Porchettiamo

Umbrian Market Tour

One of our favorite things to do each week here in Umbria is to visit the local outdoor markets. You can easily visit a market each day if you choose to, and in fact some days there are as many as five markets of various sizes running across the region on a given day. In…
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Festa della Cipolla in Cannara

The one thing we have been amazed about the past few months while we have been in Umbria is just how many food festivals, or sagre there are. Every Friday listed in the Umbrian weekend paper are a list of every sagra being held in the region, and there can be dozens of different festivals…
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Deruta Ceramics

I love Italian ceramics, and in fact have collected pieces from Sicily to Liguria, but my favorite place to shop for Italian ceramics or Maiolica (also known as “majolica”) is in Deruta, a small Umbrian town less than 15 minutes from our farmhouses. I can honestly say that we probably fell in love with Umbria,…
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The Splendor of Piano Grande And The Sibillini Mountains

The mountainous landscape that falls east of Norcia is one of Italy’s hidden treasures, and it becomes an outdoor lover’s paradise during the spring and summer. Trails cover the countryside which are suitable for both hikers and mountain bikers, while the windy upland plains create a perfect environment for hang-gliding. Campgrounds can be found across…
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Nero Norcia

Although we have managed to explore much of Umbria throughout the years, Norcia is one Umbrian town that we never had the chance to visit on any of our many trips to the region. When we heard the famous Nero Norcia, or Black Truffle Festival was being held while we were still in Umbria, we…
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Foligno

Foligno is one of Umbria’s larger cities that lies in the plain of the river Topino making it one of the few Umbrian towns to be built on flat land. In the past, Foligno was at the crossroads of two important commercial roads, the Via Flaminia and the road from Perugia to Assisi. Unfortunately Foligno was hit by an earthquake in 1997 which did quite a bit of damage to the city, though much of it has now been restored. Foligno is one of Umbria’s most important commercial and manufacturing centers so is often overlooked as a tourist destination. Read More

Narni

This small town in southern Umbria can truly be called the heart of Italy as it is the closest town to the geographic center of Italy. Originally called Nequinium, the town was renamed Narnia after the nearby river when it was occupied by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. Although this town is not considered a tourist destination, it does have a number of interesting attractions, particularly the town’s underground tour. Read More

Montefalco

Often nicknamed the balcony of Umbria, Montefalco is famous for its Sagrantino wine and its position high in the hills which allows one views over to Perugia, Assisi and even Spoleto. Although Montefalco today still retains some elements of its Roman origin, the atmosphere of this charming small wine town is very medieval. Although primarily known today for its textiles and wine, this tiny town also produced six saints over the centuries which is reflected in its impressive frescoed churches. Read More

Trevi

Trevi is a small picturesque town perched high on a hillside surrounded by olives trees as far as one can see. Most of the town is densely built in a spiral fashion around the hill with many buildings predating the 18th century. From town one can see one of the best views in Umbria, over 50 km to the west and on clear days as far away as Perugia to the north and even Monte Amiata in southern Tuscany. Trevi is well known across Italy for the high quality of its olive oil and holds a wonderful festival every fall in celebration of the olive oil harvest. Read More