\nsubsequently rebuilt by the Allies but there are nevertheless three important\nRomanesque churches in the lower section which are worth visiting. These are\nthe churches of San Salvatore (one of Italy\u2019s oldest churches located within\nthe town\u2019s main cemetery), San Gregorio and San Ponziano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis much more to see in the Upper Town, the heart of which is the Piazza della\nLiberta and the Pizza del Mercato. At the South end of the square is the Arco\ndi Druso, a first century Roman arch whilst adjacent to the arch is the Church\nof Sant\u2019 Asano. Head inside for a glimpse of the crypt which is adorned with\nfrescoes dating back to the 6th<\/sup> century AD. The other end of the\npiazza leads to the Church of Sant\u2019 Eufemia. It is unique in Umbria thanks to\nits matroneum (womens gallery). This sits above the body of the church and is\nreached from a tiny door on the left on the left aisle. It served to segregate\nthe congregation \u2013 the women would sit upstairs and the men downstairs. When\nvisiting the church, leave some time to also visit the Museo Diocesano d\u2019Arte\nSacra, home to many artefacts and paintings from churches across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nPiazza del Mercato itself gives you a real sense of how the locals live. There\nis a market held here every morning (except Sundays) and it\u2019s not unusual to\nsee locals washing fruit and vegetables in the central fountain. Certainly,\nyou\u2019ll always find locals here sitting to chat and swap stories in the local\nbars and cafes around its edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis less to see in the Piazza della Liberta but there is a restored Roman\ntheatre which is used for performances throughout the year as well as the Museo\nArcheologico. A combined ticket provides entry to both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou are interested in Roman history then you may also want to explore the Casa\nRomana (Roman House). Excavated between 1885 and 1912, the house supposedly\nonce belonged to the mother of the Emperor Vespasian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nshort walk from the Piazza Mercato is the Duomo. It\u2019s a beautiful building, with\na real sense of elegance. Some of the most famous works it houses include Fra\nLippo Lippi\u2019s \u2018Life of the Virgin\u2019 and Pinturicchio\u2019s unfinished work of art,\nthe \u2018Madonnna and Child with the Baptist and St Stephen.\u2019 But you will also be\nwalking on one of its most beautiful features \u2013 the stunning original marble\nfloor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou\u2019re more into shopping than art and architecture, then head to Corso Mazzini\nwhich is home to most of Spoleto\u2019s shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or\nif you simply want to wander around its streets and take in its beauty, add a\nshort walk to the Ponte delle Torri to your route. This is a spectacular 14th<\/sup> century\naqueduct and is probably the town\u2019s most famous attraction. It spans 240 metres\nsupported by 10 enormous arches, the highest of which measure 76 metres. Take a\nwalk across to the pathways on the other side which lead into some beautiful\nwoods and on to olive groves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En\nroute over the bridge, you will spot the Rocca (castle). This was originally\nbuilt as part of an attempt by Cardinal Albornoz to restablish the authority of\nthe church but in succeeding years has been anything from a Papal holiday home\nto a prison. Nowadays it is possible to enjoy a tour of the castle, our\nfavourite part of which is the wonderful views that it affords over the\nsurrounding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spoleto also has a wonderful Summer festival \u2013 the Festival\ndei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds), a contemporary arts jamboree and one of\nthe leading arts festivals in Europe held every June and July. It has been\ngoing since it was created by composor Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 and has a\nvast array of concerts to enjoy in many genres including opera, dance and\ndrama. It also includes a number of interesting discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Terni<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Terni is a rather ugly, industrial city with little\nto recommend it to visitors. It was a centre for steel manufacturing in the 19th<\/sup>\ncentury and this emphasis on industry led to it being heavily bombed by the\nallies in WWII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does boast two claims to fame \u2013 St Valentine was\nborn here (although lovers will find little to delight in here) and it was also\nwhere the gun was made that was used to shoot John F Kennedy. For those looking\nto find out more about Valentine, head to the Basilica San Valentino where you\nwill find his tomb. His remains are kept in a glass case under the main altar\nhere and encased in a gold death mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, there is not a great deal to see. Terni\u2019s\nDuomo is rather unusual in that it looks more like a civic palace than a\nreligious building and adjacent to this are some Roman remains but there is not\nmuch more. That said, it hosts a good performing arts festival each year and\ndoes have an excellent contemporary art gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Todi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Todi\u2019s\nPiazza del Popolo is often described as Italy\u2019s most perfect Medieval piazza,\nflanked on each side by palaces and a beautiful Duomo. It\u2019s certainly the heart\nof the city and home to many of its most important sites. Not surprising given\nits beauty, it has been the set for a number of films, most notably Cleopatra\nfeaturing Elizabeth Taylor. You\u2019ll probably come across her photo in a number\nof the town\u2019s bars and restaurants!