Umbria
Umbria is an Italian region bordering with Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche. It is located between Rome and Florence. Umbria’s location, perched high on top of hills and mountains and its proximity to Rome, Tuscany and Le Marche, played a major role in defence during various historical periods.
Umbria is Italy’s 5th smallest region and the only one that has neither a coastline or a border with another country.
It is home to both Roman and Medieval architecture. These include the great cathedrals of Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, Perugia and Gubbio. St. Francis of Assisi is Italy’s patron saint. The cathedral is painted with Giotto’s frescos telling the story of St. Francis.
Wheat, corn, potatoes, sugar beets, grapes and olives are grown here. Wine produced in Orvieto is very popular throughout Italy. The major power centre of Umbria is the hydroelectric complex of Terni which supports steel, chemical and electrochemical industries.
Capital – Perugia
Perugia is located in central Italy, north of Rome. It lies on an irregular cluster of hills overlooking the Umbrian and central Tiber valleys as well as Lake Trasimeno.Perugia is one of the main cultural and artistic capitals of Italy. Architecture dates back to the third century BC. It is also a university town with two universities, the University of Perugia and the University for Foreigners. Perugia is also famous for the production of Baci Perugina chocolates. This is fitting as Perugia hosts the Eurochocolate which is Europe’s largest celebration of confections. Every October Perugia hosts almost 1 million people who all enjoy the flavours of exquisite chocolate. Old Perugia is surrounded by two perimeter walls. The exterior wall dates back to the third century BC. Many parts of the wall remain while others through time have been incorporated into buildings. The town walls were built with square-shaped travertine bricks laid in rows and superimposed to one another without mortar.
Foods of Umbria
Pasta alla Norcina
Made with short pasta and crumbled Norcia sausage, named after a town in Umbria.
Strozzapreti
Handmade twisted pasta.
Panpepato di Terni
A cake filled with chocolate, raisins, nuts, and honey.
Porchetta Umbria
Boneless pork roast rolled and roasted until hard and crunchy.
Torta al Testo
A flatbread stuffed with prosciutto.
Scafata
A stew made with fava beans, swiss chard, tomatoes, and celery.
Rocciata
A thin pastry filled with apples, walnuts, raisins, almonds, and liqueur.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Umbria
Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and other Franchiscan Sites
Perugia
Assisi was the birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan order. The Basilica was built in the 13th century. It features paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini, and Giotto, and has been used as a reference point for Italian and Western art.
