Culinary Experiences in an Umbria Trip
In Umbria, much like neighboring Tuscany, you will find picturesque ancient towns atop mountain peaks and hills with views of forests, vineyards, olive groves, and valleys dotted with farms, wineries, olive oil production plants, flour mills, chocolate factories, and more. In the article before you are several suggestions for culinary experiences that you can incorporate into your trip in the region.
Below are several recommended accommodations in the region from which you can take star trips in this wonderful region.
Recommended Hotels in Umbria
Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum
A luxurious and unique 5-star spa hotel
at a high standard in the city of
Assisi located in a restored 13th-century ancient monastery. The designed and pampering rooms overlook a panoramic view of the city and the mountains. Some rooms have a balcony. The hotel features a swimming pool, hammam, jacuzzi, gym, excellent chef restaurant, and a bar. Free internet. Paid parking.
B&B All’Ombra di San Damiano
Quality bed and breakfast
4 minutes drive from the center of
Assisi. Comfortable and air-conditioned rooms. A nice courtyard with garden furniture. Free internet. Free parking.
Residence Terra Dei Santi Country House
A small and quality apartment hotel near the city Spello. A pastoral and tranquil location about 1.5 km from the ancient center of Spello. Large air-conditioned apartments with a kitchen and patio. Free use of a washing machine and dryer. Good breakfast. Swimming pool, barbecue, and free bicycle rental for place guests. Free internet and parking.
Relais Metelli
A 4-star hotel in the city of Foligno in an
historic and elegant building five minutes from the ancient center of the city. Modern and air-conditioned rooms. A sprawling courtyard abundant with vegetation. Free internet and parking. Excellent breakfast.
Guided Tours in Perugia and Assisi:
Olive Oil
For Italians, extra virgin olive oil is one of the main food groups.
It is a basic ingredient in every dish in every meal. As with wine and
balsamic vinegar, here the location of production, the type of olives, and where they are from are very important. Of course, the entire process is strictly supervised, and all of this affects the price and quality of the oil.
Italians are very proud of it, and you can visit several family-run places where quality oil is prepared by cold pressing and watch the entire process in action if you arrive at the place in late October and November, or if not, at least see the ancient machines alongside modern ones with explanations of the oil production process and of course taste (and buy) the quality oil and its products.
Olive Oil Production Factory and Museum Bartolomei
Near Orvieto, in southern Umbria, only an hour and a half north of Rome is located a small, family-run factory for olive oil production and its products. The name of the place and the oil brand is: Al Vecchio Frantoio Bartolomei. In the place there is also a nice small museum with the machines used by previous generations of the family for oil production starting from 1890.
After visiting the museum, you see the advanced machinery and most importantly - you taste many delicacies based on quality olive oil (from two types) produced on-site. Nearby is a small shop selling many quality products at attractive prices.
Olive Groves and Olive Oil Production at Nunzi Farm
Another charming homey place in central Umbria near the town of Cantalupo di Bevagna is Antico Frantoio Nunzi where in addition to all the machinery and explanations you can taste local olive oil and even better - eat a delicious home-cooked meal in a magical atmosphere accompanied by good local wines. The place also has a small shop selling local olive oil and products made from it such as soaps and creams.
Guided Tours in Spello and Spoleto in the Umbria Region:
Guided Food Tour in Perugia
Perugia is a vibrant university city yet it has antiquities from more than 2,000 years ago. It has sprawling squares alongside narrow alleys and most importantly - lots of delicious and diverse food. Umbria is known for its truffles (tartufo) but also for its chocolate and of course wines and olive oil. Therefore, it is recommended to go out here on a guided food tour and participate in a chocolate workshop.
A highly successful company combining a visit to 8 different and quality food stations with a visit to antiquities, viewpoints, squares, alleys and famous buildings is:
Via del Vino Tours which has a charming and delicious tour called Taste Perugia Food Tour lasting about four hours after which you will fall in love with the city and of course its foods and restaurants.
In many of the stops you will sit and eat accompanied by a characteristic drink (from good cappuccino to wines characteristic of the region) gourmet delicacies including among others quality local oil, small colorful beans, quality chocolate
Perugia cafe:
And of course truffle mushrooms. During the tour you also visit the delicatessen of the "Truffle Hunter" who tells how, where and when they collect the precious like gold mushrooms and of course taste (and buy) various dips based on truffles ("tartufo").
Truffle mushrooms and truffle spread:
Chocolate Workshop in the City of Perugia
Perugia, the largest city in Umbria is considered the chocolate capital of Italy. Located in it is the Baci factory (which currently belongs to Nestle) and many other small handmade chocolate producers and lots of chocolate shops. A chocolate workshop in the city center in a small cafe called Turan (named after the Etruscan goddess of love) whose ceiling is decorated with impressive fresco paintings is highly recommended.
The place belongs to two charming young girls.
In the workshop they make chocolate with nuts and almonds, pralines with cognac and of course Baci chocolate.
You learn about chocolate, taste many chocolates and leave with a great haul - a bag full of chocolates you made.
A must attraction for chocolate lovers. You should come hungry... The tour is organized by Taste and Slow Italy which is a tourism company that can tailor tours, trips and accommodations across Italy for you.
Granarium - A Farm for Wheat Cultivation, Flour Mill and Bakery
Near the town of Cantalupo di Bevagna, there is a special farm called Granarium dealing with all stages of cultivation, harvesting, milling, baking and sale of wheat, flour and pastries. www.granarium.it/home-english.html
On the farm they grow the wheat, collect it in large containers and also grind it on-site. The produced flour is milled at various grinding levels 0-9.
Wheat storage containers:
The flour mills:
There is also whole wheat flour and regular flour. In addition to this there is a large bakery on-site where they bake sweet and savory pastries from the flour sold in the shop which is also on the farm and sells also the various types of flour and various legumes.
Milled flour types:
The large baking oven:
On the tour of the farm you see the large wheat collection containers and the flour mill. You get an explanation of the process and the types of flour produced, you see the huge oven where the sweet and savory pastries are baked and get tastings of the various pastries. You can buy various products in the on-site shop.
