An itinerary to delight both the eyes and the palate. Umbria is not only a lush and fertile land scattered with picturesque towns and villages, but also a region home to ancient culinary traditions and highly prized gastronomic products.
The journey starts in Norcia, famous for the tasty spiced sausages produced here. Another delicacy for which the town is known is Norcia's exquisite black truffle. Between mouthfuls, visitors should be sure to take a glance at the medieval center, with its renaissance cathedral, rebuilt in baroque style, and the Church dedicated to St Benedict, the Norcia born saint who made "Ora et Labora" (pray and work) one of the fundamental principles of his religious order. Realised by Vignola, Castellina Castle is now home to Norcia's Diocesan Museum.
Famous for their minuscule dimensions, the lentils of Castelluccio merit a detour. On the road leading to the small medieval town, visitors have the chance to admire the karst basin of the Piano di Castelluccio, the largest in Italy, and, in the spring time, witness the magnificent spectacle offered by the fields of blossoming lentils.
In the flowering season, the countryside surrounding Cascia is painted with the delicate purple of a thousand saffron blooms. The town is known for its Sanctuary dedicated to the nun who lived in the area during the 15th century. Inaugurated in 1947, the sanctuary is a stunning modern edifice, highlight of which Giacomo Manzù's splendid altar.
City of the Festival dei Due Mondi, an arts festival of international fame, Spoleto is one of Umbria's most beautiful towns. Predominantly medieval in appearance, the town boasts a number of important Roman remains. The Roman Bridge, the Amphitheatre, and the paleo-christian Church of San Salvatore: these are the important monuments left behind by the ancient Romans. With its impressive façade and Byzantine style mosaics, the Cathedral is one of the symbols of medieval Spoleto, together with the town's Rocca Albornoziana, once a papal fortress and prison. Today, the imposing stronghold houses the European School of Book Restoration and the Dukedom National Museum, this latter containing precious documents regarding the history of Spoleto.
Once an important stop on the Via Flaminia, Massa Martana, like Spoleto, has ancient Roman origins. The town's historic center is home to two particularly noteworthy buildings: the Parish Church of San Felice and the 16th century Palazzo Comunale. The surrounding landscape is among the most beautiful in the whole of Umbria.
From Massa Martana, we head towards Todi, where our journey draws to a close. Via the maze of narrow alleyways and picturesque medieval lanes which characterise the city, we come to the main Piazza, where to find all of Todi's most impressive works of religious and civil architecture: the cathedral, the Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo dei Capitani and Palazzo del Popolo.
