Destinations, Attractions and Trips in Umbria, Italy
The Umbria region is located in the heart of Italy. It borders Tuscany
and is situated to its southeast. It features ancient cities and landscapes similar
to Tuscany, but it is not as famous and touristy as Tuscany, which is actually
its advantage over Tuscany because it is less crowded and commercialized, more
authentic, and consequently cheaper for the tourist. Another advantage is that Umbria
is closer to Rome, about a one-hour drive from Rome to the Umbria border
and two and a quarter hours to Perugia, the capital of Umbria. Therefore, Umbria is
a successful and cheaper destination that combines well with a trip to Rome.
In Umbria, similar to Tuscany, you will find picturesque ancient towns on
hilltops and mountains with landscapes of forests, vineyards, olive groves,
and valleys dotted with farms, wineries, olive oil production plants, and more.
The variety of accommodation options in Umbria is large and suits everyone and every budget, from luxury spa hotels to country houses. Below are several warm accommodation recommendations.
Recommended Hotels in Umbria
Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Museum
A luxury and unique 5-star spa hotel
in the city
of Assisi Assisi, located in a restored 13th-century ancient monastery.
The designed and pampering rooms overlook panoramic views of the city
and mountains. Some rooms have a balcony. The hotel features a swimming pool, hammam,
jacuzzi, gym, excellent chef restaurant, and bar. Free internet. Parking
for a fee.
B&B All’Ombra di San Damiano
A quality bed and breakfast
4 minutes' drive from the center of
Assisi. Comfortable and air-conditioned rooms. A beautiful courtyard with garden
furniture. Free internet. Free parking.
Residence Terra Dei Santi Country House
A small and quality
apartment hotel near the town of
Spello. 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 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 city center. Modern and
air-conditioned rooms. A spacious courtyard lush with vegetation. Free internet and parking.
Excellent breakfast.
Trips in Cities and Towns in the Umbria Region
Perugia Capital of the Umbria Region
Guided tours in Perugia and Assisi:
Perugia, the largest city in Umbria, with a population of about 160 thousand residents, combines the old with the new.
Like other cities in Umbria, it is not recommended and sometimes even impossible to enter the historic center by car. The city is built on a mountain and those arriving by car park in parking lots located outside its center at a lower place from which you can ascend to the city center on foot combined with conveyors and escalators that pass inside the ancient Rocca Paolina fortress before exiting into the historic center at Italy Square. The heart of the historic center is 4 November Square. The best way to tour the city center is on foot.
Perugia is a vibrant university city yet features antiquities from more than 2,000 years ago. It has wide squares alongside narrow alleys and most importantly - plenty 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, in order to see
it and also get to know the local food, the most successful thing is to take
a guided food tour in Perugia and a chocolate-making workshop. In mid-October, a large chocolate festival called Eurochocolate takes place there.
The city is also known as the main venue for the Umbria Jazz festival
which takes place in Umbria every year in mid-July for about ten days,
during which the city has a special atmosphere with jazz performances all over the city,
some free and some paid.
Assisi
The most touristic city in the Umbria region is Assisi, which is a pilgrimage site for Catholic Christians thanks to being the birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan order, and Saint Clare. The city, which abounds with magnificent churches, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is a successful destination to visit even for those not interested in the Christian religion, but since it is very crowded, touristy, and commercialized, I will not elaborate on it here.
Guided tours in Perugia and Assisi:
The City of Spoleto
The city of Spoleto in Umbria, with about 38 thousand residents, is built like many ancient cities in this region on a mountain and you do not enter it with a car, but don't worry, it is the most tourist-friendly city in all of Italy. Near the city, there are covered and cheap parking lots with orderly services from which you ascend via a series of conveyors to the fortress perched on top of the mountain.
From the conveyors, there are exit points to tour different areas of the city, but the most successful thing is to go up to the highest place, the fortress, from there to look out over the impressive landscape spread below and then descend leisurely back to the parking lot through narrow and winding streets featuring numerous restaurants, bars, cafes and charming shops.
One of the city's symbols is a large ancient Roman bridge. The city has narrow alleys but also a well-maintained main shopping street, a Roman theater, and other ancient buildings. The signage is excellent, the residents are friendly, and most importantly it is not crowded and packed with tourists like many cities in Tuscany or like Assisi in Umbria.
