By Victor Block
In 1996 a book titled "Under the Tuscan Sun" recounted how author Frances Mayes purchased and restored an abandoned villa in the Tuscany region of Italy. The best-selling volume helped establish that area as a popular vacation destination for people from the United States.
Umbria, Tuscany's next-door neighbor, has not been so celebrated and glorified. Yet that often-overlooked region encompasses artistic, scenic and other treasures that reward those who seek them out.
For starters, Umbria — pronounced "oom-bria" by those who live there — boasts a setting of magnificent landscapes. The jagged Apennine Mountains lead to rolling hillsides that flatten into lush valleys blanketed by fields of wildflowers.
Overlooking the scene are the true gems, towns that for centuries have perched at the top of hills. In many ways time has bypassed these villages of stone buildings and winding cobblestone streets.
These ancient enclaves share similarities that include a central square and churches adorned with architectural touches outside and art treasures within. However, there are differences, and each has its own unique claims to fame.
The two best-known towns are Assisi and Spoleto — and for very different reasons. Assisi is famous as the birthplace of St. Francis, while since 1957 Spoleto has hosted a multifaceted feast of cultural events that attracts a lineup of world-famous participants.
St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1182, and in his roles as a Roman Catholic friar and preacher he founded several religious orders. His birthplace retains much of its medieval character, and the town's basilica houses frescoes that depict chapters of his life and rank among the most important works of art in Italy.
Spoleto tells a very different story. Every summer its jumble of narrow medieval streets is overwhelmed by people during the annual Festival of Two Worlds, this year from June 30 to July 16. This cultural buffet of opera and jazz, ballet and modern dance, theater, visual arts and more has brought the town to the attention of the world.
Other less-well-known villages also have attractions that warrant a look-see. The approach to Orvieto alone is worth a visit. It rises up from the almost vertical faces of volcanic cliffs, and the ornate facade of a 13th century cathedral is one of the most elaborate in the country.
Perugia, the capital of Umbria, has its feet firmly planted over a span of centuries. It is home to several institutions of higher learning, including the University of Perugia, which was founded in 1308. It also hosts a number of annual festivals and other events.
In contrast to the graceful piazzas, magnificent art-filled cathedrals and other attractions common to the hill towns of Umbria, one of my favorites turned out to be a tiny enclave hidden at the end of a rough gravel road. Poreta was a miniscule 13th-century fortified village consisting of a few dozen dwellings surrounding a modest-sized castle. The fortress was abandoned after an earthquake damaged it and the houses that were huddled nearby. Then the townspeople built new homes, using the stones from their destroyed properties.
The brooding castle ruins look out over a valley as they have for centuries. About 150 people live in the reconstructed houses whose walls crowd the narrow lane so tightly that only one car at a time is able to pass. This nondescript hamlet transported me back in time and atmosphere at least as much as the soaring cathedrals and bustling village squares.
While petite Poreta seems to be frozen in time, most of Umbria reveals intriguing tangible evidence of Etruscan, Roman and medieval influences — often in the same locale. The Etruscan civilization lasted from about the eighth century B.C. until its assimilation into the Roman Republic beginning in the fourth century B.C.
Major evidence of Etruscan influence is found in Orvieto and Perugia. In Todi,
walls construed by the Etruscan, Roman and medieval societies still are visible.
Spoleto offers a treasure-trove of Roman reminders, including the remains of a house with a mosaic pavement, a restored first-century amphitheater and a first-century temple. The ruins of a Roman amphitheater (circa 32) grace Terni, and remnants of one of the largest amphitheaters built by the Romans stand outside the city walls of Gubbio.
A memorable medieval setting is that of Trevi, whose ancient center of alleyways, porticos, vaulted passages and churches is partly surrounded by the original 13th-century defensive walls. Its hilltop position offers commanding views over the surrounding plains, and the groves of trees that surround the village yield some of the country's best olive oil.
Along with countless architectural and art treasures that abound throughout Umbria, being part of Italy it's no surprise that the region clings proudly to a well-deserved culinary reputation. Pondering the list of specialties that grace dining tables can be a mouth-watering experience, and it explain why the area is referred to as Italy's "cuore verde" ("green heart").
Food typically is hearty country cuisine simply prepared to enhance the flavors of its ingredients. Meat and pastas are staples. Prized locally grown truffles, more of the black than white variety, appear in a variety of dishes.
The olive oil produced in Umbria is considered among the best in a country that is known for the high quality of that product. Montefalco wine, which became my favorite go-to beverage, is named for the delightful little hill town which is surrounded by vineyards.
The hard-to-resist temptations of the table add to the sensory onslaught that envelops visitors to Umbria and are part - but just a part - of what makes a visit there memorable.
WHEN YOU GO
I traveled to Umbria with Untours, which offers "independent travel with support" and more than met my expectations. I received an avalanche of pre-trip material that helped me to — as the company promises — "live like the locals." In addition to basic details about sightseeing, shopping and getting around, I received insider tips about everything from Umbrian culture and good restaurants to food shopping and recipes for local dishes. The fact that I was put up in a comfortable furnished apartment at a farm added to the feeling of immersion in the setting. For more information call 888-868-6871 or visit www.untours.com.
For more information about Umbria, visit www.umbriatourism.it.
Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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