PERUGIA. TOURIST INFORMATION

Our dental studio is located in Perugia, a town in central Italy. It is the regional capital of Umbria, which has been nicknamed the “Green heart of Italy” thanks to the richness of its landscapes and unspoilt nature in which it is immersed. Mountain scenery, vast woodlands, green meadows, the gentle Umbrian hills and yellow fields of sunflowers provide the perfect setting for a holiday to suit all tastes.

If the idea of doing a pilgrimage appeals to you, then you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to Assisi, birthplace of the famous Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most popular and venerated saints in the world. His tomb in the basilica of the same name is visited by thousands of tourists every year, making this town one of the most important spiritual centres in Italy.

Music lovers will not want to miss the annual Umbria jazz festival, one of the most important jazz festivals in the world. In any case, rich gastronomic and wine-making traditions will be able to unite people of any social, cultural and religious predilection and orientation at the table. Umbria is also well-known for the production of cured meats and dishes based on lamb, pheasant, pork and wild boar. The unmistakeable flavour of truffle and excellent Umbrian extra-virgin olive oil accompany the most traditional local dishes. Locally produced wine (Orvieto, Grechetto, Torgiano, Montefalco) will be able to give the right note to any meal, which can be completed with a little glass of the traditional black truffle amaro.

Lake Trasimeno, which is found in the vicinity of Perugia and is one of the largest in Italy, is able to evoke the most varied and interesting emotions: romantics will appreciate a boat trip around the lake at sunset, history lovers can discover small towns that bore witness to the many colourful historic events, sports lovers will be able to go fishing and sailing. Those who perhaps will be most satisfied are food lovers, who will surely stop at a local trattoria to try the local cuisine: fish-based dishes including carp, eel, tench, perch, pike and freshwater smelt. Obviously there is no lack of excellent wine and it is here, in fact, that the famous “Colli del Trasimeno” brand was established, indicating this particular area of wine production, which can be visited on wine-tasting and gastronomic tours. The mild climate of the lake also favours the production of quality honey: chestnut, sunflower, clover, Italian sainfoin (Hedysarum coronarium) and sainfoin.

In addition to being an important travel destination itself, Perugia could also be a highly practical starting point to visit some of the most beautiful cities in Italy. With Rome, Florence, Siena and Pisa only 2 - 3 hours away, it is conveniently linked to them by railway (www.trenitalia.com). Several coach services run between the cities as well.

Lovers of shopping will not be disappointed, they can visit several outlet villages where they will find the most famous international brands of clothing, shoes and accessories: Valdichiana near Florence (Calvin Klein, Guess, Levi’s, Sisley, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Swatch), Sorette near Rome (Geox, Nike, Conte of Florence, Adidas), Sant Elpidio al mare in Ascoli Piceno (Diesel, Bulgari, Hogan, Louis Vuitton, Trussardi, Tod’s). It is possible to organise direct transfers from Perugia and you can have a chaperone on request.

With the wealth of opportunities that our region offers, there is perhaps only one thing missing from Umbria……..the sea. However, if you wish to spend a little time at sea, there is an easy solution: directly from the airport of Perugia with the low cost airline Ryanair, Trapani in Sicily or Cagliari in Sardinia, are only an hour away.

If your chosen destination is Perugia, we can recommend Montecorneo Country house, for your stay: an old 19th century villa deep in the green Umbrian countryside. Though maintaining its antique charm and a family atmosphere of a traditional suburban villa, it has been renovated and adapted to meet all modern-day needs. Guests have use of a swimming pool which is surrounded by a lush garden. There is a well-equipped gym, a Finnish sauna and even a conference hall, satellite TV, wi-fi and air conditioning. Montecorneo Country House is able to organise gastronomic and wine tours as well as artistic and archaeological tours throughout the whole Umbria region.