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At first glance, Umbria and Tuscany appear to have a few things in common. Both are famous for the hilltop villages dating back to the middle ages, the stunning unspoiled scenery, the private homes on rolling hills and vineyards, and the delicious food and wine. Nevertheless, each has its personality, traditions, and attractions.
Though Tuscany is many people's dream vacation destination and a terrific spot to purchase property in Italy, Umbria is Italy's newest up-and-coming touristic region. It also happens to be substantially less expensive than its neighbor, owing to the presence of smaller wine and food manufacturers, among other factors.
Umbria Has The Highest Concentration Of Medieval Towns In Italy
While Tuscany is known for its off-the-beaten-path tiny towns and is an excellent place to see old city centers, Umbria offers more of both. Umbria is generally a region of villages and towns with only two actual cities, Perugia, the area's capital, and Terni, its industrial powerhouse. Because these villages and towns are close, it is typically easier and less expensive to travel between them.
People enjoy going to Gubbio, Umbria's oldest village, and Spello, known for its winding walls and attractive flower-covered balconies, and discovering the islands in Lago di Trasimeno. In addition, guests can sip some of the region's vintage Sagrantino di Montefalco wine while taking in the breathtaking vistas that characterize the town of Montefalco.
Umbria Is Easily Accessible From Italy's Capital, Rome
A direct flight to Umbria is the most practical choice. Nevertheless, it is nearly impossible to fly nonstop from another continent. Therefore, many travelers choose to fly to Rome's Fiumicino Airport and then transfer to Umbria by train, bus, or car. The considerably short distance to the southern border of Umbria, only about 80 kilometers from Rome, makes this link substantially more accessible and less expensive than the two-hour trip from Rome to Pitigliano, a picturesque Tuscan village just across the border from Lazio.
The train is the quickest and most convenient way to get from Rome to Umbria. Direct trains from Rome Termini train station usually arrive in Terni, located in the south of Umbria, in less than an hour. Trains from Rome to Orvieto and Rome to the medieval town of Narnia take around an hour. However, reaching Perugia, the region's largest city, takes three hours.
Renting a car and traveling for more than an hour to three hours provides the most freedom and allows you to explore Umbria's famous pure green hills, vineyards, valleys, and woodlands while on the road. By car, it takes one hour to get to Narni and about one hour and fifteen minutes to get to Orvieto from Rome. While the bus is always the cheapest means of transportation, it is also the slowest, with limited routes linking the hill towns, and travelers usually avoid it.
Umbria Features Smaller Producers And More Affordable Wines Of The Same Caliber As Tuscany
Although Tuscan wineries are more well-known worldwide due to the presence of exquisite wines such as Brunello, Chianti, and Rosso di Montalcino, Umbria's vineyards feature equally notable, delightful options. The production of Umbrian wines dates back to the Etruscans and Romans, even before the famed Greek influences.
Visitors enjoy the Orvieto DOC white wine from the region's famous white grape and the Rosso di Montefalco, a dark red made from Sangiovese grapes. Travelers can also explore the area around Torgiano, Bevagna, and Montefalco in the province of Perugia, famed for its production of the famous DOCG wines from Umbria. The region's number one pride is the old Sagrantino di Montefalco, DOCG red wine made from the eponymous vine. The wine, 100 percent native, aged in oak barrels with the possibility of being stored for up to 30 years, attracts many wine lovers.
Top producers such as Cantina A. Fongoli in San Marco di Montefalco offer tours and tastings. The visit includes a walk around the vineyard where wine enthusiasts can touch and view everything concealed in the bottle. Guests may also tour the ancient corporate barrel chamber where their reds are aged, and those interested can buy all of the best wines from their store.
- Location: loc, Località S. Marco, 67, 06036 Montefalco PG
- Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM. Sunday: Closed
- Website: fongoli.com
The Palazzone Winery, situated in a scenic area on the slopes of the Rocca Ripesena Hills, is yet another option for those looking to sample some excellent wine. Their vineyards, situated in a lovely location between the Ripesena Fortress and the Romitorio, are only a short distance from Orvieto. Guests can indulge in the estate's wines and better understand the many processes involved in making wine here
- Location: Località Rocca Ripesena, 68, 05018 Rocca Ripesena TR
- Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM. Saturday & Sunday: Closed
- Website: palazzone.com