Often passed over by visitors seeking out its better-known neighbour, Umbria, Italy’s only landlocked region not bordering another country, rewards travellers with marvellous hilltop towns, a distinct and delicious cuisine, and exceptional wine in a setting where the local presence feels authentic, not touristy.
The Franciscan Trail
It’s fitting that one of Umbria’s most enchanting hikes bears the name of its most beloved citizen, St. Francis of Assisi. Walking through shimmering olive groves high above the verdant Umbra valley, one needs little imagination to envision Francis making his way along the hillside paths from Spoleto to Assisi. Well preserved over the centuries by keen pilgrims and naturalists, the views and tranquil ambiance provide the ideal mode to arrive in Assisi.
Incredible Cuisine
Even if you expect to eat well (and you probably should—this is Italy, after all), you’ll still be bowled over by Umbria’s cuisine. Humble roadside trucks have been serving porchetta (generous cuts of suckling pig) since long before the phrase “food truck” became de rigeur, while delicate servings of black truffles are available during the two best seasons to visit, spring and autumn. And who could forget the olives, chocolate and pecorino cheese? (Spoiler alert: the answer is “no one who tastes it.”)
