SOUTHERN/CENTRE UMBRIA
In Umbria, a region that has gained a name for being the green heart of
Italy, tourism is growing because of the unfamiliar harmony between
nature, antiquities, historic centres and culture. The quiet of the
countryside, good provisions and an inimitable cuisine are the great
draw. This region is less touristy than Tuscany and this is
especially appreciated by many tourists.
Southern/centre Umbria
forms an ideal starting point for enjoying the peace of the surrounding
hilly and mountainous landscape and on the other hand making trips to
beautifull towns like Todi, Orvieto, Narni, Spoleto, Perugia, Gubbio,
Assisi. There are also numerous charming little villages – many of
medieval origin - as Amelia, Labro, Spello, Norcia, Bevagna, Montefalco
to visit. In many towns and villages you can taste local dishes or buy
local wines and olive oil (generally of excellent quality). You can also
easily visit – in day trips - famous towns and charming villages in the
southern part of Tuscany such as Siena, Arezzo, San Giminiano, Pienza,
Cortona, Sinalunga, etc. Many tourists visit also Rome from here
(without staying in the city which is very hot in summer) once or more
times. It is possible to go by car (journey of 1h-1h30) or by train from
the stations of: Terni, Narni-Amelia, Orte & Orvieto.
We
must not forget the mountains with some splendid woods, e.g. Terminillo
(up to 2000 metres by car). In around 1 hour it is possible to reach the
shimmering lakes of Bracciano, Vico, Piediluco, Bolsena and Trasimeno.
The Mediterranean Sea (mostly sand beaches) situated between Tarquinia
and Chiarone are 90-120 Kms away (around 1h20-1h40 driving). Near the
city of Terni you can also visit the Marmore falls (165 meters, one of
the highest of Europe), there is nearby also a
rafting/canoeing/hydrospeed center.
SURROUNDINGS
Lago di Bolsena (35 kms) is Italy's largest lake formed in the crater of
an extinct volcano. The water of Bolsena is so clear, in fact, that it
is completely safe to drink it. The local government has gone to great
efforts to maintain the lake's natural purity; a technologically
advanced purification system has eliminated the errors that might have
been made before pollution-awareness was so developed. Luckily no
industrial development mars Bolsena's shores, nor its views, and the
gently sloping nature of the encircling land limits the amount of
spill-off and soil erosion which could effect the water's transparency.
The native fisherman still use the lake's water to make the local
culinary specialty - a fish soup called sbrosia - a rarity to find.The
lake is 12 km. long and 14 km. wide, with a maximum depth of 151 meters.
The most important town on the lake is called Bolsena. Like so much of
Italy, it bears the signs of almost every important period of the
Italian peninsula, going back as far as the Iron Age and progressing
through the times of the martyrs, catacombs and miracles and on to the
Middle Ages. The Rocca Monaldeschi della Cervara sits at the top of the
hill, overlooking the medieval quarter of town. The castle was built
between the 12th and 14th centuries. It has been completely renovated
and since 1991 has housed the Museo Territoriale del Lago di Bolsena
(Lake Bolsena Territorial Museum). The museum is well laid out; each of
its three floors is dedicated to various aspects of Bolsena's history,
ranging from its prehistoric volcanic origins to its Etruscan-Roman
period. A walk along the ramparts of the castle offers a gorgeous view
of the entire lake and should not be missed. The Church of St. Christine
is the town's other major site. It is a Romanesque church built in 1078
in a typical basilica style over the catacombs where St. Christine, a
young woman martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian,
was buried. From April to September, excursion boats depart Bolsena town
headed for Bisentina and Martana, the islands in the lake. Both are
privately owned and Martana is not open to the public, but Bisentina is
an ex-summer residence of the Popes and has a large church on it. There
are also seven small chapels built around the island. Don't think that
Bolsena is just for history and culture buffs. It is also ideal for
swimming, sailing, relaxation and dining. One of my fondest memories is
having a delicious meal of grilled coregone (a local fish from the lake)
at one of the many unpretentious restaurants lined up along the shore.
If you happen to find one that's serving sbrosia, consider it your lucky
day.
Orvieto (20 kms) is a place of great historical importance. So you see
tourists the whole year round. Lots of them only visit the well known
cathedral, the cathedral square and the central street full of ceramics
and souvenir shops. They are wrong, because there is a lot more to see
in this city and even more in the surrounding area. You have to go right
through Orvieto to get a real impression of the unfamiliar setting of
the city and the gleaming city walls on the volcanic tuff stone hill,
plus characteristic monuments and museums with Etruscan finds.
