Umbria Travel Guide

Umbria is Tuscany's lesser-known neighbour and the smallest province in Italy located in the heart of the Italian peninsula.

Famous as the fount of the River Tiber which gathers pace as it flows past Assisi, Orvieto and Spoleto along the Tiber Valley, Umbria boasts splendid hill towns (Gubbio, Spoleto, Assisi) and rich agricultural produce including black truffles and lentils from the Casteluccio plain, Pecorino, salami and black celery.

Cultural highlights include the stunning Gothic façade of Orvieto's Duomo, Giotto's frescoes in Assisi which tell the moving story of St Francis and the masterly artworks of Perugino, on display in the Galleria Nazionale in the regional capital of Perugia.

Those interested in learning about wine (not just drinking it!) should head for the Museum of Wine in Torgiano, 15km south of Perugia. It is adjacent to the excellent Umbrian restaurant of Le Tre Vesselle and to one of Italy's most impressive wineries, all of which belong to gourmand Giorgio Lungarotti.

Come in autumn as the chestnut forests turn amber, or for hot summers (Jul 35°C) kept fresh by the low humidity.