{"id":192,"date":"2016-05-09T12:55:32","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T12:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/?p=192"},"modified":"2016-05-09T12:55:32","modified_gmt":"2016-05-09T12:55:32","slug":"top-10-sights-umbria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2016\/05\/09\/top-10-sights-umbria\/","title":{"rendered":"The top 10 sights of Umbria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Located in the heart of Italy, Umbria has a very special position being the country\u2019s only region that neither has a seacoast nor borders another country. The highly varied landscape is dominated by the Apennine with its highest mountain, Monte Vettoro, peaking at 2,478 m and the fertile valley around the headwaters of the River Tiber. The long, fascinating history, which started with the Umbri around 1200 BC and, slightly later, the Etruscans, has had its effects of the top 10 sights of Umbria your ZAINOO Italy experts have compiled for you.<\/p>\n

\"Basilica

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Foto-Join<\/p><\/div>\n

Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Francis of Assisi wanted to find eternal peace at a place similar to the execution hill Golgotha outside Jerusalem\u2019s city walls where Jesus Christ died. A basilica, to this day one of Italy\u2019s most beautiful and important, was built on the \u201cHill of Hell\u201d. Despite being sorely afflicted by severe earthquakes, it has always been rebuilt, and for good reason. The breathtakingly beautiful cycle of frescoes in the upper basilica depicts the life of the saint. It is located in the wide, tall main hall and is only one of many moving highlights in this unique sacral building.<\/p>\n

\"Porziuncola

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Porziuncola near Assisi<\/strong><\/p>\n

One day Francis of Assisi discovered this abandoned chapel, which was first documented in 1045, in a holm oak forest about 3 km south of Assisi and decided to restore it using just his own bare hands. It is also where the Franciscan Order was founded. Francis of Assisi died in this chapel on 3 October 1225. Today, the Porziuncula, as the chapel Santa Maria degli Angeli is known more popularly, is embedded in the large basilica of the same name. Over the years it was adorned by artists. Look forward to many glorious frescoes harmonising with the old stones that were once carried here by the saint himself.<\/p>\n

\"Fields

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Maugli-l<\/p><\/div>\n

The colourful fields of Castelluccio di Norcia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only around 150 people live in Castelluccio, a frazione of the commune Norcia, at an altitude of 1,452 m. The highest settlement of the Apennine borders the Monti Sibillini National Park and is known for its excellent cultivated landscape. The lentils growing here are treasured far across the region\u2019s borders for their high quality. They thrive on the wide fields around the village that are figuratively plunged in variegated colours every spring. Let your gaze roam across red poppy flowers or yellow rapeseed \u2013 a fascinating sight you\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n

\"Orvieto

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/marcorubino<\/p><\/div>\n

Orvieto Cathedral<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can see the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary located on a rock plateau from afar. It is one of many fascinating buildings planned around the late 13th<\/sup> century that still dominate the cityscape to this day. The fascinating, diligently adorned face of the cathedral with its reliefs, alcoves and portals is at least as impressive as the cycle of frescoes dedicated to the end of the world inside the building. Luca Signorelli\u2019s figure-heavy, anatomically impressive depictions are regarded as an important part of Italy\u2019s art history.<\/p>\n

\"Cascata

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Lenor<\/p><\/div>\n

Cascata delle Marmore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you bring rain protection? You can certainly use it when nearing the Cascata delle Marmore. Marmore\u2019s Falls, as they are known in English, are a three-part man-made waterfall at the end of the river Vellino and one of the highest of their kind in all of Italy. A 50 m long tunnel at the halfway mark of the waterfall trail brings you to the vantage point Balcone degli Innamorati (\u201cBalcony of the Enamoured\u201d). You can also hike to the vantage point Specola ordered in 1787 by Pope Pius VI. Look for white papal smoke!<\/p>\n

\"Ponte

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Ponte delle Torri near Spoleto<\/strong><\/p>\n

Find one of Italy\u2019s largest aqueducts outside the city of Spoleto. It is widely assumed that Pope Innocent VI ordered construction of the Ponte delle Torri (Eng. \u201cBridge of Towers\u201d) in mid-14th<\/sup> century. It also served as the city\u2019s main source of water supply until the 19th<\/sup> century. The 230 m long and 76 m high bridge crosses the small river Tessino. While strolling over the Ponte delle Torri you\u2019ll come across a small house around the halfway mark. Many centuries ago guards collected toll duties here. We wonder if Goethe, who was astonished by this aqueduct during his trip through Italy in 1786, had to pay up as well.<\/p>\n

\"Piazza

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Piazza Grande in Gubbio<\/strong><\/p>\n

When arriving in the heart of city of Gubbio built on hillslopes in north-eastern Umbria, you\u2019re immediately drawn to Piazza Grande featuring some of the town\u2019s most beautiful buildings. Palazzo dei Consoli was virtually built into the air making optimum use of its rather extreme location. Among other things, it houses a small museum. The nobility houses located opposite the palace originated from the connection of several old buildings. Palazzo Pretorio, planned by the city\u2019s main architect Gattapone, who also planned Palazzo dei Consoli, today houses the town hall.<\/p>\n

\"Teatro

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Neftali<\/p><\/div>\n

Teatro della Concordia in Monte Castello di Vibio<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the early 19th<\/sup> century, as Napoleon\u2019s troops were occupying the country, nine wealthy families from Monte Castello di Vibio wanted a theatre supporting the ideals of the French Revolution \u2013 freedom, equality and brotherhood. The uniquely bell-shaped Teatro della Concordia (\u201cTheatre of Union\u201d) is the smallest theatre all\u2019italiana of the world with only 99 seats and a 50 m\u00b2 large stage. What\u2019s really impressive about the ceiling fresco is that the artist was only 15 years old when he made it. The theatre is still in use for regular performances.<\/p>\n

\"Rocca

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/SimoneNuform<\/p><\/div>\n

Rocca Paolina in Perugia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pope Paul III defeated Perugia\u2019s inhabitants, who refused to accept the new tax on salt, in the so-called Salt War in 1540. He had the fortification site Rocca Paolina, which was named after him, built to keep firm control of the city turning the Rocca into a symbol of oppression by the Papal States. The massive walls made from over a hundred demolished buildings, churches and abbeys once housed a papal palace. Now it holds an escalator transporting you into the city centre. This mechanical path running alongside old walls is as spooky as it is impressive.<\/p>\n

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\"L\u00b4infiorata

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Maugli-l<\/p><\/div>\n

L\u2019infiorata di Spello<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you visit Umbria between late May and mid-June, you need to make a trip to Spello, which is where the colourful festival L\u2019infiorata takes place on the weekend of the Feast of Corpus Christi. The town\u2019s inhabitants create artful pictures by putting millions of blossoms on the streets on the night from Saturday to Sunday. They cover at least 24 m\u00b2 lining the path of the bishop through the historic city centre. You have to see this!<\/p>\n

Uniting fascinating scenery, witnesses of eventful history and the most important stages of the life of Francis of Assisi, the top 10 sights of Umbria invite you to go on an astonishing round trip through this region in the heart of Italy. Find even more holiday suggestions on the website of ZAINOO!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Located in the heart of Italy, Umbria has a very special position being the country\u2019s only region that neither has a seacoast nor borders another country. The highly varied landscape is dominated by the Apennine with its highest mountain, Monte … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[142,141,146,144,6,154,151,145,153,149,147,143,152,148,150,140],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":195,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192\/revisions\/195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}