ITS FOOD & DRINK
A small region with big flavours, Umbria has something to fully satisfy every palate. Its dishes range from freshwater fish (eel and perch stew) to the pride of regional gastronomy: the pig. It is no coincidence that the pork season (which starts in December) represents the summit of the butcher's art as every part of the animal is transformed into a vast array of delicacies such as sausages and delicious prosciutto hams. The cheeses are also excellent: there are typical fresh or seasoned goat cheeses, to be eaten with a knife or melted as a condiment for pasta. Then there's Scamorza, seasoned sheep's milk cheeses and 'formaggi di fossa' or cheeses that have been aged underground. They are even better if accompanied with a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco, Grechetto di Assisi or Vernaccia wine. The other two strong points of Umbrian cooking are Castelluccio lentils, small and highly prized, and truffles, which go with any dish. And, obviously, a long list of characteristic sweets. There are the sublime 'torciglioni' made with ground almonds, panpepato (the traditional Christmas cake), 'Torcolo di San Costanzo' (a delicacy filled with candied fruit, grapes and anise), 'pinoccata' made from pine nuts, 'ciaramicola' (the ring-shaped Easter cake with a pink heart that is the symbol of Perugia) and 'faratu de fare' (a chocolate and cinnamon pudding made from spelt). To then finish everything with a kiss. Made of Perugina chocolate, of course.
ITS SIGHTS
Stone villages that seem to be real nativity scenes. Fortresses and castles on the hilltops. Convents surround by greenery as if suspended in an ancient silence. These are the main ingredients of Umbria: an exquisite region that seems designed to stir timeless emotions. A land set in the heart of the boot that knows how to play a starring role in the varied Italian tourism scene. It is the ideal place for those who are fascinated by nature, mysticism and history (especially Medieval). There are countless masterpieces that adorn even the region's smallest towns. This is another source of Umbria's seduction: that it is a 'spread-out museum' with art and history that is not the exclusive prerogative of large towns and museums. Among the obligatory stops: the Basilica of San Salvatore on the outskirts of medieval Spoleto, the small, 5th-century temple on the Clitunno and the Church of SantAngelo in Perugia. For followers of Saint Francis, there is Assisi, the little Church of San Francesco, the Hermitage of the prisons, the Porziuncola and the majestic Basilica. Also not to be missed, Gubbio, Todi and Orvieto, with its beautiful cathedral, the Marmore cascades, artificially created by the Romans in 271 BC and considered one of the most charming corners of the peninsula. And, for those still thirsting for history, there is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dellUmbria and the Museo Claudio Faina of Orvieto that preserve numerous prehistoric finds that demonstrate that Umbria was already inhabited in the Palaeolithic period. As also evidenced by the Tane del diavolo di Parrano (Terni), a karsic complex defined as one of the most interesting archaeological sites of prehistoric Umbria. |