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nDuomo was built in the 13th<\/sup> century on the site of an old Roman\ntemple. It has an incredibly simple, almost plain facade but don\u2019t let this\ndeceive you. The interior is worth exploring. Take a look at the copy of\nMichelangelo\u2019s Last Judgement on the far wall but don\u2019t expect to be too\nimpressed by it! Ferrau da Faenza\u2019s copy is pretty poor! You will no doubt find\nthe altar more impressive, designed and built by Gianncolo di Paolo, one of\nPerugino\u2019s followers. There is plenty to be seen underground here too. For a\nsmall additional fee, you can explore the underground crypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis more to be found underground in Todi. The Piazza del Popolo itself was built\non top of a series of Roman cisterns. Visitors now have the opportunity to see\nthese for themselves. Just look for signs to the Cisterne Romane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\npalaces in the Piazza del Popolo were originally built by the commune to try\nand out-do the church. They include the Palazzo dei Priori, the Palazzo del\nPopolo and the Palazzo del Capitano. The latter is home to the Museo\nEtrusco-Romano which, as the name suggests, contains a number of important\nlocal Etruscan and Roman artefacts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A\ncouple of other places sights worth visiting include the churches of Santa\nMaria della Consolazione, one of the best Renaissance churches in Italy, and San\nFortunato. Here it\u2019s possible to climb the 153 steps of the church tower to\nenjoy some fantastic views over Todi to the countryside beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And\nof course, the views alone are worth the trip to Todi. Todi is set 410 metres\nup enjoying views down over the Tiber valley. For some of the best views head\nto Piazza Garibaldi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try and time your visit to coincide with the Todi Festival held each year at the end of August or beginning of September. The festival is a 10 day extravaganza of music, ballet and arts. Or head in on any Saturday during the year and your trip will coincide with the weekly market. Another important market that is worth seeing is held in the last week in March in the Piazza Comunale in Todi. At this time, antique dealers from all over Italy converge in the square to sell a variety of antiques including furniture, ceramics, rugs and paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trevi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors can spend a couple of hours\nenjoying the labyrinth of narrow streets that make up Trevi\u2019s centre. The town\nis also home to a couple of museums, notably the Pinacoteca Comunale in the\nformer Convcent of San Francesco and the Museo della Civilta dell\u2019 Ulivo, which\nin contrast to the focus on artworks in the Pinacoteca is instead devoted to\nthe history and production of olive oil. It\u2019s perhaps not surprising to find a\nmuseum to the latter here, surrounded as Trevi is by miles and miles of olive\ngroves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Umbertide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately\nUmbertide was heavily bombed during WW2, leaving little of its old roots left\nto see and meaning that its Medieval centre is absolutely tiny, albeit\ncharming. The rest of the town is more industrial and there isn\u2019t much to keep\ntourists entertained for long here. That said, there is a museum just outside\nthe old town walls \u2013 the Museo di Santa Croce di Umbertide \u2013 which is home to\nLuca Signorelli\u2019s \u2018Deposition\u2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arguably less famous than its neighbour to the West, Umbria is nevertheless a joy to visit, with a plethora of stunning hilltop towns, fascinating cities and incredibly beautiful villages to explore. Enjoy our A to Z of the region’s towns, villages and cities, to help you plan your next holiday in Umbria. Amelia Amelia is a delightful hilltop town overlooking the River Tiber. Access is through one of the four original Roman gates, the main one being the Porta Romana. According to some historians, it is also the oldest town in Umbria. Arrone Arrone is a fortress village in the Valnerina valley in the South East of Umbria and another village in Umbria which has earned the name of the \u2018borghi piu belli d\u2019Italia.