A day in Umbria

Perugia
- Etruscan Itinerary Archeological Museum, Etruscan Well, Etruscan Arch and the tomb of the Volumni, an Etruscan family.
- Medieval Itinerary From San Pietro to the Cathedral and from there to the Tempio of Sant’Angelo
- Renaissance Itinerary the art of Perugino (San Severo, Art Museum, the Collegio del Cambio and San Bernardino)


Lake Trasimeno
Lake Trasimeno is the largest in central Italy and has three islands: Magiore, Minore, and Polvere. One of history’s most famous battles took place on its shores – the Romans versus the Carthaginians. Along the road which encircles the lake you’ll find marshlands, olive groves and beautiful small towns, the largest of which is Castiglione del Lago with its Fortress of the Corgnia family as well as Passignano with its small port.


Assisi
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Franciscan Itinerary: Rivorto “il Tugurio”, Santa Maria degli Angeli, La Porziuncola”, Roseto, the Chapel of the Rose, San Damiano, the prison, Saint Claire, the New Church and the sanctuary.
- Medieval Itinerary: Cathedral of San Rufino; Piazza Maggiore; Temple of Minerva; Santa Maria Maggiore and San Pietro


Spello
The Consolare Gate; the lower town; Santa Maria Maggiore, connected to the chapel, with frescos by Pinturicchio and Perugino; Sant’Andrea (a Franciscan convent) and San Lorenzo Parrocchiale; the arch; Valle Gloria and its districts and its monastery; the Belvedere; Venus Gate and Villa Fidelia.


Gubbio
Saint Francis; Saint John the Baptist (Parish of Don Matteo); Piazza della Signoria; Palazzo dei Consoli; the Cathedral; the Ducal Palace, built by Federico of Montefeltro; Sanctuary of Sant’Ubaldo, where the famous statues (ceri) are kept until needed for the feast day.
Visit a ceramics factory started in Gubbio in medieval times under “Mastro Giorgio”.

Città di Castello
Palace of the Governor; Town Hall; the Cathedral; San Domenico, the large gothic building where Raffaello’s “Crucifixion” and Signorelli’s “San Sebastiano” can be seen. Tours of various Vitelli palaces that house public collections among which is that of the internationally famous Maestro Burri.

Umbertide
The fortress of Umbertide, the octagonal Santa Maria della Reggia; the historic center with its Town Hall, once the residence of Count Ranieri of Sorbello, where one can view the manuscript of the Abbey of Monte Corona; the abbey itself; and the museum complex of Santa Croce and Saint Francis.


Montone
Home of the mercenary soldier and leader Andrea del Monte, known as “Braccio Fortebracci”, a Lord of Perugia. In the historic center you can find the Town Hall; the cathedral, which contains a relic of the Holy Thorn; the church of Saint Francis.

Foligno
The Roman Gate with its monument to Nicolò di Liberatore, known as the L’Alunno and the Quintana Stadium. In the historic center you’ll find the Cathedral; Town Hall and the Trinci Palace; the picturesque street of the Monasteries, lined with nunneries. Not far from town is the Abbey of Sassovivo.


Nocera Umbra
At the entrance to the historic center is a monument dedicated to the mineral water for which this town is famous. Then to Saint Francis, home to the art museum; then on to the Cathedral – the highest part of town next to the main tower.

Gualdo Tadino
Gualdo Tadino is famous for ceramics and its periphery has numerous factories dedicated to the craft. The historic center with its Town Hall, Cathedral, the Church of Saint Francis and the picturesque Rocca Flea are also worth a visit.


Terni – Marmore Waterfall – Carsule

The important sites are the Piazza del Popolo; the Town Hall (Spada Palace); the Cathedral, which you’ll find next to the Roman Amphitheater. There are also the Churches of Saint Frances, Saint Peter and San Lorenzo; and the Palaces of Manassei, home to the Art Museum; Carrara home to the Archeological Museum; and the recently restored Gazzoli Palace. On the outskirts of Terni you can visit the Marmore Waterfalls, a stop on the old Grand Tour of Italy, and the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Carsule.

