UMBRIA
• Lake Trasimeno -The Convento overlooks the Lake Trasimeno, the largest lake in Central Italy. Due to its volcanic origin, no major river flows directly into or out of it and the water level fluctuates significantly according to rainfall levels and the seasonal demands from the towns, villages and farms near the shore. The lake is rich in fish, including pike, carp, tench and the lack of large farms in the area ensures a low pollution level. This area is very famous for the Battle of Lake Trasimeno occurred on the northern shore of the lake in April 217 B.C. during the Second Punic War when Hannibal defeated the Romans. We can arrange a tour of the three islands, Maggiore, Minore and Polvese by ferryboat and enjoy a lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants on the shores of the lake.
• Assisi – The city of St. Francis, is built in pink and white stone and perches on the slopes of Monte Subasio. This lovely Umbrian landmark, enclosed by ramparts and crisscrossed by narrow streets lined with venerable old facades, has changed little since the Middle Ages. The main sights in town include the extraordinary Basilica of San Francesco which is built on two levels and houses several stunning fresco cycles by the most important artists of the Italian 14th century including Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Lorenzetti. This is unquestionably the highlight of a visit to Assisi but it is also worth visiting the Church dedicated to Saint Francis’ female counterpart, Saint Clare, and the beautiful main square with its medieval civic buildings and remains of a Roman temple. Afterwards, you can walk or
drive into the woods just above town, to visit the Eremo delle Carceri, the peaceful mountain hermitage where St. Francis slept on a stone slab and spoke to the birds.
• Perugia – The capital city of Umbria, Perugia, has a fascinating medieval center with, in the main square, the cathedral and Priors’ Palace, and the Collegio del Cambio with frescoes by Perugino, who was born here and who ended up becoming one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance as well as being Raphael’s teacher. Also visit the National Gallery of Umbria which houses masterpieces of both Umbrian and Italian art generally, and is considered one of the most important collections of paintings in Italy. Continue exploring the city, with a visit to the extraordinary 16th fortress (the Rocca Paolina) built over still intact and visible medieval streets and houses which belonged to Perugia’s ruling family, the Baglioni
• Bevagna – One of the most charming small towns in Umbria, Bevagna’s origins go back to the Etruscans, although its most important period of development was under the Romans because of its position on the Via Flaminia, one of the Roman consular roads, which runs through the centre of town. Today Bevagna has a perfectly preserved medieval appearance with its 12th century city walls and lovely churches, although the remains of a Roman theatre (in Hotel Orto degli Angeli), a baths complex, a temple and mosaics can still be seen in various parts of town. The main square, Piazza S. Silvestro, is surrounded by the most important buildings in town including the Consul’s Palace and the church of S. Michele Arcangelo.
• Montefalco is referred to as the Balcony of Umbria because of its spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. In fact the name of the town means the Falcon’s Mount and refers to the time in the 13th century when the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II used it as a hunting base. The town’s steep main street converges on the central square that, with its almost circular shape, looks like the setting for an opera. The church of San Francesco, just off the main square, apart from a major cycle of frescoes of the life of Saint Francis by the Florentine painter, Benozzo Gozzoli, also houses the town’s museum which is worth a visit. Last but not least Montefalco is home of one of Italy’s great but lesser-known wines, the delicious and full-bodied Sagrantino di Montefalco.
• Spello – Built in the beautiful local pink and white stone from the mountain (Monte Subasio) behind Assisi, Spello was settled by the Umbrians and then became a Roman colony and still has significant
Roman remains including the walls and city gates. It also has a number of beautiful medieval churches several of which house major works of the Renaissance period, in particular the Baglioni Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore which is decorated with frescoes by the Umbrian artist Pinturicchio.
TUSCANY
• Arezzo is a bustling, prosperous city that was founded by the Etruscans and then became an important Roman municipium on the route of one of the main Roman thoroughfares, the Via Cassia. It is particularly famous today for the cycle of frescos by Piero della Francesca in the church of San Francesco, considered one of the most important fresco cycles of the Italian quattrocento, but it is also fun to explore the surrounding streets which are lined with imposing medieval and Renaissance palaces as well as numerous antique shops. Arezzo has a major antiques fair on the first weekend of every month that is visited by antique dealers from all over Italy. Take time to visit the Piazza Grande, designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century, the Pieve di Santa Maria, considered one of the finest Romanesque buildings in Tuscany and the Duomo, which sits on the highest point of the town. Arezzo is also home to one of the finest chocolate shops in Italy – Vestri.
• Cortona is one of the oldest cities in Tuscany and was founded as one of the twelve Etruscan Lucumones (or city states) during the 6th century BC. Its spectacular position high up on the slopes of the Appennini mountains commands spectacular views over the Valdichiana and Lake Trasimeno over the border into Umbria. Today the town is one of the most lively and bustling urban centers in Southern Tuscany and is centred on the three main squares of Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Duomo and Piazza Signorelli, the Renaissance painter who was born here. It is worth visiting the Etruscan Museum which houses fascinating artifacts mostly found in the immediate area around Cortona and the little Museo Diocesano opposite the Duomo which houses an Annunciation, a masterpiece by the Florentine painter Fra Angelico who spent 10 years here in the early 15th century. Cortona also has the somewhat ambiguous virtue of being the setting for Francis Mayes’ hugely successful book, Under the Tuscan Sun!
• Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. It rests on three red clay hills and has retained its original medieval atmosphere with steep narrow streets and predominantly Gothic architecture. You will see the Campo, considered one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world, where the famous Palio horserace is run twice a year between the different districts of the city. Here you can visit the city museum – housed in the city hall, this includes the gloriously frescoed council chambers of Siena’s medieval government and includes works by the major artists of Siena’s Golden Age – Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Simone Martini. Later, you can visit the Duomo, Siena’s magnificent cathedral with its stripy marble facade and interior which houses major works of painting and sculpture.
Optional extra visits in Siena are:
The Cathedral Museum – this houses works from the Duomo and includes Duccio’s incredible Maestà – the largest painting of the Medieval period, Giovanni Pisano’s extraordinary life-size sculptures from the Cathedral facade as well as numerous other fascinating works
The Pinacoteca – this is the city’s museum of painting and houses a complete collection of works by Sienese artists starting from the very early beginnings of Sienese painting in the 13th century and continuing through to the 17th century.
• The Val D’Orcia – This area to the Southeast of Siena is considered one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world and is now protected by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Apart from its breath-taking landscape, subject of so many Tuscan postcards, the Val D’Orcia includes five of the most charming hill towns in Tuscany – Pienza, Montalcino, San Quirico D’Orcia, Castiglione D’Orcia and Radicofani.