\u2019 The village is perched on a rocky outcrop and its location means that it is often visited by sports enthuiasts who make the most of the opportunity to free-climb on its natural cliffs or to enjoy rafting, canyoning and canoeing in the countryside nearby. Take the time to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the Assumption) which is home to some incredible 16th century terracotta statues as well as some incredible paintings from the School of Caravaggio. Another church worthy of a visit is the Church of St John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista) which is home to some 13th century frescoes. You can\u2019t miss the wonderful bells that ring from the ancient bell tower thanks to the Campanari di Arrone (bell ringers of Arrone) who have worked to preserve and promote the traditional bell ringing tradition since they formed in 2002. A third stopping point is the Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Scoglio where you can enjoy wonderful views over the Nera Valley below. Assisi Assisi is a popular pilgrimage site with Christians flocking to view the Basilica di San Francesco sitting on what was previously known as the Colle d\u2019Inferno (the hill of hell). This was the site where criminals used to be executed and buried but it was where St Francis had specifically asked to be buried hence the reason for the location of the church. St Francis is an important figure in the Christian church. St Francis was born in 1181, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant of Assisi. But following a vision of Christ that Francis had in the crumbling Church of San Damiano in which Christ asked him to help him repair his house, he sold his possessions to fund the repairs. His father was incensed and threatened to disinherit him but this simply spurred Francis on. He publicly renounced his family\u2019s wealth, even giving up the clothes on his back and from that moment on lived a simple life in the woods, fields and mountains of Umbria. He was never ordained but following a meeting with Pope Innocent III was given permission to found a new religious order and travelled to Egypt to intervene in the crusades. Here, he so impressed Sultan Melek-el-Kamel that he was allowed to preach to his subjects. Whatever your religious beliefs, the Basilica di San Francesco is an impressive building, home to some beautiful frescoes and extraordinary stained glass windows which bathe the interior in light. In fact, the basilica is 2 churches, sat one on top of the other \u2013 the Basilica Inferiore and the Basilica Superiore. The former is a relatively dark and sombre building building compared to the upper church but it is home to the tomb of St Francis. The tomb was never intended to be on display but the ground around it was dug out in the early 20th century, leaving a central column which houses his body and to where thousands come each year to pay their respects. The Basilica Superiore is filled with light and colour. Make time to admire Giotto\u2019s 28 frescoes which fill the nave and which illustrate the life of St Francis. Make sure you cover up before heading inside. You will not be allowed in if your skirt of shorts are above the knee and you will also need to ensure that your shoulders are covered too. There is more to Assisi than just its basilica though, as beautiful and as impressive as this is. The cobbled streets that wind their way uphill are absolutely charming, lined with small boutiques and cafes. However, you will find that prices tend to be rather inflated in Assisi compared to other Umbrian towns. Rest assured, your walk around its streets will be amply rewarded every now and then with impressive views over the surrounding countryside and the valley below. Other sights worth visiting in Assisi include the Pinacoteca Comunale di Assisi (art galley housing paintings by Giotto and Perugino amongst others) and the Museo e Foro Romano (one of the best archeology collections around, this museum is situated in the Roman forum itself under the town\u2019s central piazza and surrounding streets). A striking site in the main Piazza del Comune is the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Its portal is the front section of the ancient Roman temple of Minerva. If you want to visit the site where St Francis had the vision of Christ which changed his life forever, then head to the Porta Nuova and then follow the pretty pathway downhill for around a kilometre until you reach the Church of San Damiano. This is also where the death of the Patron Saint of Television, Saint Clare, is marked. Clare was made the saint by the Pope in 1958 because of a miracle in 1252 when Clare, ill in bed, witnessed a vision of mass being celebrated several miles away. If you\u2019d like to further follow in the footsteps of St Francis, then head about 4 km west of Assisi to the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. This is where Francis first came when he gave up his possessions, to a tiny chapel in the woods which survives to this day. It is also where St<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-right-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,405],"tags":[396,10,12],"class_list":["post-2511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italy","category-umbria-italy","tag-umbria","tag-umbria-apartments","tag-umbria-villas"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/images\/2020\/04\/assisi-2920130_1920-1024x768.jpg\")
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