Beautiful Umbria

Umbria is peaceful. Umbria is stimulating. For day trips, it’s only a short drive to the historic towns of Arezzo, Assisi, Città di Castello, Cortona, Gubbio, Orvieto, Perugia, Sansepolcro,  Siena, Spello, Spoleto, Todi and Urbino. These towns are rich in medieval and Renaissance art and architecture, as well as sculpture and structures of the Etruscan and Roman periods. View the works of such masters as Bramante, Piero della Francesca, Giotto, Lorenzetti, Perugino, Pinturicchio, the Pisano brothers, and Luca Signorelli.

Several towns feature celebrated music festivals, theatrical events and art exhibitions. Of these, the International Festival of Music in Città di Castello, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto – offering art, dance, music and theater – are the most famous. Many towns stage festive re-enactments of jousts and horse-races, complete with musicians, parades, and medieval costumes.

At nearby Lake Trasimeno – a 70-square-mile lake – one may enjoy swimming, sailing and wind surfing. Modern tennis courts, both indoor and outdoor, and an Olympic-size public swimming pool are only 12 minutes away in a charming medieval town which in addition to restaurants also features bakeries, green grocers, several supermarkets, gelaterie, and a fresh pasta shop, as well as an open-air market every Wednesday morning.