The Magic of Umbria  
(as printed in La Gazzetta Italiana - http://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com)

The mountainous region of Umbria is flanked by Tuscany to its west and Marches to its east, with Latium located just south. Umbria, one of Italy's smaller regions, is crossed by the Apennine Mountains and is split into two provinces: Perugia and Terni.

Perugia, home to Perugina chocolate and confections, is also the regional capital of Umbria. The largest of Umbria's two provinces, Perugia is encompasses 59 communes and is one of the region's last remaining walled towns. It is also home to Umbria's popular Jazz Festival, which takes place each July.

Situated on a hill above the Tiber Valley, Perugia commands far-reaching views. The city's 15th century duomo is flanked by a statue of Pope Julius II (1555) and a pulpit built for Siena's San Bernardino. An ancient university was founded in 1276 and the Palazzo Gallenga houses the University for Foreigners (language courses), where more than 30,000 students from ninety-three nations have studied. The classes afford a wonderful introduction to Italy.

Assisi, located in Perugia and known as the birthplace of St. Francis, is the first stop for tourists from all over the world who come to the valleys and hills of Umbria. The closeness to nature and perhaps the quiet of the peaceful landscape is reason enough why this great humble man and the land's medieval gems have influenced so many for so long a time.

Rocca Maggiore, a fortress built to defend Assisi, is the focal point, next to the Basilica of St. Francis, of Assisi. It was built as a feudal castle in 1174, destroyed in 1198, and then rebuilt in 1367 by Cardinal Albornoz. It has since been added on to twice; once in 1458 when Jacopo Piccinino added the twelve-sided tower and the long wall that connects the castle to the city then again between 1535 and 1538 when Pope Paul II but the round tower near the gate. The fortress was also restored in 1478 by Pope Sixtus IV.

The town, the Basilica di San Francesco and the hilltop Monastery of the Franciscan Order is built into the slopes of Monte Subasio. The remains of St. Francis lie in a crypt at his church founded two years after his death on October 3, 1226.

Part of the walls and ceiling of the Gothic church structure were painted by the master Giotto and dedicated to Italy's patron saint. The Ecstasy of St. Francis is one of twenty-eight panels that make up Giotto's cycle on the Life of St. Francis. Another series represents the Franciscan ideals: chastity, obedience and poverty. The paintings are a testament to the spiritual life of the saint and the friars. Other foremost artists of their day decorated the upper and lower churches, among them Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini. The Gothic lines of the upper church symbolized the heavenly glory of St. Francis.

Down Corso Mazzini lies the Basilica di Santa Chiara, the burial place of St. Clare, founder of the Poor Clares. One of its chapels contains the crucifix that is said to have bowed its head and ordered Francis to "Repair God's church."

Retaining its historic culture, Todi is another town in Perugia that was home to a saint -- St. Fortunato -- who was the first bishop. The church is in the center of the town at the top of steep stairs. The tombs of St. Fortunato and Jacopone da Todi, a Franciscan Friar and noted poet, are behind the outstanding Gothic doorway. The town, with its several tiny churches and public palaces, still preserves an uncorrupted medieval air and is perfect for excellent meat and wines. Craft production including household goods, jewelry and ceramics is a major business of the town.

Nearby towns include Orvieto, whose duomo was begun in 1290 and boasts a breathtaking façade. It was inspired by the Miracle at Bolsena in which real blood from a consecrated host fell on an altar cloth at a church in nearby Bolsena. In the 13th century church, San Lorenzo in Arari, are the wall frescoes that describe the martyrdom of St. Lawrence who was grilled to death.

Spoleto was one of Italy's most important Roman colonies. Its wooded setting is home to the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds), one of Europe's leading art festivals. Spoleto's 12th century duomo with its eight rose windows and Renaissance portico, bears one of the most elegant facades in Italy. The tower was built from Roman remains. In the interior is the final work of Fra Lippo Lippi (1467-69), which describes episodes from the Life of the Virgin.

Montefalco draws its name from its position and views in the Vale of Spoleto. A brief walk of the very narrow streets takes one to the simple San'Agostino, dotted with frescoes from the 14th-16th centuries and containing three mummies.

Spello is one of the better-known villages in the Vale of Spoleto and is renowned for its fresco cycle, which depicts scenes from the New Testament in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Spello boasts Roman ruins from the age of Augustus. The least known village in the Vale of Spoleto is Bevagna. It came to be as a way station along a Roman road that passed through this section of Umbria.

The birthplace of St. Benedict is the mountain town of Norcia. Norcia is a renowned culinary delight famous for its truffles, sausages and salamis. Legend claims that the church marks the site of Benedict's birth.

Better known in Umbria are Gubbio and Lake Trasimeno.

Gubbio ranks with Assisi for the title of Umbria's most medieval town. Founded by the Umbrians in the third century BC, it assumed greater prominence as a Roman town in 1AD. The 13th century Palazzo del Bargello has the Fountain of the Mad (Fontana dei Matti) named after the tradition that anyone who walks around it three times will go insane.

It was on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, the largest lake of the Italian peninsula, that the Romans suffered one of their worst-ever military defeats. Hannibal lured the Romans into an ambush at the Place of Bones/Blood where they suffered 16,000 casualties. By contract, Hannibal lost 1,500 men. Today, one can explore the battlefield and the mass graves.

Rich in history and in nature, the region of Umbria provides its visitors with the magical wonderment of ancient Roman remains, Renaissance sculptures and Gothic architecture with every turn of a corner.

Back to Travel Resources

Click here if you would like to receive ItalianAmericanShowcase.com updates.
© 2006 Italian American Showcase. All Rights Reserved.        Home  |  About IAS  |  Contact  |  Links  |  Link to us  |  Privacy Policy/Disclaimer