Discovering Umbria: full of music, good food and nature

Umbria is the heart of Italy, and not solely from a geographical point of view. Among its hills, valleys and mountains, Umbria is also defined by culinary, artistic and natural characteristics that make it unique.  

It is an enchanted and enchanting area, a little more than two hours from Rome, where nature and the regions villages blend seamlessly into the landscape. It's also a beautiful region where good wine and food exemplify fine living, and where cities full of extraordinary architectural and artistic works become the perfect setting for Umbria Jazz, one of the most famous music events in the world. This years festival, which will take in the most beautiful squares and arenas in Perugia from 8 to 17 July 2016, will also host some big names in international music like Diana Krall, Buddy Guy, Pat Metheny and the Brandon Marsalis Quartet, to name but a few.

Each summer, music fills the city’s streets, and transforms them from a living open-air museum into a welcoming, cosmopolitan center, as only Italy knows how.

Umbria is also home to the extraordinary Marmore Falls and Lake Trasimeno, both found in the province of Perugia. The lake is the largest in central Italy, framed by hills, making it both a romantic and a picturesque sight.

However, Lake Trasimeno isn’t just about the nature: even today, the remains of Etruscan settlements around the lake can be admired, as well as at the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria. Umbria was inhabited by the Etruscans and Umbrians long before becoming a part of the Roman Empire. The beauty of the hills and the extraordinary nature of the region have made Umbria fascinating since prehistoric times.

The history and evolution of the people being told through the dozens of monuments, ancient walls and sculptures that are the pride of not only the region, but Italy as a whole.

The city of Perugia has its medieval streets and the Fontana Maggiore, while Assisi is a city that symbolises peace as the spiritual home of San Francesco, Gubbio has its unique and spectacular Piazza Grande, Spello has its Roman walls and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Orvieto has its Cathedral and St. Patrick's well, and last but not least, Spoleto offers examples of fine medieval and Renaissance architecture.

An area so rich in history guarantees excellent gastronomy, built around products that are typical of the hilly terrain. The most representative dishes of the area are based on game, with “wild boar pappardelle” being the most iconic dish along with black Norcia truffle, which is celebrated throughout the region. The experience of tasting this precious delicacy from the land is not to be missed, along with the equally pleasurable experience of hunting for the truffles amongst the oaks and holm oaks.

The heritage of Italian pastries, yet another great excellency of the region, and renowned worldwide, lies in the Perugina® Casa del Cioccolato (House of Chocolate) and especially in the Scuola del Cioccolato Perugina® (Perugina School of Chocolate).

The history of chocolate and its manufacturing, as well as the secrets behind creating delicious chocolate made by chocolate masters, are an unmissable journey into unique Italian flavors. Even with art in all of its possible facets and food at its finest, the attractions of Umbria don’t end there.

The hills of the area are where some of the most popular wines in Italy are made, such as Torgiano, Sagrantino and Montefalco to top off the local gastronomy. Umbria has a small concentration of good and beautiful things, to discover and share with those you love - just like a kiss.