We've rented a house in Umbria for a week in June, and plan to spend most of the time relaxing and soaking it all in. Our house is just oustide of Preggio, and about a 15 minute drive southwest of Umbertide.

We do plan to explore the beautiful towns of Umbria and also hope to eat in at the house on some of the evenings.

I am hoping to get some feedback on two questions:

1. What are the market days in Umbria?
--- i found these from a list but it was from 2007, and i'm not sure if it's still accurate!
Castiglione del Lago - Wednesday
Citta della Pieve - Saturday
Panicale - Friday
Passignano - Saturday
Perugia - Saturday
**Also interested in Bevagna, Spello, Assisi, Montefalco.

2. In any of the above or nearby towns, can anyone recommend any "deli-type" places that sell good food as "take-out". (I realize I'm asking this at the risk of trying to "americanize" umbria -- but honestly, just trying to save a bit of $$!)

Thanks so much for any information!

Dina

Well, we stayed in a house near Umbertide last June, but it was a bit north - however, Umbertide has a market on Wednesday, which we liked a lot. Not too charming but very nice people, some very good produce, and there is usually plenty of "take-out" in the form of cheeses and pizza slices, etc.
I'm sure that at any market town you visit, there will be food to take home for an easy meal.

Thanks so much!

That's what I was kind of figuring that about markets and food to take home for an easy meal.
thanks for letting me know about the Wed market in Umbertide.

If you don't mind sharing, I'm curious as to what were your favorite town last year when you visited? Did you do a trip report?

Thanks again!

Market days in Europe tend to stay the same over many, many centuries, so what was true in 2007 is probably the same today, and was probably the same in the 13th century.

There are take-out places with charcuterie in every village and town in Umbria. You'll be spoiled for choice. I spent 6 weeks a few years ago in an Umbrian village of 75 inhabitants and even it had a selection of shops with cured meats, cheeses, bread, etc. Will not be an issue.

Will be curious as to what you think about the "shroud" in Umbertide. I thought the townw was rather remote from, and shabbier than, the pretty parts of Umbria closer to Lago Trasimeno, but I only spent a half-day there so didn't get a particularly good feel for it.

I will be curious to see what you think of the markets, which are typically the same mobile vendors moving from town to town. After one you may not want another---think Walmart goods and some produce.

That's probably EXACTLY what markets in Europe are like bob.

good news about the take-out places with charcuterie in the towns, and also good to know it's the same vendors that move from place to place and that the days don't tend to change.

all great info. thanks so much!

oh, i almost forgot...

st. cirq -- what's the shroud? i've heard about "the Resurrection" in the Museo Civico...

When I was there the Shroud of Turin was "visiting" the Colleggiata. Not impressive, IMO.

Dina4: Yes, I did do three trip reports on various parts of our journey.
Search under my name for "Twenty Matchless days in Tuscany and Umbria." and I think you'll find some good ideas.
The upper Tiber Valley was simply marvelous for us.
Umbertide may not be the most beautiful town around, but it grew on us, and sort of became our "own" after a few trips in to town. And I fall in love easily.
There are some English women who sell used books at the market in Umbertide, and they gave us a bunch of travel tips.
Best things in the market were cheeses and fruit.

What is the Italian equivalent of Carrefour? We found that while we enjoyed picking up fresh produce in the markets last fall, we also found some good specials at Carrefour (three duck breasts for 9Euro was a great pickup one week...but something like that is only good if you are based someplace for two weeks or more) Learn how to make a nice red-wine reduction sauce before you go if you don't already have that in your repertoire. It is really pretty easy and then you can cook yourself some splendid dinners in your flat or villa!

In Como it's Carrefour! they bought up GS....

Here is a listing for market days in various Umbrian towns.



http://umbria.angloinfo.com/information/71/markets.asp



I have to disagree with the comment above comparing Italian markets to Walmart!

Of course there are clothes and household equipment. The food sold by the mobile vendors, rather than replicating the stuff sold in the average grocery store in the US, is often artisanal production fresh from the farmer or cheesemaker. In addition, the larger towns will have permanent markets.