Umbria Vacation Rentals at LA VOLPE (Marsciano, Perugia, Italy)

Umbria is surely one of the most beautiful Regions of Italy. Just over 800,000 people live in an area covering 8,456 sq kms at the very heart of the Italian peninsula, spread out over the many townships which form Umbria's urban framework. Click here to visit the institutional Umbria website for tourism.

A few minutes away from Marsciano, Deruta is the place to buy hand-painted ceramics: you will probably lose your mind trying to decide which shop has the best selection!

A famous medieval hill town, Todi is also a short drive from Marsciano. Follow the narrow, winding streets and stairs up to Piazza del Popolo, with the Cathedral, two Town Halls from the 13th century and beautiful panorama views of the surrounding countryside.

Perugia is the Umbrian jewel: it's a cosmopolitan city, wonderful to explore on foot and filled with too many treasures to be numbered: the Fontana Maggiore, 14th century's San Lorenzo Cathedral, St. Peter's Abbey, Palazzo dei Priori (the City Hall) home to Umbria's National Gallery with its amazing collection of Il Perugino's works, medieval town remains under the Rocca Paolina, the churches of San Domenico, Sant'Angelo and many others. The evening passeggiata on Corso Vannucci, the main street, when everyone descends upon the main square to stroll and be seen, is a spectacle in itself. For the jazz lover, Perugia is home to Umbria Jazz, Italy's top jazz festival and one of the best in Europe (every year, in July).

Assisi, native town of St. Francis and St. Claire, is probably the best-known Umbrian town. The famous frescoes in the Basilica of San Francesco would make it worth a special trip, not to mention the Basilica of Santa Chiara, San Rufino Cathedral, the Rocca Maggiore castle, the nearby Hermitage of the Carceri and Rivotorto Sanctuary.

A few kms southeast of Assisi is Spello, its smaller and more intimate twin. This charming little town with winding streets and lovely vistas is home to some of the finest restaurants in the region. Don't miss the frescoes of the Baglioni Chapel, a masterpiece by Il Pintoricchio (1454-1513) in the Collegiata Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The Festival dei Due Mondi ("Festival of the Two Worlds"), the most important Italian festival for the performing arts (opera, concerts, ballet, drama, art exhibits), is held in Spoleto every summer, mid June to mid July. Spoleto is a charming town to visit any time, but during the festival it really comes alive.

Midway between Florence and Rome, Orvieto is a beautiful town, perched on a pedestal of volcanic tufa. Besides the setting, its gothic Cathedral is one of the all-time masterpieces of Italian art. Facing the Cathedral, the Claudio Faina Foundation Museum contains one of the most remarkable collections of archeological materials in Italy.

Gubbio is also spectacular and worth the drive. As you approach the town you are struck by the parallel rows of stone buildings that are built into the hill. The view from the beautiful Piazza della Signoria is unique.

Almost any other small town in Umbria is filled with old treasures: Bevagna, Città della Pieve, Montefalco, Narni, Norcia, Trevi only to name a few ...