Lago di Piediluco
Lake Piediluco is all that remains of a large lake that once filled the Rieti plain and supplied water to the Marmore waterfalls. The lake is enjoyed by tourists and sportsmen alike and is appreciated for its surrounding landscape – especially the town of Piediluco, dominated by the Rocca Albornoz. There is a “lido” that runs along the edge of the lake.


Narni
Narni is famous for the horse race, the Corsa all’Anello, and its historic medieval center. One can visit the Cathedral and the churches of Sant’ Agostino, Santa Maria in Pensole, Saint Francis and San Domenico. The public art collections are housed in the Palazzi del Podesta and of the Priori. Another excursion could take you to the Roman Bridge of Augustus, the Rocca Albornoz, the Abbey of San Cassiano and the Franciscan sanctuary of Santo Speco, near Sant’Urbano.

Todi and Collazzone
Piazza del Popolo where you can see the Medieval Palaces of the Priori del Popolo and Capitano, home of a major public collection of art as well as other historic and archeological works; the Cathedral; the Church of San Fortunato, with the tomb of Jacopone da Todi; and Santa Maria della Consolazione. Nearby Todi is Collevalenza with the sanctuary of the Amore Miresicordioso; Collazione with the convent where Jacopone da Todi died; Massa Martana, rich in abbeys and Roman ruins; Aquasparta dominated by the huge Palazzo Cesi; and San Gemini with it springs and fountains.

Amelia
A town which contains one of the most ancient of Umbrian city walls. Inside of which you can find the Church of Saint Francis; the Cathedral; and San Agostino. Also of note are the Palaces – Petrignani, Comunale, Geraldini, (Alessandro Geraldini was the first Bishop in America, he sailed with Christopher Columbus), Farattini, attributed to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, where you can find a miniature version of the famed Farnese Palace in Rome.

Corbara Lake – Oasis of Alviano
Corbara Lake is a large artificial basin created by the damming of a branch of the Tiber River to prevent its flooding in Rome while at the same time producing hydroelectric power. The lake, in the heart of this agricultural landscape is definitely worth visiting if only because of the town of Alviano, with the castle residence of the celebrated mercenary soldier Bartolomeo. This artificial lake is now home to many rare species of birds which nest and spend summers here.

Orvieto
Centuries ago a German priest was celebrating mass in the area of nearby Bolsena. He doubted the body of Christ was actually present in the host, whereupon the host bled. In honor of this miracle, the Cathedral of Orvieto was built to house the relic of the blood stained host. And the Feast of Corpus Domini was created, and continues to be celebrated throughout the Christian world. Inside the Cathedral there are many interesting and artistic and historic works – most importantly the cycle of frescos in the Cappella Nuova, also known as the Madonna of San Brizio. Fra Angelico, Benozzo Gozzoli, Pier Matteo d’Amelia, Perugino and Luca Signorelli, all contributed work to this chapel. The city itself is filled with fascinating churches, palaces and art collections, and it also contains the well of Saint Patrick. Many Etruscan tombs dot the surrounding countryside.

Città della Pieve
The historic center of this terracotta brick town is the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, also know as Perugino. His fresco of the Adoration of the Magi adorns the Oratorio of Santa Maria dei Bianchi. Artists have contributed works to numerous other places of worship in the city, among them Pomarancio. On the outskirts of the city you can view towns around Lake Trasimeno – principally Paciano and Panicale as well as the Sanctuary of Mongiovino.

Torgiano e Deruta
Torgiano, situated near Perugia, is famous not only for its beautifully restored historic center but for its wine. Accommodation facilities and a museum are also dedicated to the local wine.

Deruta, long famed for its ceramics, has an international reputation. Besides visiting the historic center, you can also visit the many ceramic workshops. The nearby Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Baths is literally covered with ceramic ex voti.