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Standing by the famous bell tower at the cathedral of Pisa |
The village of Castelluccio |
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Tuscany, better known to American tourists than Umbria, lies just to the North. With flatter terrain than Umbria and a seacoast, it features two of Italy's larger cities, Florence and Pisa. The highlight of a visit to Pisa, of course, is the Cathedral, best known for its leaning bell tower. Umbria is dominated by small towns, many of them perched on the top of hills. The village of Castelluccio, pictured above, sits atop a 300 foot hill that rises above a flat plain surrounded by the beautiful green Sibillini Mountains. The entire hill and valley is at about 6,000 feet of elevation and was our reward at the end of a day's drive through the scenic countryside. The Castelluccio area is well known for the tiny and delicious lentils grown in the valley.
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The Cathedral in Orvieto |
The Cathedral in Orvieto |
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Carved Figures Surrounding the Rose Window |
Mosaic Above the Main Door |
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The Center Bronze Door |
Detail from a column flanking the entry |
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While it is hard to recommend just one of the towns in Umbria over another, this is not the case with the churches. The first stones of the Gothic Cathedral in Orvieto were laid in 1290. Construction continued for the next three centuries. The mosaics on the exterior are stunning. The level of detail present on this massive facade simply overwhelms the visitor. Inside, two chapels present a contrast to the otherwise
simple interior. The Chapel of the corporal provides an ornate
setting for the reliquary
of the corporal. The reason this magnificent cathedral
was constructed was to provide a suitable place to display this corporal
of the Miracle of Bolsena. A second side chapel, The Chapel of St. Britius, has walls covered with Frescos begun by Fra Angelico and completed by Luca Signorelli. The Frescos depict the end of the world in a truly striking series that includes The Coronation of the Chosen, The Resurrection of the Body, and The Damned. If you only see one church in your visit to Umbria, make it this one! The town of Orvieto also features an Underground tour and the large St. Patrick's well with two circular staircases descending some 248 steps to the bottom.
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The square in the heart of Todi, "Palazzo del Popolo" |
The Basilica of St. Benedict in Norcia |
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While you will probably visit the well known towns of Assissi and Perugia on your trip through Umbria, here are a couple of smaller towns you should also include. Todi has a number of memorable buildings and they are mostly located on the well-preserved Medieval town square. The square is one of the most picturesque in Italy. Norcia is a small town of just a few thousand. It was the birthplace of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica and so holds a special place of honor. In the town square you will find both the Basilica of St. Benedict and a statue of the saint.
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Countryside along Route 209 South of Spoleto |
An olive grove on a hillside near Spoleto |
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Not all of the charm of Umbria lies in the lovely towns. The rolling countryside makes almost any drive into a scenic tour. Particularly notable are Mt. Subasio near Assissi, Marmore waterfalls near Terni and the olive groves that dot the steep hillsides along most valleys.
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