Umbria apartments - holiday apartments throughout Umbria

UMBRIA

Sunset over Lake Trasimeno

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Read our mini guide to Umbria

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A land-locked region north of Rome, Umbria is known as the "green heart of Italy" because of its lush rolling hills and fertile land. The Tiber river runs through the region's mountainous centre and Italy's fourth-largest lake, Trasimene, is here too.

Umbria's principal city, Perugia, was founded in the 9th century BC and conquered by the Romans in 295 BC. Its long history can be seen in the incredible variety of architecture here, ranging from Etruscan ruins to the old city walls, medieval palaces and Renaissance churches. The excellent Archaeological museum and the Palazzo dei Priori are both worth a stop.

Assisi, home of St. Francis, is another must-see town in Umbria. It's best known for its religious monuments, including St. Francis' Basilica, the Basilica di Santa Clara and the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, though perhaps the most memorable thing about the town is the view of it from afar. Assisi is perched on the slope of Mt. Subasio, and its glorious marble buildings beautifully reflect the sunlight.

The scope of this short guide is too narrow to include all the towns of Umbria, but other places worth a visit are Spoleto, Orvieto, Gubbio, Todi, Spello and Terni. In each of these villages you'll find museums, ornate churches and rambling historic centers perfect for getting lost in.

Sunset over Lake Trasimeno

You can enjoy Umbria any time of year, but the gentle autumn and spring months are ideal because of the fine weather, moderate prices and lack of tourists. Summer is perhaps the most popular time of year to visit, but you'll find yourself queuing for sites and museums, and prices may be inflated.

Sunset over Lake Trasimeno

The Umbria Sant Egidio Regional Airport is 12km from Perugia. Athough historically only a few national flights arrived here RyanAir have now started up a flight from London. Rome's Fiumicino airport is the closest major international airport, and it offers bus service to Perugia, 210km away. A railway rambles through the region, and you can get to Umbria with minimal hassle on lines from Rome and Florence. Car rental remains the most popular and flexible way to get around, and parking in the region's small villages won't present much of a problem. In Perugia, however, your best bet is to find a parking lot and leave your vehicle. Within the region, you can reach most towns by bus or train.

Sunset over Lake Trasimeno

The Umbrian countryside lends itself perfectly to walking holidays. There are trails throughout the region, especially in the Trasimeno district, Valnerina and around the Monti Martani. Cycling is a good option too, and either road biking or trail biking can be a great way to see rural areas and small towns.

If you're drawn to the water you can go rafting on the Nera river or boating on the large Lake Trasimeno. The lake is also a popular fishing spot, as are Lake Piediluco, Lake Corbara and the many rivers strung across the region.

In most towns, the main activities are sightseeing and eating. There are literally dozens of art, history and archaeological museums scattered about, not to mention the churches, castles and palaces that are open for visits.

After a busy day, you can feast on local dishes like roast suckling pig stuffed with heart, liver and lungs. If that doesn't sound appetizing, hold out for "budellacci"- smoked pork intestines. For those who are serious about cuisine, cooking classes are widely available.