Umbria is the green heart of Italy, crossed by the upper middle valley of the Tiber River. This region of ancient origins that gives the visitors a sense of peace and internal well being. The landscape is characterized by gentle rolling hills, fertile valleys, the rivers and lakes and is the ideal place for those who seek the beauties of unspoiled nature. This small and historic region, famous for its splendid and well preserved medieval hamlets, provide serene peacefulness to the spirit. Here the visitors can follow historical or religious itineraries, as the villages and towns are rich in monuments, cathedrals, museums, and can enjoy excellent wines and very good traditional food prepared with locally cultivated natural products and extra virgin olive oil.

Some of Italy's most distinctive medieval towns are to be found in Umbria. Perugia is its largest, most cosmopolitan city, with dozens of galleries and the quintessential Italian shopping corso. Perched on high cliffs above the Tiber valley, Orvieto boasts a proud Etruscan history and an unrivaled Gothic cathedral. Assisi, famous as the birthplace of St. Francis and for its magnificent basilica, is one of Umbria's essential sites. Spoleto too boasts a spectacular cathedral, but many visitors come for its famous summer art festival. Travelers have also discovered Todi. No longer the hidden gem of Umbria, Todi has been called the most livable city in the world and its Gothic piazza is one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Italy. Between these larger towns are a host of charming and evocative towns like Spello, Montefalco, Trevi and Amelia, which make perfect excuses for a drive amidst the spectacular scenery of Umbria.

Umbria hosts great festivals of music and art. Umbria Jazz in enlivens Perugia in the summer and Orvieto in the winter. Spoleto is the home of the Festival of Two Worlds (Festival Dei Due Mondi) one of Europe's longest running arts and music festivals. More recently Todi Arte has brought festival culture to Todi's summer, while culture of another sort is celebrated each fall at Perugia's chocolate festival.

Along with its art festivals Umbrians celebrate a rich variety of historical festivals. Gubbio hosts two of the most famous, the Corsa dei Cieri or the Race of the Candles and a crossbow tournament the Palio della Balestra, but almost every Umbrian village stages its own. Montefalco's Fuga de Bova and Foligno's Jousts of the Quintana are typical of these medieval pageants which celebrate Umbria's past with historical reenactments, costume parades and games.