This lush, undulating region in the centre of Italy forms a bridge between Tuscany and the outskirts of Rome. It boasts an outstanding mediaeval and Renaissance heritage.

Umbria is a veritable ‘green lung’ in the centre of Italy, with its gentle hilly landscape overlooked by the Sybilline Mountains to the east of the region. Its current tranquillity is in stark contrast with its turbulent past. The region was an important centre of the Etruscan civilisation, was thereafter conquered by the Romans and then introduced to early Christianity before falling under the domination of the Pope. Take its winding streets and discover the charms of its historic local heritage, poised between art and nature. Umbria offers a wealth of fine mediaeval towns. Visit Gubbio, the oldest town in Umbria, and see its cathedral decorated with symbols from the Gospel, its Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Ducale. The historic centre, home to several spectacular and highly popular folk festivals, has a host of lively crafts shops where traditional crafts are still handed down: pottery, embroidery, leather, wrought iron and gold. And the local cuisine, based on the white truffle, is a veritable gourmet treat. Your rural expedition through Umbria should also include Orvieto, not to mention its famous cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art; Spoleto, a picturesque town with a history stretching back 1 000 years; and Assisi. Wherever you go in this town there is something to recall its most famous inhabitant: St Francis. The magnificent basilica, perched on Mount Subasio, offers stunning views over the valley. Its interior is decorated with frescoes by the most important painters of the 13th and 14th centuries. Finally, Perugia, perched on two hilltops, is home to some of the most famous museums in Italy, clustered round its central square. Just what you need to add the finishing touch to your visit to this side of the Apennines.