Hotels in Umbria, Italy

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Umbria

The small land locked region of Umbria may not as well known as its more illustrious neighbour, Tuscany, but it is still has an incredible patrimony in history and culture. Being mainly mountainous and hilly, it presents a landscape that is rich in woods and water resources. It is also crossed by the Apennines, which form numerous valleys further enhancing Umbria’s beauty. It also boasts a comparatively large lake: the Trasimeno.

Gastronomy Despite being a relatively small region, Umbria is able to showcase a wide variety of cuisine, including meat, cereals, spices herbs and vegetables. Studies show that the locals still cook in a similar manner to their Etruscan ancestors.

As with other neighbouring regions, olive oil is a preponderant ingredient, and its production in Umbria is considered to be some of the best in Italy. Delicious examples include minestrone soups, egg pastas and game such as wild pigeons and the specialty of specialties the black tartufo from Norcia.

Hunting this sublime delicacy is a carefully guarded secret and only a few people know the best locations where to get them (handed down from generation to generation).

Norcia has also given the name to Torcino, the preparations of sausages from hogs liver and other foodstuffs such as orange peel and raisins.

History This region was first inhabited by the ancient Umbrians in the first millennium BC and eventually conquered by the Roman centuries later. Its central position meant a continual web and flow of invasion and conquests.

The barbarian incursions that followed the fall of the Roman Empire left many flourishing cities plundered and in ruins. Stability was later returned with the coming onto the scene of the Lombards, who established the Duchy of Spoleto in 571. Following the defeat of the Lombards by the Franks in the late 8th century the region once again fell into a period of disturbance.

By 1800, the region had been occupied by the Napoleonic armies. It once again fell within fell within the sphere of the church and was eventually united the to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Culture The traces of Etruscan civilization are remarkable in Umbria, as visitors can see in Todi, Bettona, Orvieto and Perugia. Spoleto has important Roman remains; Spello is a city, where the Romans left some impressive remains.

Other important Roman works can be found in Assisi and Gubbio. The Romanesque architecture thrived in thins region at the beginning of the twelfth century: some beautiful examples are the Cathedrals of Spoleto and Assisi, St. Silvestro and St. Michele in Bevagna.

The Gothic style reached very high levels, and imposing examples are present in almost every city. The Renaissance can be seen in magnificent monuments in Perugia, Gubbio, Todi, but it enjoyed a smaller development than other styles.

In Perugia there is the National Gallery of Umbria, one of the most important exhibits of Gothic painting, with masterpieces by Duccio di Boninsegna, Beato Angelico, Piero della Francesca.

The National Archaeologic Museum of Umbria houses a splendid and very rich Etruscan collection. Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis, one of the greatest figures of Christianity, has the superb Basilica of San Francesco with the world famous Giotto’s frescoes, showing in 28 splendid paintings the life of the Saint; the Pinacoteca Civica and the Cathedral’s Museum

Spoleto has the Gallery of Contemporary Art. In Gubbio there is the Civic Museum, which holds the famous “Eugubine tables”: seven bronze plates, from the second century B.C. Foligno can offer the tourists the Archaeologic Museum and the Pinacoteca Civica. Activities Visit the sources of the Clitunno and Mount Subasio. The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Rocca Maggiore.

The ancient city of Spoleto offers the Roman Theater and Druso’s Arch. Near Perugia, people can visit the Ipogeo del Volumni, which is an Etruscan tomb.