Alta Perugia bed and breakfast is situated in a position good for visiting Perugia, the main historic centres of Umbria and some areas of naturalistic interest.

Perugia and its environs

Perugia (6 kms)

The historic centre of Perugia can be reached by car in few minutes. The road leads to a convenient parking area placed near the Arco Etrusco and the University for Foreigners.

The stop of the mini-bus Z-7 (San Marco - Montebagnolo - Montelaguardia ) is just 100 metres away from the bed and breakfast. The stop of the bus L (Cordigliano - Montelaguardia - Ponte Rio - Monteluce - Via XIV Settembre - Piazza Partigiani) is about a kilometre away, in a place where you can park your car.

Buildings and Monuments

 

Territory of Perugia

In the territory of Perugia we find the historic centres of Corciano, Torgiano and Deruta.

Corciano (15 km)

Corciano is one of the most beautiful "Borghi d'Italia". The historic centre is inside the medieval city walls and shows very preserved streets, buildings and houses. Remarkable monuments are the "Residenza Comunale" (town hall), the Church of St. Mary with a painting by Pietro Perugino - The Assumption (1513), and the "Museo della Casa contadina", with a collection of objects bound up with the old country life. Some events take place in different periods of the year. After the Easter, we have the "Primavera dell'artigianato" (exhibition and market of handicrafts), in August "Corciano Festival" (music, shows, art), at Chistmas a beautiful "Presepe" with life-size statues.

Torgiano (20 km)

Torgiano is an important centre of wine production. In August we have two nice events: "Calici di stelle" (tasting of wine and foods, shows) and the "Vinarelli", exhibition of paintings made with colours mixed in wine. Very interesting is the "Museo del Vino e dell'Olio", with a collection of objects and works of art bound up with the two products (wine and oil). Near the smaller centre of Brufa, in a countryside space, we find several scupltures of contemporary artists.

Deruta (25 km)

Famous since the Middle Ages for the production of artistic ceramics, Deruta can be visited for the Church of St. Francis (13^th century), the Town Hall, the "Pinacoteca" (picture-gallery, 15^th-18^th century works) and the "Museo delle ceramiche" (16^th-18^th century works).

photo: Deruta artistic ceramics, raphaelesque style decoration.

 

Città di Castello and the Upper Tiber Valley

Città di Castello (50 km)

The Upper Tiber Valley, the extreme part of which is called Val Tiberina, extends to the north of Perugia. Near the highway E 45 and before Umbertide, you can visit the Benedectine Abbey of "San Salvatore di Montecorona", founded by St. Romualdus in 1008. After Umbertide, you reach Città di Castello, a centre of medieval and Renaissance art of Umbria. Interesting monuments are the "Palazzo Comunale", the Cathedral, the "Palazzo Vitelli" - centre of exhibitions - and the Burri Museum, that contains several works of the famous artist who was born in Città di Castello. Typical products are white truffles and other products of the woods. Besides, this district is important for the sale of antique furniture and the production of pieces of furniture made with antique wood.

Many are the smaller centres: San Giustino, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Citerna, Pietralunga, Montone, Lisciano Niccone.

Note. Umbertide, Citttà di Castello and San Giustino can be reached by train, departing from the stations of Perugia Sant'Anna, Ponte San Giovanni and Ponte Felcino.

Gubbio and the Regional Park of Mount Cucco

Gubbio (40 km)

The Eugubina Road, which leads to Gubbio, is interesting from the panoramic point of view. At 26 kilometres from Perugia, on the right, there is the Benedictine Abbey of Vallingegno (13^th century), set along the Franciscan Path.

Continuing along the Eugubina Road, past the place of Mengara, you can start to see Gubbio. The town, a true urbanistic and architectural jewel of Umbria, preserves important Umbrian, Roman and Medieval monuments: the Roman Theater, the "Palazzo dei Consoli", the "Palazzo del Bargello", the "Palazzo Ducale" - where Duke Fredrick from Montefeltro sojourned - the Cathedral and the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo on Mount Ingino.

Regional Park of Mount Cucco (65 km)

It is the park of beechwoods, of mountain pastures, the place where clear waters flow in gorges that still give shelter to the crayfish. Mount Cucco (1556 metres), of calcareous rock, is densely crossed by caves where speleology is practised. There are many paths for walks and trekking. Hang-gliding is also practised and during the winter the cross-country skiing. Typical products are salami and cold pork meats, cheese, wrought iron, and ceramics.

