The people of Montefalco, about nine kilometres away, are a cheerful bunch, as they look down over the rest of Umbria from their ’Ringhiera d’Umbria’, a high panoramic balcony that affords views even as far as Assisi and Perugia. Apart from the views, the town’s characteristically narrow lanes, and an important collection of Renaissance frescoes in the church of Saint Francis, are its other attractions. Montefalco also possesses all essential shops, restaurants, bars, chemists and banks, though Giano dell’Umbria is the nearest town.
This is the ’green heart of Italy’, with the ancient roman Via Flaminia and Old Father Tiber flowing through its center - a land of verdant valleys and patchwork wooded hills interspersed with buttercups, bluebells, poppies and thousands of other wild flowers. The monasteries and ancient abbeys remind us that this is the ’Terra dei Santi’ - land of the saints: St Benedict and gentle St Francis to name but two. The Umbrians themselves are mild mannered and trusting in keeping with these traditions. Umbria is a land of water too - the Fonti del Clitunno lagoons and islands planted with poplars and weeping willows, or Umbria’s ancient springs such as San Gemini. What better way to discover this beautiful region than in one of our holiday villas in Umbria.
The towns are magnificent, crammed with art and unchanged since medieval times. Visit the bustling university city of Perugia, balanced high above the Tiber and the regional capital. It is awash with splendid Etruscan and Renaissance monuments. Its gallery in the Palazzo dei Priori houses the region’s finest art and it is also renowned for the most romantic medieval streets and piazzas in all Italy. Mixing the old and new, Perugia is host to an unmissable jazz festival every July, and you’ll be glad to know that its other most famous export is chocolate! Why not book one of our Umbria villas in July to coincide with Perugia’s jazz festival?
Umbria’s best-known hill town is surely Assisi, enjoying far-reaching views over the ’Plain of Angels’. Enchanting old houses with balconies overflowing with flowers line narrow, cobbled streets full of arches and steps. And the Basilica di San Francesco dominates the town, now fully restored and at its most beautiful in the early morning. In contrast to this, Umbria’s countryside is a haven of tranquility, interspersed with historic towns, magnificent views and impressive churches and cathedrals. The cuisine in this region is legendary, and the wines on offer are second to none. It’s easy to see why our Umbria villas are such a popular choice.
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