Tuscany is so popular that travelers frequently forget to visit Umbria, snuggled just “next door.” Although similar in many ways to Tuscany, Umbria has its own haunting beauty and the advantage of fewer tourists. It is the only Italian region having neither a coastline nor a border with other countries. Umbria is a region of historic and modern central Italy. The regional capital is Perugia. This
region seeped in history and imbued with romantic charm. Here you will find a beguiling landscape – a blend of rolling hills, craggy forests, rushing rivers (Tiber), lakes (Trasimeno, Cascata delle Marmore), lush valleys, chestnut groves and hillsides laced with vineyards. Adding further to Umbria’s magic is that its hills and valleys radiate a soft mellow light, gleaming gently in the sun. It is not just the landscape that makes Umbria so delightful. It also has stunning medieval castles, incredible cathedrals, ancient monasteries, art treasures, fine wines, beautiful ceramics and captivating towns perched on hilltops and some in valleys. Its influence on Italian culture, even today, is significant. Umbria includes historical towns such as Assisi (a World Heritage Site associated with St. Francis of Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and other Franciscan sites, works by Giotto and Cimabue), Norcia (the hometown of St. Benedict), Gubbio, Spoleto, Todi, Città di Castello, Orvieto, Castiglione del Lago, Narni, Amelia, and a number of other small incredibly beautiful cities.
