Area: 8456 square kilometres
Population: 825,900
Regional capital: Perugia (pop. 151,000)
Main cities: Assisi, Terni, Castiglione del Lago, Spoleto, Foligno
Main lakes and rivers: Lake Trasimeno, Lake Corbara, River Tevere (Tiber), River Nera, River Velino, River Chiascio
Main mountains: Vettore ( 2476m), Coscerno (1685m), Pennino (1570m), Subasio(1290) Monti Sibillini
Make up of landscape:mountains: 29%, hills: 71%
Main industries: agriculture: agriculture: 9%, industry: 32% other (including tourism): 59%
Tuscany Weather: The weather in Umbria is generally mild and quite rainy. The area around Lake Trasimeno tends to be more protected. In the higher areas the weather is typically mountain weather with cold winters and snow.
Umbria’s eastern side borders the Appenines and the Sibillini mountains which it ‘shares’ with neighbouring Marche. It is a green area of hills and valleys, the most important being the Tiber valley which runs through Umbria from north to south. The Tiber, incidentally, is the third longest river in Italy. Umbria has countless rivers but the River Nera is worth remembering as it has the highest waterfall in Italy, the 160-metre Cascata delle Marmore. It’s odd that water features so strongly in Umbria, as it does not have a coastline, and another massive attraction is the beautiful Lake Trasimeno which despite being the largest lake in central Italy is only seven metres at its maximum depth – in fact you have to wade quite a long way out to even get water beyond knee- height!
Umbria was inhabited by the Umbri and Etruscan peoples and then conquered by the Romans in the third century BC who held it until the fall of the Roman Empire. Like neighbouring Tuscany it succumbed to various Barbaric invasions before coming under the control of the Byzantine Empire. By the 15th century Perugia was a hugely important political, cultural and economic centre. In the 16th century the region came under the control of the Papal States, a situation that remained until unification.
One of the reasons Umbria is famous is because of its patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi, who created his church there, a simple wooden building which can still be seen today, albeit covered by a rather more elaborate structure! The hilltop town of Assisi is now a place of pilgrimage for worshippers from all over the world.
Umbria is also famous for its great artists including Piero Vannucci known as Il Perugino and Bernardino di Betto, known as Pintoricchio.
This city, Umbria’s regional capital, dates back to at least 300 BC and was one of the famous twelve Etruscan strongholds. It is packed to the brim with art treasures and grand medieval buildings and still has an air of almost menacing splendour about it. Worth a mention are the main square – Piazza 4 Novembre, where you can see the Fonte Maggiore (the Great fountain) and the Palazzo dei Priori. The National Gallery of Umbria is here where you can see the works of sculptors Nicolò and Giovanni Pisano as well as paintings by Pintoricchio and, of course, Perugino. Nowadays Perugia is also famous for chocolate (its scrumptious chocolate festival is in November – but beware it is always packed!), its Jazz festival in July and its foreigners’ university (Università per Stranieri), where people from all over the world come to learn Italian. If you get a chance, then visit the underground streets in the Rocca Paolina.
Situated on the west of Mount Subasio, this pretty pink stone city, still enclosed by ramparts, looks almost as it did in medieval times. The first view of the city spread over the side of the mountain is breathtaking and it would be a shame to visit Umbria and not see this mystical place. The 13th century Basilica and the church of Santa Chiara are atmospheric, but to get a real feeling for saint Francis, visit the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli on the outskirts of Assisi. Once inside, go and sit for a few minutes in the small wooden building, called the Porziuncola, which is incongruously placed inside the ornate church. This was where Francis had the vision inspiring the Pardon of Assis. No matter what your beliefs, the special, sacred atmosphere is almost tangible.
This is an important industrial town in Umbria (it was known in the 19th century as the ‘Manchester of Italy’) but as with almost all Italian towns, it has a historic heart – the centre with a main square the Piazza della Repubblica. There is also a 12th century Church of Saint Francis with a beautiful Paradisi chapel. Terni is home to the Basilica of San Valentino – yes, that Saint Valentine - patron saint of lovers the world over. This is the place to come if you want to see the Cascata delle Marmore – the amazing 525 foot waterfall which was built by the Romans. It isn’t always ‘on’ (yes, they switch it on and off!) so check beforehand. Take the Rieti or Macerate road.
Spoleto is famous for its international Festival dei due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) which is held annually for a fortnight at the end of June, beginning of July. This pretty hill town, once capital of the duchy of Lombardia from the 6th to 8th century AD, plays host to a world class list of performers in the arts: opera, classical music, modern dance and ballet are all represented. Remember that this festival is very popular so if you plan to stay in Spoleto, book well in advance. At other times of year you can visit the lovely cathedral with its rose window located in the Piazza del Duomo, which is impressively lined with medieval palazzi and hanging gardens. Among other sights are the Roman ruins off the Piazza della Libertà and the Rocca, a papal fortress which looks over the town.
This lovely little town lies on a promontory with a castle overlooking Lake Trasimeno. It has a very small historic centre with just two main streets leading off the main square, but these contain a variety of shops, delicatessens and restaurants. There is a weekly market on Wednesdays. You can take sailing lessons on the lake, go swimming, hire a pedalo, take a ferry to one of the lake’s islands or just chill out on the ‘beach’ by the lakeside.
Many visitors to Umbria fly in to Pisa Airport which is approximately 80km west of Florence (about 50 miles) in Tuscany. It is then quite easy to reach Umbria by car or train changing at Florence. An alternative is to fly to Rome Ciampino or Fiumicino airports and then travel up by car or train to Umbria. Chiusi station on the Umbria/Tuscany border (but actually in Tuscany) is a very convenient place to begin your visit to the region, being just 12 miles or so from Castiglione del Lago and Lake Trasimeno. Note that it is called Chiusi - Chianciano station but is actually miles from Chianciano! The town is also easily reached by the A1 motorway, again called the Chiusi Chianciano exit.
Umbria also has its own airport – Sant’Egidio, also called Perugia airport - which has Ryanair flights from London Stansted on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
British Airways has regular flights to Pisa Airport from London Gatwick and to Rome from Heathrow, Gatwick and many UK local airports.
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