Umbria Holidays

The lesser visited but certainly none the less interesting region of Umbria is teeming with ancient and medieval history, castles, mountains and stunning scenery. The landscape here is more dramatic than the gentle rolling hills of Tuscany, with the spectacular Apennine mountain range providing a backdrop to this scarcely populated inland region which borders Lazio and le Marche also.

The towns of Perugia and Assisi are full of art and medieval architecture, both must-sees on any visit. The hill-top town of Assisi in particular, the home of St Francis the founder of the revered Franciscan order, is on a well trodden pilgrimage route, its pink walls gleam in the sunlight from all around, such is its elevated position and fame.

South west of Perugia is Norcia, an area more reminiscent of Switzerland than Italy, such is its green and lush forests, valleys and mountains. One of the few, still complete, medieval walled towns in Italy (Siena and Lucca being others), Norcia is renowned for its local produce, in particular its pork, salami's, cheese, lentils and truffles. In the town itself you can go only a few steps until you come across another butcher, delicatessen or grocery, its organic produce on proud display outside for all visitors and locals to see. It is a common amongst Italians when one knows of a friend visiting the area to ask them to bring back some cold cuts or cheese, as the taste is quite unique to this region. Activities here include truffle hunting with specially trained dogs, wine and olive oil tasting, cookery classes and even visiting the pig farm where the free range herd come running from the nearby forest at the sound of the farmers call.

For nature lovers, there are extensive hiking and mountain biking trails in Norcia, while the nearby area of Castelluccio provides the launching point for paragliding, hang gliding and other more adventurous activities. Castelluccio is a huge plateau, one of the largest in Europe and is a sight to behold in the late spring and summer when the extensive lentil crops are in full bloom. The colours can be seen from miles around, reminiscent of the tulips fields in Amsterdam. The nearest river, the Sordo is fantastic for rafting, canoeing or just gentle strolls or bike rides alongside. This region is full of surprises and has so much to offer families or couples alike.