Cities of Art
Umbria and its territory
Cities that tell millennia of history
Between art, spirituality and beauty
Umbria preserves towns that have crossed the centuries while keeping their beauty intact. From Etruscan walls to Renaissance palaces, from frescoed basilicas to medieval alleys, each center tells stories of art, spirituality, and power intertwined with the surrounding landscape. Here you walk among millennia-old stones once crossed by saints, artists, and commanders, where every glimpse offers a different emotion. These are towns to be discovered slowly, inviting you to wander through narrow streets and pause in the squares, where time seems suspended and beauty is everywhere.
Perugia
The capital of Umbria
Perugia welcomes visitors with its historic center rich in traces spanning three thousand years of history. The Etruscan Arch marks the entrance to the ancient city, while Piazza IV Novembre gathers the most important buildings around the Fontana Maggiore: the Palazzo dei Priori, home to the National Gallery of Umbria, houses masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Perugino, and Pinturicchio. The Rocca Paolina conceals within it the medieval streets incorporated into the sixteenth-century construction. With every step, Perugia reveals the layers of its history, from the Etruscan era to the Renaissance.
Gubbio
The medieval grey city
Gubbio rises austere with its limestone blocks that have earned it the name of the “grey city.” The historic centre preserves its medieval layout intact, with Piazza Grande home to the Palazzo dei Consoli, seat of the Civic Museum where the Eugubine Tables are preserved. The Ducal Palace bears witness to Renaissance splendour, while the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo dominates from above. Gubbio is also linked to Saint Francis, who here met the wolf.
Assisi
The city of Saint Francis
Assisi stretches along the slopes of Mount Subasio, its pink stone changing tones throughout the day. The Basilica of Saint Francis houses the frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue that tell the life of the saint, while the Basilica of Saint Clare preserves the remains of the saint. The historic center unfolds around Piazza del Comune with the Roman-era Temple of Minerva and the Rocca Maggiore towering above. Assisi is a place where art and spirituality blend into a unique atmosphere.
Not far away lies La Scarzuola, the "Ideal City" created by architect Tomaso Buzzi near an ancient Franciscan convent, a place where architecture, symbolism, and nature intertwine.
Orvieto
The city on the tuff cliff
Orvieto rises on a tuff cliff with Etruscan origins. The Duomo is the city's masterpiece: its Gothic façade with golden mosaics captivates everyone arriving in the square, while inside the frescoes by Luca Signorelli are among the most important of the Italian Renaissance. The Well of St. Patrick represents an ingenious hydraulic system, while beneath the city lies Underground Orvieto with Etruscan galleries and cisterns open to visitors.
Todi
Elegance over the Tiber Valley
Todi rises atop a hill overlooking the Tiber Valley, surrounded by three rings of walls. Piazza del Popolo houses the seats of power: the Cathedral, the Palazzo dei Priori, the Palazzo del Capitano, and the Palazzo del Popolo. The Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, a masterpiece of Umbrian Renaissance architecture attributed to Bramante, lies just outside the town center. The Temple of San Fortunato preserves the remains of the friar-poet Jacopone da Todi.
Spoleto
Between Roman Art and Festival
Spoleto spreads over Sant'Elia hill, preserving Roman landmarks such as the Arch of Drusus, the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre. The Duomo houses frescoes by Pinturicchio and the bronze bust of Urban VIII by Bernini. The Rocca Albornoziana dominates from above, while the Ponte delle Torri, 80 meters high, offers a breathtaking view. Spoleto is famous for the Festival dei Due Mondi, which annually attracts international artists.
Spello
The Pink Village of Subasio
Spello stretches along the slopes of Mount Subasio with its pink-hued stone. The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore houses the Baglioni Chapel frescoed by Pinturicchio, a masterpiece of the Umbrian Renaissance. Villa Fidelia hosts an art collection and is surrounded by a park where an ancient sanctuary once stood. Spello is famous for the Corpus Domini Infiorata, when artists create carpets of petals along the streets of the town center.
Terni
Between Industry and Ancient History
Terni preserves a heritage dating back to Roman times, when it was called "Interamna Nahars". The Roman Amphitheatre testifies to the importance of the ancient city, while the Cathedral represents its spiritual heart. The Basilica of Saint Valentine houses the remains of the patron saint of lovers. Just a few kilometers outside the city lies the Cascata delle Marmore, a remarkable Roman engineering work.
Cascia and Norcia
Spirituality among the Sibillini Mountains
Two villages that preserve history, spirituality, and culinary traditions. Cascia is linked to Saint Rita, whose Shrine attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Norcia, the birthplace of Saint Benedict, hosts its main monuments in Piazza San Benedetto: the Basilica, the Castellina, and the Town Hall. Norcia is renowned for the Norcian tradition of cured meats and truffles. Both serve as gateways to the Sibillini Mountains National Park.