top of page

Things to do, Places to go to...
 

Let us show you the beauty of Umbria (and Tuscany)

Umbria (/ˈʌmbriÉ™/ UM-bree-É™, Italian: [ˈumbrja]) is a region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Apennine Peninsula. The regional capital is Perugia.The region is characterized by hills, mountains, valleys and historical towns such as the university centre of Perugia, Assisi (a World Heritage Site associated with St. Francis of Assisi), Terni, Norcia, Città di Castello, Gubbio, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, Castiglione del Lago, Narni, Amelia, Spello and other beautiful cities.

Medieval Gubbio lies on the fringes of the Apennine Mountains, about 25 miles north-east of Umbria’s capital, Perugia. North and east of the town there’s pretty much nothing till you hit the border with the neighbouring region of Le Marche.

The land here decorated with squares and stone palaces has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, including by Neanderthal tribes.

Most of what we know about the ancient Umbri people lives on in Gubbio’s museums, including a “Rosetta Stone” for their now-lost language.

Its medieval skyline marks Gubbio out as one of Umbria’s classic hill-towns. It is also a major draw for those who love to hunt — or eat — truffles.

Gubbio is famous for it's ceramics; Gubbio's pottery tradition dates back to the 14th century. Mastro Giorgio, a master potter who arrived in Gubbio in 1489, made the town famous for its lustre finishes, including gold, silver, green, and ruby red.

One of Umbria’s prettiest walled villages, Montone (12 miles south of Città di Castello) owes its fame to a 14th-century warlord. Though rooted in the 9th century, Montone took on its fortified, stone appearance in the medieval period.

Braccio da Montone was a soldier of fortune and military commander — a “condottiere” — who fought for almost every side during the Italian Wars of the 1300s and early 1400s. Andrea Fortebracci, to give him his real name, fought for the Florentines against the Pope; for the Milanese in Naples; for a Neapolitan king fighting both Florence and the Pope; for the Pope against Bologna; and for both sides in a long-running squabble between the Pope and Milan. He was betrayed and killed at the siege of L’Aquila in 1424.

At the highest point of the old town, towering above Umbertide and the Upper Tiber Valley to the south, are the ruins of Fortebracci’s castle, the Rocca di Montone.

Mighty Etruscan centre and important mediaeval city after that, Perugia guards lovingly precious traces of its luminous historical periods. The city is today the administrative and cultural capital of the Umbria Region, a major tourist and cultural destination, site of the University for over 700 years. The historical Academy of Fine Arts, the Music Conservatorium, and its University for Foreigners, with students coming from all over the world, define furthermore the marked international vocation.
Culturally and socially bright and lively, Perugia is a city full of “secrets” to disclose: the suggestion is to explore it with curiosity to fully appreciate the excitement and fascination of discovery.

Enclosed in a ring of Renaissance walls and surrounded by arable farmland, Città di Castello is the major stop on northern Umbria’s borderlands with Tuscany. It lies around 23 miles east of Arezzo.

A steady stream of renowned architects completed commissions in Città over the centuries. Angelo da Orvieto created the Town Hall in the 1300s. Vignola’s Palazzo Bufalini is a 16th-century jewel.

Yet despite these streets lined with grand palaces, Città di Castello still has a genuine, lived-in charm. It is no museum piece, but a bustling town. Hit the street cafes of Piazza Gabriotti on a summer’s evening and you’ll see.

Città di Castello was also the hometown of Alberto Burri, an abstract artist whose themes, interests and materials in many ways foreshadowed Pop Art. Two major Burri collections are the town’s major — but not only — must-sees for art lovers.