Note. It is possible to reach Gubbio by coach, from the bus station of Perugia/Piazza Partigiani. Bus stops at Ponte Felcino and Bosco.

Assisi and the Regional Park of Mount Subasio

Assisi (25 km)

From Perugia you go down to the Tiber Valley and after the centre of Collestrada you enter the Umbra Valley. The first town is Bastia Umbra, then you reach Santa Maria degli Angeli, dominated by the massive structure of the Basilica that preserves inside the little church of Porziuncola.

As you climb to Assisi, you enjoy a unique sight of the city, built on the slopes of Mount Subasio. Assisi is a centre of Umbria rich in history and a place of notable spirituality. Many are the attractions: the Basilica of St. Francis and the Sacred Monastery, many churches bound up with the Saint and Saint Clara, the civic buildings, the façade of the Roman Temple of Minerva, the Medieval Fortress that dominates the town.

Regional Park of Mount Subasio (25 km)

Mount Subasio (1290 metres) is covered of woods of beeches, oaks, holm-oaks and conifers. The top of the mountain shows notable signs of Karst formations. The territory is full of historic places as the Castle of Collepino and the Hermitage of the Carceri. In Assisi you can visit the "Mostra Geopaleontologica", rich of natural finds. By car, you can drive along the panoramic road from Assisi to Spello. There are many marked paths that touch also the Franciscan Places (a map of the paths is available). Sportsmen can also practise hang-gliding. Typical products are milk products, DOC wine (DOC stands for "Contolled Denomination of Origin"), DOP extravirgin olive oil (DOP stands for "Protected Denomination of Origin"), ceramics and embroidery.

 

Spoleto and the Umbra Valley

Spoleto (60 km)

You leave Perugia in direction of Assisi. Past the city of St. Francis, you meet Spello, Foligno and Trevi, whose hills are famous for the production of DOP extra-virgin olive oil (DOP stands for "Protected Denomination of Origin") . After these centres and along the old route of the Flaminia Road (the Roman Via Flaminia), you can stop at the paleo-christian Tempietto and at the Fonti del Clitunno, the source of the homonymous river. Ten more kilometres and you reach Spoleto, full of Roman and medieval monuments. Spoleto, which is one of the main towns of Umbria, has great charm and during the summer it is the seat of the Festival of the Two Worlds. Many are the Monuments, among which the Roman Theater, the Cathedral, the "Ponte delle Torri" (a medieval acqueduct) and the Fortress. In Spoleto you can find shops that sell typical foodstuffs coming from the hinterland (extra-virgin olive oil) and from Valnerina (truffles, cheese, salami).

The Umbra Valley is surrounded by many historic centres. Besides the already mentioned Spello, Foligno and Trevi, we remember Bettona, Cannara, Bevagna, Montefalco, Nocera Umbra, Campello sul Clitunno, Castel Ritaldi, Gualdo Cattaneo, Giano dell'Umbria.

 

Todi and the Middle Tiber Valley

Todi (40 km)

You go down from Perugia toward the Middle Tiber Valley and then cross the territories of Torgiano, important centre of DOC wine production (DOC stands for "Controlled Denomination of Origin"), and of Deruta, famous since the Middle Ages for its ceramics. Few kilometres past Deruta and near the highway E 45 you can visit the Sanctuary of the "Madonna dei Bagni", that preserves a very particular collection of votive offerings (ex voto) in ceramics, belonging to various periods. Going on in direction of Rome, you reach Todi, one of the most beautiful towns of Umbria, of pre-Roman origins, built according to a particular town planning. Many are the monuments: the Cathedral, the civic buildings, the Church of St. Fortunate, with the grave of Jacopone from Todi, the Temple of Consolation, which is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture. In Todi you can buy the DOC wines produced in the Martani hills. The town is also important for the sale of antique furniture.

The Middle Tiber Valley is surrounded by beautiful historic centres: Marsciano, Monte Castello di Vibio, Fratta Todina, Collazzone, Massa Martana.

Note. You can also reach Tody by train, departing from the stations of Perugia Sant'Anna, Ponte San Giovanni and Ponte Felcino. The station of Todi is some kilometres away from the historic centre, which can be reached with public means of transport.

Texts by Claudio De Martiis © 2006-2009

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