Things To Do in Umbria

Also in Perugia, the National Gallery of Umbria sits on the third floor of Palazzo dei Priori and includes works that were painted by artists from the Umbrian school, a school of painters known for its students that included the likes of Raphael, Diamante, Perugino, and others who focused on geometrical composition and perspective.

Visiting the gallery will reveal the development of painting in the region from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with most works dating between the 13th and 18th centuries. Highlights include a 15th -century fresco cycle by Benedetto Bonfigli depicting life in Perugia at the time, located in the Capella dei Priori. There is a polyptych of St. Augustine by Pinturicchio, and several works by Perugino in the chapel, along with five statues dating to 1281 by Arnolfo Cambio. You won’t want to miss the Madonna and Child painted in 1305 by Duccio di Boninsegna, or the 1271 crucifix by an unknown Perugian artist.

One of the most dramatic of all the hilltop towns in Italy is Orvieto. An enchanting walled town with a rich, 3000-year history, it sits atop a volcanic butte overlooking Umbria’s picturesque plains with medieval streets lined with honey-hued buildings while featuring a unique system of some 1,200 underground tunnels.

The tunnels have been used for wine storage, as shelter during the Second World War, and as a means to escape sieges that occurred throughout the town’s history. Its 14th -century cathedral, built in Gothic style, sits on the main square. It’s renowned for its vibrant façade with a magnificent display of spires, stained glass, and elaborate carvings that make it well worth visiting Orvieto on its own. In its chapel are gorgeous Renaissance-era frescoes painted by Luca Signorelli. By sipping wine from a ceramic cup as you marvel at the cathedral, you’ll truly be able to soak up the essence of this incredible town.

As noted, Umbria is home to many lakes, and Lake Trasimeno is a must-see. The fourth-largest lake in Italy, it offers a stunning contrast of blue against the lush, green landscape in an area that’s been inhabited since the 3rd century BC. Under Roman rule, it was the scene of the Battle of Lake Trasimene, when in 217 BC General Hannibal Barca defeated Roman legionaries.

There are charming medieval towns, sunflower fields, vineyards, and olive groves dotted all around the shores, while three islands are in the lake, including Polvese, which can be reached from the ancient city of Tuoro sul Trasimeno. The largest island, part of Trasimeno Regional Park and offers lush nature for visitors to enjoy along with a monastery, the 11 th -century Church of San Giuliano, the Porcinai pool. Maggiore is the only inhabited island and offers several attractions like Guglielmi Castle and the Chapel of San Francesco which contains the saint’s bed.

Before or after a tasting of delicious and authentic olive oil, you’ll want to visit the Olive and Oil Museum. It’s located in the village of Torgiano at the site of an ancient olive oil mill that worked through the 1960s and retraces the history and various uses of the olive tree and olive oil. A private museum supported by a family enterprise, it’s dedicated to the world of oil allowing visitors to discover the secrets of cultivation and production with exhibitions in 10 different rooms.

It starts by revealing the botanical characteristics of the olive tree and explains both traditional and modern cultivation and extraction. You’ll see the evolution of machines used for production from the first stone mortars which date to 4,000 BC, to the introduction of a large mill called trapetum that was used by the Romans and the invention of the “continuous cycle” system. There’s also an impressive collection of oil lamps.

If you want to learn about Italy’s delicious cheeses, Umbria is a great place to do it. Characterful yet simple and genuine, Umbrian cheeses are a staple of the local cuisine, and they have a centuries-old history. For example, the local pecorino cheese was already being mentioned in the 1st century AD when Pliny the Elder described the various cheeses known to Rome. Many organic farms, artisanal workshops, and factories open their doors to visitors who can learn how the cheese is made.

You might visit a local farm in the countryside for a unique experience that includes meeting the farmer and the animals as well as getting an understanding of the cheese-making process and its importance throughout history. Located in Assisi, Caseificio Broccatelli is a popular family-run cheese factory that’s been making cheeses since the 1950s and offers tastings of pecorino that have often been called the most delicious ever tasted.

Nari is a beautiful hilltop town east of the Tiber River, located above a bend in the River Nera dating back to the Umbri people who founded Nequinum. In 299 BC, the settlement was conquered by Rome and renamed Narnia after the river. In fact, it was the town that inspired The Chronicles of Narnia books and subsequent films.

Beneath its streets are the remains of a fresco-filled church, a Roman home, a torture chamber, a cistern used to collect rainwater, a Tribunal of the Inquisition, and a prison cell with a rather chilling message. It was covered up for centuries until a group of teenagers, Roberto Nini and friends, rediscovered it in 1979. It became Nini’s life work – he established the Narni Underground and wrote a book about his experience piecing together the truth about it from testimonies at Dublin’s Trinity College and the Vatican Archives. They’re open to the public today through guided tours.

While there are plenty who will dispute it, Marmore Falls (officially Cascata delle Marmore), is said to be the world’s tallest manmade waterfall, created by ancient Romans. It plunges for 541 feet and is controlled by a power plant, switched “on” at certain times of the day. The falls are said to have formed in 271 BC when the Romans constructed a canal that diverted the course of the Velino River. Since then, engineers started using the flow of water to generate electricity.

Today, most of the time, the water is diverted to the hydroelectric power plant, reducing the falls. When flowing, you can admire them from various angles by walking a series of six scenic paths – the first four are the most impressive. No. 1 is a 30-minute walk leading to a viewpoint near the top of the falls with a view of the valley below.