Every year for 3 weeks at the end of June and beginning of July, the city hosts the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of the Two Worlds), which is one of the most important art festivals in Italy with music, theater, and dance performances.
Guided tours in Spello and Spoleto from Viator:
The Town of Spello
Spello is an enchanted preserved ancient town with about 8,600 residents, which was chosen this year by a tourism magazine as one of the ten most charming towns in Italy worth visiting as long as they are not reached by hordes of tourists.
It is located in the heart of Umbria - a quarter of an hour from Assisi, 35 minutes from Perugia. The town is ideal as a starting point for a trip in Umbria. When visiting the city, you park in the parking lot located at the entrance to the ancient city, near the city gate and walk from there uphill through winding alleys full of restaurants, delis, galleries, small art museums, shops, wine bars and atmosphere.
A particularly recommended gallery on the main street of the town is called Museo di Norberto, exhibiting the works of the artist Norberto.
From the upper street,
the landscape of Umbria can be seen far into the distance:
A gardening competition is held annually in the town with several categories, such as the most beautiful balcony,
so the whole place is lush with vegetation and extremely well-maintained.
Likewise, a flower festival is held there
in which carpets designed from flowers (wildflowers only) are prepared in the city streets
every ninth Sunday after Easter. About a thousand people
work on the preparation all night so it is ready for the Christian ceremony of
the Bishop's procession.
About a ten-minute drive south of Spello is located Foligno, an ancient but vibrant city, especially in the winter months when the other towns and cities in Umbria are sleepy. The city is famous thanks to a festival called Giostra della Quintana held there twice a year: in June and September, featuring unique horse competitions between the various quarters of the city.
Piazza Della Repubblica - Foligno:
Umbria also has something to offer to lovers of nature, water and action:
Water Experiences in Umbria
A water trip day in Umbria: massive artificial waterfalls, a picturesque lake cruise, and gentle river rafting - all within short driving distances from each other, with pastoral landscapes combined with food and wine. What more could you want? These trips can be organized for you by a successful company named Dreavel.
The video on the "Brtravel" channel illustrates all the sights and experiences of this day well:
-Marmore Waterfalls in Umbria
The Marmore waterfalls in Umbria near the city of Terni are very impressive artificial waterfalls. Every day at 11:00 the dams are opened for two hours and in the afternoon for another two hours, and the waterfalls that previously had a light flow cascade down into a green and impressive landscape and fill the air with lots of water spray. It is recommended to arrive at 10:30 to see the place before the waterfall is "activated", walk along the hiking trails between the waterfalls and the river, wait for the activation of the waterfalls and tour the place when they are at their peak flow.
The waterfalls before the dam opens:
The waterfalls after the dam opens:
Note: The time of opening the dams depends on the day and month of the year; in summer the operating hours of the waterfalls are extended while in winter they are reduced. Sometimes the waterfalls are also operated in the evening and illuminated with a variety of lights - a completely different experience.
-Family Rafting in Umbria
Family rafting in Umbria at grade 1 suitable especially for families with children from age three. The cruise is scenic and passes in front of picturesque towns, a monastery, and bridges. Everything around is green and pastoral with an abundance of trees, including many fruit trees. The cruise departs from the town of Scheggino from where you drive 5 kilometers by car and return downstream to the starting point in an experiential cruise.
The company provides all equipment
including a wetsuit, life jacket, and helmet so that those interested
can also swim in the clear but cold river water. At the end of the cruise
which lasts about an hour and a half, you receive a light meal including cheeses, cold cuts,
bread, and wine on the river bank opposite an impressive view of the ancient town.
The company also organizes a longer rafting trip of 3 hours as well as kayaking
and various adventure activities.
-Cruise on Lake Pediluco
The lake is located about 14 km southeast of the city of Terni. This is a small lake with long marked courses for kayak racing competitions. The cruise in a small boat departs from the eastern shore of the lake and passes by the houses of the small town after which the lake is named, Pediluco.
Around the lake are hills and picturesque towns on their peaks. At the eastern end of the lake you can also find a good restaurant named Ana Marina located on the lake shore with a lovely view of the lake. In summer the lake is popular for swimming and other active recreation activities.
