Stay in Spoleto or Orvieto
 

After studying the maps and evaluating driving distances for day trips in Umbria, it seems it may be better to stay in Spoleto and make Orvieto one of our day trips rather than having Orvieto as our base. From Spoleto, it's much quicker going to Spelo, Bevagna, Foligno, Terni, Narni, etc.

Which one would you suggest?

topping for buongiorno

Why not Spello? I think that is the most centro for Umbria. Look at Palazzo Bocci. Do not miss the road thru Bevagna and Bettona to Torgiano.

Spello is not out of the question either. The thought about staying in Spoleto is that it is larger and we thought there would be more variety of restaurants to go to at night.

I cannot imagine why anyone would want to go to Terni or Narni or, for that matter, Foligno.

Bevagna and Montefalco are interesting;
one can eat very well, if traditionally, at Coccorone in Montefalco, and the red Sagrantino di Montefalco wine is little known outside Italy and well worth trying.

From Spello, you would have to go in one direction first to get to Bevagna, then retrack to get to Bettona and Torgiano. I don't know Bettona, but Torgiano has nothing but the Lungarotti winery, the Lungarotti Wine Museum and the very pricey Lungarotti restaurant Tre Vasselle to recommend it.

Spello is much more charming than Spoleto. While Spello is built of the same rosy stone as Assisi, Spoleto's buildings are mostly built of a dark grey local stone.

The Palazzo Bocci is beautifully appointed and many of the rooms have lovely views of the Umbrian countryside.

There are two very good restaurants within yards of the Palazzo Bocci: Il Mulino, which, I believe, belongs to the Palazzo Bocci and is a little more adventurous, and La Cantina, which is traditional. For Italian cuisine with a nouvelle and fusion influence, the restaurant of La Bastiglia (at the top of the town) is well regarded by foodies.

Thanks Eloise

We will have to check out those places.