Umbria sits in the shadow of Tuscany, its better-known northern
neighbour, but is fast becoming a favoured destination for those
who want to discover rural Italy away from the crowds. The area is
predominantly rural, with no major cities and a small population of
under a million. Umbria is landlocked, situated in the heart of
Italy, north of Rome, with the Marches region to the east, Latium
to the south and Tuscany to the north.
The region is dotted with remarkably unspoilt medieval hill
towns and villages, ancient castles, Roman ruins and a rolling
countryside of forests, olive groves and vineyards. The famous
Tuscan towns of Florence, Siena and Pisa are all within driving
distance, but Umbria also has many of its own magnificent sights.
These include the cathedral facade in Orvieto, the Roman theatre in
Spoleto, and the town of Assisi, whose Basilica ranks among Italy's
must-see sights along with Pompeii, St Mark's Square and the
Colosseum.
Perugia is the region's main city and is the place to head for
shopping, bars or any nightlife, although visitors are more likely
to visit Umbria to hike through the unspoilt countryside, slumber
by the pool, and enjoy the delicious local wine and food, than to
shop and party.
Umbria is only one to two hours' drive from either the Rome or
Pisa airports, and can be accessed via the A1 toll road which runs
through the region from Rome to Florence.