Umbria

Idyllic Umbria, the slow-lane sister to Tuscany in Italy’s central heart, easily accessible from Florence, Rome or Pisa is a hilly land of agrarian landscapes, characterised by undulating tufts, woven round with vineyards and ancient forests, topped with medieval villages.

The picturesque and scenic hilltop towns were once strategic defensive positions; the Iron Age Etruscan civilisation was destroyed by Roman rule in 396 BC, visible in places like the Temple of San Michele Arcangelo in Perugia and the city walls of Assisi. Medieval times saw hilltop towns fortified with precision that still stand today, also the University of Perugia was built, one of the oldest university in Europe. In Assisi, San Francesco, the patron saint of animals and the poor returned home to his birthplace lending his spirituality to the town, plus the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. In the sixteenth century, the Italian Renaissance made its way to Umbria, setting up its own artistic school with outputs from Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio aka Bernardino di Betto di Biagio and Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino.

Today, wine, olive oil, black truffles, cured meats, porchetta, honey and legumes are the mainstays of this undiscovered foodie region, which revolves in tandem with the seasons and the rustic legacy of rural life. Towns and villages are places for tradition and festivals, like the annual Jazz festival in thriving Perugia, the truffle fair in Norcia and the Blues festival in Lake Trasimeno. A little something for everyone.