Travel to Umbria, Italy – Episode 321

The Amateur Traveler talks to Rebecca about her adopted home of Umbria in Italy.

Umbria is known as the green heart of Italy. Perhaps less well known than its neighbor of Tuscany to the North Umbria is a verdant region of hill towns, farms, and national parks located in the center of Italy.

“Umbria is just far enough under the radar to give you some indie street cred, but no so far under the radar, as to be a logistical nightmare. Umbria easily rivals Tuscany in things like art, architecture, archeology, food, and wine all these things that people come to the rural parts of Italy for. But in Umbria, there are dramatically fewer tourists. You feel like you are having a more authentic experience.

Umbria is the home of two very famous destinations. One is Assisi, the home of Saint Francis. It is one of the most visited cities in Italy. And the other is Perugia which is also our provincial capital and its the home of a very famous university for foreigners. This means you are able to get around even if you can’t spit out a word of Italian.”

right click here to download (mp3)
right click here to download (iTunes version with pictures)

Show Notes

Rebecca Winke – Innkeeper, Blogger, and Travel Writer
Brigolante
Umbria
Assisi
Perugia
Amateur Traveler, Episode 29 – Travel to Rome, Italy
The Vegetarian’s Dilemma: Umbria and Pork
What to Eat in Umbria: Food for Every Season
Umbria Grape Harvest and Wineries
Terre Margaritelli
Terre Margaritelli Photo Gallery
Arnaldo Caprai
Italy Roundtable: Crafts in Umbria
Bevagna
Renaissance fair
Il Mercato delle Gaite
Ozona Occhiali
Orogami
Giovanna Giuliani designer handbags
The Valnerina: The Hidden Gem of Umbria
Perugina’s Chocolate School, or How To Get Your Kids To Do Anything, Anything At All
Umbria: Italy’s Green Heart Beats for Kids
Hey, What’s Up With the Bread in Umbria?
How To Really Love Assisi
Dust to Dust (or, maybe not): The Mummies of Ferentillo
Music Festivals in Umbria
Agriturismo in Italy
Info about winery visits: Agriturismo in Italy
Info about olive oil mill visits: Agriturismo in Italy

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Community

• Thanks!
• Lisa wrote “I discovered Amateur Traveler when I was preparing to take a 3 1/2 month leave from work to travel and teach raw food cuisine. I had great adventures through India, Thailand, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii – often with your familiar voice in my earbuds. Now, as soon as your theme song comes on I smile and feel transported to those moments on buses, trains and planes that I spent with you and your guests.”
• Brad misses maps
• Jim wrote on Travel to Lanai – Episode 320
  “I listened to this today while driving (can’t use the iTunes enhanced then) and it brought back memories of the time my wife and I took a boat ride over there from Lahaina. This would have been in the mid-80’s. We spent part of the day on a van tour of Lanai, including the area with the Cooke Island Pines, which the locals tend to hate. Then we snorkeled from a nice empty beach, where the waves were just a tiny bit too rough for good snorkeling.Afterwards, during our return voyage to Maui, we listened to the radio where the crew was being apprised of a tsunami warning. There had been an earthquake in Alaska, and low lying areas were being evacuated. We were staying in Ka’anapali, which is a low lying area. So, when we got back to Lahaina, the bus dropped us off at Ka’anapali, and we headed for the high ground, in our sandy, salty bathing suits, and hung out on the golf course on top of a hill, waiting for the all clear. Which came a few hours later. We were staying in a condo, and had egg salad sandwiches for dinner, looking out from our lanai on all the people who were going hungry because the restaurants were all closed due to the emergency.Glad your visit to Lanai was less eventful.”