The Italian region, which gained fame "greenHearts "of the country, unfairly deprived of the attention of tourists. Landlocked and devoid of major cities, it is not as famous as Tuscany, Liguria or Sardinia.
The smallest region of Italy
The Umbria region lying in the center of the peninsula is one of the smallest. The capital of the region dividing into two provinces is Perugia - a city captivating with its amazing beauty in Italy.
Umbria is considered an ecologically clean region.state, and this is due to the fact that there are almost no industrial enterprises and preserved areas of virgin nature. The many picturesque lakes, green-covered mountains, lush forests, rounded hills delight the first-time travelers to an isolated region.
Umbria (Italy): a little history
Territory of little-known to a wide range of peopleThe area was settled back in the Neolithic era. In the first millennium before our century, Umber tribes appeared, giving the name of the area. The new inhabitants are the Etruscans who founded most of the cities in the region.
After several centuries, the area was captured by Roman soldiers, who had paved roads through it, which were not there before.
In 1860, Umbria was first annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, and then it became part of Italy.
Part of the gate Marcia
The centuries-old history has left its mark onarchitectural monuments of which the ancient region is proud. Marcia Gate appeared in the III century BC, and this is one of the attractions, preserved from the mysterious predecessors of the Romans - the Etruscans. Now all the guests of Umbria can see part of the building included in the walls of Perugia as a decorative element.
Etruscan Well
Picturesque Umbria (Italy), every centimeterthe territory of which is imbued with the spirit of history, is famous for its monuments of ancient architecture. In the capital of the region is another important landmark left after the Etruscan civilization. Built in the IV century BC, a powerful structure supplied drinking water to the entire city until an aqueduct appeared.
Now it is a functioning museum, located four meters below the ground. Visitors to the city eagerly attend it, noting in passing that in an interesting but uncomfortable place the water is oozing and smells unpleasantly like a swamp.
Chapel of St. Bernardin
One of the main monuments of the Renaissance alsolocated in the capital of the region. The facade of the chapel of St. Bernardin will admire the special skill of the sculptor who created the bas-reliefs with scenes from the life of a medieval preacher. The composition of marble, limestone, clay, surprising with unusual color combinations, is the main feature of the building.
Inside the chapel is a banner on whichdepicts the face of Madonna the Merciful, according to legends, helping to get rid of the plague, and a copy of the great masterpiece of Raphael "The Descent from the Cross." Tourists are also interested in the early Christian sarcophagus storing the relics of Blessed Egidius.
Communal Palace
Небольшой регион Умбрия (Италия) известен и тем the fact that it contains the most vivid example of medieval architecture. Gothic Palazzo Comunale, built between the XIII and XV centuries, will appeal to tourists interested in ancient history. They celebrate the special atmosphere of this place in Perugia, filled with vivid images. Statues of gods, sculptures of a lion and a griffin at the entrance, colorful stained glass windows that preserved the ancient decor of the hall, Roman mosaics found on the excavations, and fresco paintings affect the imagination of the guests of the region, carried over several centuries ago.
Wine region
Speaking of the sights of the area, you can notnot to mention the vineyards, covering an area of more than 16 hectares. The tradition of making alcoholic drinks goes back to antiquity, but only relatively recently, after local craftsmen retooled their companies, manufactured products became known far beyond the borders of the country.
The wine region of Umbria (Italy) neverchased after quantity, emphasizing quality, for example, Montefalco Sagrantino matures for 30 months in an oak barrel. But the most popular and world famous wine is Orvieto wine, the secret of which was discovered by the Etruscans.
Powerful earthquake
Unfortunately, at the end of August this year wason the front pages of newspapers sunny Italy. Lazio, Umbria and the Marche region were badly hit by an earthquake that killed about 200 people. As stated in the Federal Tourism Agency, these regions, which lie on the seismic fault line, are not popular among our tourists, so there is not a single Russian who died.
Italians themselves say that tremors are common, and such a strong earthquake measuring 6.2 points is the exception rather than the rule.
Travelers who have visited the region, admit that the hospitable Umbria (Italy) is filled with wonderful landscapes and is rich in unique architectural monuments, by which you can not pass.
