Move over Rome and Venice, Umbria – the green heart of Italy – is offering tourists an authentic Italian experience without the bustling crowds!

Cascading green hills, speckled meadows and luscious warm sun await you on your Umbria villa holidays, and with a colourful and equally fascinating history and culture, you’ll be left captivated and head over heels in love with this glorious region.

The only region in Italy that doesn’t border either coastline or another country, the green heart offers an authentic Italian experience that has not been diluted by globalisation.

Umbria is also a perfect destination wedding location, and Nicola Tonolini could be your perfect photographer: www.nicolatonolini.com/en

For travelers who have visited Italy in the past and already ticked the more renowned destinations off their bucketlist, you may want to consider visiting the beautiful region of Umbria for your next trip.

You won’t be disappointed!

Why Umbria is the Italian Destination for Experienced Nomads

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History

For many nomads, the main aim of travel is to soak in as much variation of cultures as possible and Umbria has culture and history in bucket loads!

One destination which may fascinate experienced travelers is Assisi. This saintly town calls to those who are fascinated by outstanding architecture with the picturesque, white-stone town sparkling in the soft glow of dusk.

The town itself is the prime destination for many pilgrims, who venture here to feel the spirit of important saint, St Francis of Assisi, who was born in this stunning town in 1181.

Landscapes

Although not surrounded by any coastline, Umbria boasts Italy’s fourth largest lake, Lake Trasimeno, close to the border of Tuscany.

The icy blue 128 sq. km lake is set in the hilly landscape, dotted with olive groves, vines, oak woods, sunflower fields and medieval towns makes for a fantastic view, a great place to take some breath-taking photos or take a dip.

You can also take a relaxing 20-minute boat trip from Passignano over to Isola Maggiore to witness intricate lace being made.

Lake Trasimeno

Falls of Marmore

The cascading waters of the falls of Marmore is Italy’s highest waterfall. Nestled in the natural landscape, this contrast of man-made and natural elements feel almost surreal.

The waterfall was created by the Romans, when the Velino river became enlarged and its then stagnant waters had become an unhealthy swamp. A canal was created to direct the waters to the Marmore cliffs to create the magnificent waterfall that now resides there (with no more swampy waters!).

Whilst Umbria’s luscious green hills make a great place for hikers or bikers or horse riders, as the terrain is perfectly suited for all these activities. Alternatively, the grounds and climate of Umbria make it the perfect place for vineyards which cover much of the region.

Delicacies

Like most of Italy, Umbria is known for its delicacies, from delicious food offerings to the rich, full-flavoured wines. For wine lovers Umbria is an absolute haven. With a Mediterranean climate, ideal for grape growth the Umbrian wine industry is now starting to boom.

The history of Umbria’s winemaking can be traced to the time of the Benedictine monks who first created vineyards in the clay and sandy soil that covers much of the region.

Perugia offers the best of the regions red wines, with Sagrantino black grapes that are native to the region, creating a full-bodied drink. Whilst Orvieto create a peachy and crisp white wine, of the same name, that accounts for nearly 80% of the DOC wines made in the region and exported worldwide.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Lake Trasimeno by Chris Ford.