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The
Surrounding Area
Lush Umbria,
heart of Italy, and ancient, noble Tuscany: these lands - the
home of saints (St. Francis, St. Clair, St. Rita, St. Catherine),
of painters (Giotto, Perugino, Piero della Francesca), of commanders
(Braccio Fortebraccio) - have conserved intact their traditions,
which are alive and well, and still pervade the narrow streets
of their Medieval villages. This is the land that was once home
to the Etruscans, a noble and powerful people whose culture reached
its apotheosis between the 7th and 5th centuries B.C., as shown
by the multitude of artefacts discovered here: rich archeological
finds, goldsmithry, sculpted coffins. Subsequently, this area
became part of the Roman empire, before passing through the darkness
of the Middle Ages and the splendour of the Renaissance. Each
era has left its own legacy, which overlaps and works in harmony
with those of the other epochs. |
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| VIEW
THE MAP>> |
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| ART AND CULTURE |
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NATURE |
 Umbria
watches over the artefacts of a culture that has developed
over thousands of years - a culture into which are interwoven
the history, art and traditions of the peoples who have
inhabited this area since the earliest times. From the
Etruscans, via the Romans and the Longobards, all the way
to the era of the Papal States and beyond. |
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 Tuscany
offers an infinitely varied and ever-evocative landscape,
streaked with deep, sinuous gorges and limpid water courses.
The natural rhythms of the land are driven forward by unexpected
waterfalls running across rocks that change colour, by
verdant wooded mountainsides that overlook enchanting countryside,
and by rolling hills and plains that change their appearance
in harmony with the seasons. |
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| Places to visit >> |
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Trips and excursions >> |
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| ENOGASTRONOMIA |
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ARTIGIANATO |
 It
is not easy to discuss the eating and drinking traditions
of Umbria without making reference to the historical events
that have proven so instrumental in the development of
the culture in general. A large part of the region was
dominated first by the Etruscans and, subsequently, by
the Romans.
These civilisations each exerted an important influence over the local cuisine:
to this day, vegetables are used extensively, as are cereals (particularly wheat
and spelt), which formed the basis of many an ancient recipe. |
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 The
roots of Umbrian craftsmanship stretch far back in time,
and the secrets of the artisanal workshops have been passed
down through the generations. Ceramics, terracotta and
majolica are the traditional specialisations of the area,
and the techniques used by Umbrians to work these materials
has become famous the world over. In the districts around
Lake Trasimeno, delicate lacemaking is still widely practiced,
and the flax weaving, tulle embroidery and wrought-iron
work carried out here are admired far and wide. |
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| Authentic food and wines >> |
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Local crafts >> |
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Beyond
Umbria: Tuscany and Upper Lazio
Within a 150km
radius that encompasses parts of Tuscany and Lazio are some of
the most famous places, parks and thermal spas in all of Italy,
many of which are well worth a visit. Here are our suggestions: |
| TOWNS AND CITIES |
| Florence, Siena, Viterbo,
Bolsena, Chiusi, Montepulciano, Chianciano |
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| PARKS, LAKES, MOUNTAINS |
| Monte Amiata, Monti
Cimini, Lake Bolsena |
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CITTA' DELLA PIEVE
Città della Pieve Local Administration
Piazza XIX Giugno, 1. Tel. 0039 0578291111 Fax 00390578291291.
Città della Pieve is located on a high plateau, from which - with
its towers and campaniles - it dominates an immense, well-cultivated area on
the border with Tuscany.
The pink colour of the houses, which is due to the terracotta that has been produced
'in situ' since 1200, unites Città della Pieve with the neighbouring
area of Siena. Cultural and economic links between the two areas continue to
thrive.
The proximity of the main Italian transport arteries - the A1 'Autostrada del
Sole' motorway and the super-fast Florence-Rome train - has been instrumental
in developing the tourist trade in Città della Pieve, making it easy for
tourists to discover the charm of the town known as the birthplace of Perugino,
the great, 16th-century Umbrian master, some of whose beautiful masterpieces
are still to be found here. |
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