Arezzo is surrounded by hills and mountains, by fertile lands and skilled workers, who have been able to exploit all the products of the land to build their own culinary identity. To end the city tour in the best possible way, you just have to try its cuisine! The gastronomy of the city of Arezzo is homemade, but we know that the most authentic flavors are also the tastiest. We advise you to order platters of Casentino cold cuts and cheeses, to be enjoyed together with excellent local honey. Do not miss the Arezzo's acquacotta, the pappardelle with meat sauce, the gnocchi with ricotta and spinach, the pici with various toppings. Its main courses are mastered by Chianina, the Tuscan cut of meat par excellence. The typical dessert of Arezzo, on the other hand, is Gattò Aretino, a log of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and alchermes.

The medieval hill town is best known for being the birthplace of San Francesco, founder of the Franciscan religious order in 1208. It means you cannot complete a trip to Assisi without following in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims and visiting the Basilica di San Francesco. But luckily you don't have to be religious to enjoy Assisi. Besides the many beautifully decorated churches, the town is home to several Roman ruins and an imposing fortress. On top of that, Assisi is an ideal starting point for those who want to hike through Umbria's green hills. This combination of culture and landscape has even earned Assisi a place on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Umbrian Daily Markets

Mondays

Marsciano
Montefalco, largo Santa Chiara
Panicale, frazione Tavarnelle
Amelia, piazza XX Settembre

Tuesdays

Foligno
Gubbio
Penna
Taverna
San Terenziano

Wednesdays

Spello, piazza Matteotti Baschi
Umbertide
Bastardo
Castiglione del Lago

Thursdays

Avigliano

Città di Castello

Trevi, piazza Garibaldi

Orvieto, Piazza del Popolo

Fridays

Spoleto, piazza del Mercato

Tuoro sul Trasimeno

Montevecchio, piazza GaribaldiNarni 

Saturdays

Assisi

Todi

Montecastrilli, viale Verdi

Passignano sul Trasimeno

Citta di Castello

Perugia - Pian di Massiano (This is a larger market.)

Special Markets in Umbria
Here are some special markets in Umbria, the best known. These often take place all day.

​

Perugia
Palazzo della Prefettura, in summer, Rocca Paolina, in winter, last weekend of the month. The main attraction here are ceramics, from the most precious to the most utilitarian, all colourfully decorated with patterns in use for centuries. Antique costume jewellery is another highlight

.

Bastia Umbra
Piazza Mazzini, Sunday before the 21st in March, June, September and December. In case you didn't figure out the puzzle, this market takes place at the beginning of each of the four seasons, to which it is dedicated. The fifty stands sell small inexpensive items, mostly, against the backdrop of the 14th-century church of Santa Croce.

 

Todi
Piazza Comunale, last week in March. Leading antique dealers from all over Italy gather to sell furniture, paintings, rugs, bronze figures and antique ceramics.

Every year on November 11th Saint Martin's day from the Piazzale della Consolazione up to the Piazza del Popolo are market stalls with porchetta sandwiches, sheep cheeses, shoes, clothes and much more. Blog post: A yearly market in Todi "San Martino".

 

Spoleto
Historic center of town, second Sunday of the month.

 

Città di Castello
Town center, third Sunday of the month.

City trips and Markets in Umbria

My absolutely favorite market: Arezzo Antique Fair.

The Arezzo Antiques Fair is the oldest in Italy: established in 1968 thanks to the efforts of the antiques dealer and collector Ivan Bruschi, it was the first antiques event to regularly take place every month, boasting a long and solid success over time.
Every first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before, the extraordinary settings of piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Logge Vasari, the very heart of Arezzo, fill with stands, antiques dealers, collectors, tourists and all those curious to see the event.

The Fair brings together more than 500 exhibitors from throughout the country: paintings, books, historic prints, modern antiques, toys, watches, porcelains, glass, fabrics, iron and copper objects and knick-knacks, as well as curiosities of all kinds.

For the latest news and dates of Local Markets:

Thanks for subscribing!

Call us now to book
+39 3445268165

 

Email
info@monteparadiso.net

Contact us
  • White TripAdvisor Icon
  • White Facebook Icon

© 2024 by Aga&Kat&Sev&Luka&Serge&Ant

and Other Friends :)

Follow your Dreams.

bottom of page