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ABOUT UMBRIA
Ah, now you know where Umbria is! Just east of Tuscany, north of Rome and west of the Marches, right in the middle of what would be the national calf muscle if Italy really were a leg encased in an Italian leather boot. At Italy Chiltons we would like to introduce you to its many enchanting medieval towns in the hopes you will plan to stop a few days on your way from Rome to Florence. You will find it well worth your while, for it is as interesting as Tuscany but far less crowded.
We propose you to discover a territory which is characterized by hills warm as the ploughed land, green as the Mediterranean bush, embellished with urban centres small, but all perfect as for city planning, and their burden of history.
When we think of Umbria we think of the Italian word ombra. Shadow. One of Italy's smallest regions, Umbria lies in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbor, Tuscany. The many Umbrian hills and mountains cast long dark shadows over river valleys which are already darkened by lush chestnut groves and elm forests. This landlocked region's overwhelmingly medieval character harkens one back to the mysticism and mysteries of the Dark Ages. In so many ways, Umbria has lain in the shadows for centuries. The very identity of its original inhabitants, the Umbrians, is so clouded that we still have no clear understanding of the meaning of their name.
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