Highlights of our Week in Umbria (Short Trip Report)
Nov 26th, 2011, 08:58 AM
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Highlights of our Week in Umbria (Short Trip Report)
Our family of four rented a house just north of Preggio. (We have two college-aged children.) We found the surrounding area as beautiful as Tuscany and the villages just as charming. The people we encountered in all the towns were warm and helpful. In mid-June, the towns and restaurants were quiet and peaceful and the weather was gorgeous. We never encountered any crowds, and hardly ever ran into any English speaking tourists. Truly, this area is a breathtaking and we wish we could have stayed longer.
The house was not within walking distance to anything, so a car was necessary. Most days, we took a little day trip to a nearby village and also spent time relaxing and reading by our pool.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Sorry this trip report is short and lacking in details, but I don’t have a lot of time.
In an effort to quickly offer some insight for people who are thinking about spending a week in northern Umbria, I’ve included some highlights below...
Our Favorite Restaurants:
LA TAVERNA in Perugia -- the best meal of our trip. Located in a charming alley. The food was beyond belief, and the chef sat and chatted with us for at least a half an hour.
ERBA LUNA in Montone is a beautiful restaurant in a charming town with great food.
TAVERNA DEL LUPO in Gubbio was probably the best lunch we had on our trip.
***Private chefs: We had Elizabeth and Paola from AMORE SAPORE cook for us one night. They were delightful, easy to work with, and amazing chefs! It was a very memorable evening!
Our Favorite Towns:
GUBBIO -- very charming, lots of great shops, and a huge open market. the funicular ride to the top is not to be missed.
PERUGIA -- LOVED this town. (Definitely our favorite!) So incredibly charming, historic, and beauitful. Could happily spend a whole week here.
ASSISI -- gorgeous! wish we could have spent more time here. we arrived late in the afternoon (4pm?) to avoid the crowds (which worked out quite nicely -- easy parking, no crowds) and enjoyed the Basilica and it’s surroundings.
***CORTONA -- a beautiful hilltop town, but actually not one of our favorites. sadly, i should mention that on the afternoon that we visited, Cortona seemed to be filled with English-speaking tourists carrying Rick Steves guides (no offense to Rick Steves) asking how to get to Bramasole. No where else in Umbria did we run into so many Americans and Brits.
A huge thanks to all the fodorites who helped us plan our trip!!!
If anyone has any questions, I am more than happy to answer.
dina
The house was not within walking distance to anything, so a car was necessary. Most days, we took a little day trip to a nearby village and also spent time relaxing and reading by our pool.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Sorry this trip report is short and lacking in details, but I don’t have a lot of time.
In an effort to quickly offer some insight for people who are thinking about spending a week in northern Umbria, I’ve included some highlights below...
Our Favorite Restaurants:
LA TAVERNA in Perugia -- the best meal of our trip. Located in a charming alley. The food was beyond belief, and the chef sat and chatted with us for at least a half an hour.
ERBA LUNA in Montone is a beautiful restaurant in a charming town with great food.
TAVERNA DEL LUPO in Gubbio was probably the best lunch we had on our trip.
***Private chefs: We had Elizabeth and Paola from AMORE SAPORE cook for us one night. They were delightful, easy to work with, and amazing chefs! It was a very memorable evening!
Our Favorite Towns:
GUBBIO -- very charming, lots of great shops, and a huge open market. the funicular ride to the top is not to be missed.
PERUGIA -- LOVED this town. (Definitely our favorite!) So incredibly charming, historic, and beauitful. Could happily spend a whole week here.
ASSISI -- gorgeous! wish we could have spent more time here. we arrived late in the afternoon (4pm?) to avoid the crowds (which worked out quite nicely -- easy parking, no crowds) and enjoyed the Basilica and it’s surroundings.
***CORTONA -- a beautiful hilltop town, but actually not one of our favorites. sadly, i should mention that on the afternoon that we visited, Cortona seemed to be filled with English-speaking tourists carrying Rick Steves guides (no offense to Rick Steves) asking how to get to Bramasole. No where else in Umbria did we run into so many Americans and Brits.
A huge thanks to all the fodorites who helped us plan our trip!!!
If anyone has any questions, I am more than happy to answer.
dina
Nov 26th, 2011, 11:01 AM
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I think Umbria is a perfect vacation, too. We did two weeks there at the end of September, and found it totally relaxing and beautiful.
I agree with you about Gubbio and especially Perugia. I thought it was a stunning little city, but then I love university towns anywhere. Several days after we left, Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend were released from prison as their convictions were over-turned. People all over Italy were talking about it. It was easier to relate to emotions on both sides, having seen what a stylish yet fairytale like at the same time, University setting for foreign (and Italian) students Perugia is. Personally, I don't think the murderer was a student, or anyone in the "circle" of people they knew socially. But young people of that age and in that setting are too trusting of strangers. It was just a horrible crime of opportunity.
Cortona gets its biggest boost from "Under the Tuscon Sun" rather than Rick Steves
But I must admit that my DH always brings a RS guide, especially if we're staying somewhere over a week. Rick always has the straight skinny on where to do your laundry!
I agree with you about Gubbio and especially Perugia. I thought it was a stunning little city, but then I love university towns anywhere. Several days after we left, Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend were released from prison as their convictions were over-turned. People all over Italy were talking about it. It was easier to relate to emotions on both sides, having seen what a stylish yet fairytale like at the same time, University setting for foreign (and Italian) students Perugia is. Personally, I don't think the murderer was a student, or anyone in the "circle" of people they knew socially. But young people of that age and in that setting are too trusting of strangers. It was just a horrible crime of opportunity.
Cortona gets its biggest boost from "Under the Tuscon Sun" rather than Rick Steves
But I must admit that my DH always brings a RS guide, especially if we're staying somewhere over a week. Rick always has the straight skinny on where to do your laundry!
Nov 26th, 2011, 11:16 AM
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sounds like you had a wonderful trip, too. how lucky you were there for two weeks!
there was a lot of talk about the knox case when we were in perugia in june. in fact, we saw the prosecutor walking around.
and, yes, i own several rick steve books myself!
there was a lot of talk about the knox case when we were in perugia in june. in fact, we saw the prosecutor walking around.
and, yes, i own several rick steve books myself!
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