Umbria suggested itineraries

A journey visiting some of Umbria's most sacred places, might easily be combined with a taste or two of the region's superb gastronomic products.

Our itinerary commences in Norcia, for the gourmand, the realm of the spicy "norcineria umbra" sausage, truffles, and spelt, for the devout, the birth town of Saint Benedict, the monk who founded the order which bears his name and the legendary motto "ora et labora" (pray and work). Norcia's splendid gothic church has been dedicated to the saint. The town's cathedral, dating back to the renaissance, was radically altered during the later baroque period. Another noteworthy example of renaissance architecture is that of Castellina, the castle realised by Vignola and today home to Norcia's Civic Museum.

On the trail of Umbria's most famous lentils, we make the trip to Castelluccio, an interesting Medieval town, but also the gateway to the National Park of the Sibillini Mountains, which extends for more than 70 thousand hectares as far as the border with the Marches region. The spring, when the lentil fields and grasslands are in full bloom, is the ideal time to visit the Piani di Castelluccio, a series of plains which, together, from the largest karst depression in Italy, measuring some 18 kilometers.

We make our next stop at Cascia. The town, where a rare type of saffron is grown, is perhaps best known as the home of Santa Rita and the sanctuary built here in her honour. An important pilgrim destination the Sanctuary of Santa Rita da Cascia is a modern building consecrated in 1947, and features a mixture of architectural styles and a splendid altar designed by Giacomo Manzù.

Our journey proceeds towards Spoleto, host town of the Festival dei Due Mondi, an artistic and cultural event of international fame. Despite its predominantly medieval appearance, Spoleto's Roman origins can be seen in the Roman theatre, the Roman Bridge and the Basilica of San Salvatore, this latter offering a fine example of 4th century paleo-christian architecture. The historic center of Spoleto is home to numerous Romanesque churches. The Cathedral is the town's most important religious edifice, and adorned with the most exquisite mosaics. The Rocca Albonoziana dominates the town from on high. A papal fortress, used as a prison until the 1980's, this imposing building is now home to the European School for Book Restoration and the Dukedom National Museum, in which works testifying to the town's transformation from Roman settlement to Medieval town are conserved.

Situated in the beautiful countryside which lies between Spoleto and Todi, Massa Martana is another Umbrian city of medieval aspect and Roman origin. Here we stop so as to admire the Parish Church of San Felice and the 16th century Palazzo Comunale, complete with magnificent bell tower.

Having arrived in Todi, birth town of the poet Jacopone, we spend time in the splendid Piazza del Poplolo, home to the symbols of the ancient powers which ruled the city: Palazzo dei Priori, the Cathedral, and Palazzo del Popolo, this latter linked to Palazzo del Capitano by way of a massive medieval staircase. Directly beneath the Piazza, lie the city's ancient Roman cisterns. Beyond the Piazza, within the city's maze of narrow lanes and steep alleyways, all of Todi's medieval character can be seen.