Luckily there are lots of exciting towns in Umbria. Many of these towns are rich in architectural treasures especially from the Middle Ages plus there are a great many art collections.
Gubbio is one of the oldest towns in Umbria and has a wide range of well-preserved monuments showing the great past of the town. In Gubbio sights include the Roman theatre, the basilica Sant'Ubaldo and the cathedral.
Umbertide, famous for its modern art collection, is yet another fascinating medieval town with castles and beautiful churches.
Città della Pieve by Lake Trasimeno is thought to have been founded by the Etruscans and has many interesting monuments from the Middle Ages and other times.
Perugia is the capital of Umbria. The town was one of the Etruscan's most important and at one time was even bigger than Rome. There are lots of interesting monuments here, but the town is also famous for its international and very well respected jazz festival, Umbria Jazz, where many international names perform each year. The town also has an international chocolate festival visited by many chocolate enthusiasts.
Most people have heard of Assissi because of the holy Saint Francis of Assissi. A large part of the town consists of buildings from the Middle Ages and there is more than enough to see here if you are interested in magnificent building works from this period of time.
Some people may have heard of Orvieto because of the white wine of the same name. This town was also founded by the Etruscans. The cathedral is one of the main attractions in the town.
Todi is beautifully situated in soft green hills. It is thought to have been founded 2700 BC. There are both the Etruscan and Roman relics to see here.
Montefalco is a town, which has also given its name to Umbria's best red wine, Montefalco Sagrantino. The town is quite small but famed for its fantastic views over the countryside.
Polino is situated 800 metres above sea level and has many buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Spoleto has also kept its classical feel with clear traces of Roman influence. In its time, the town was under Lombard influence. The cathedral, a Roman bridge, the basilica and the Roman church Sant'Eufemia are some of the main sights.
Norcia is well known for its marvellous hams and sausages made from pork and wild boar. Many of the town's monuments show signs of damage because of the earthquakes that affect the area from time to time. The town's cathedral is from the Renaissance. But a visit to Norcia is also often a culinary visit where you can enjoy the great local Umbrian cuisine.
