Umbertide
Umbertide is located in the Upper Tiber Valley in northern Umbria, in a green valley lying below Mt. Acuto made very fertile by the Tiber River, which runs through it for about 50 kilometers.
THREE "must sees" in UMBERTIDE
> Rocca (Fortress)
> Church and Museum of Santa Croce
> Abbey and Hermitage of Montecorona
HISTORY
Evidence of the first settlements from the 6th century BC is provided by
the Mt. Acuto bronzes, votive objects found at the top of the mountain, where an Etruscan sanctuary once stood. The earliest reliable documents on the town date from 1189, when Umbertide was subject to the jurisdiction of Perugia. Perugia maintained control until the 16th century, when it entered the Papal States, under the rule of which it remained until the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy (1860).
ART, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT
Standing out in the historic center is the Rocca, a
superb medieval fortress, which has always been the symbol of the town. The Rocca has been entirely renovated, and is now the home of the Contemporary Art Center. Two fine buildings are the octagonal Church of Santa Maria della Reggia (16th century), and the beautifully restored Church of Santa Croce (1610), which has been turned into a Museum: inside are a Deposition by Luca Signorelli (1516) and a large painting by Pomarancio. Also interesting are the Church of San Bernardino (1556), the
Church of Santa Maria della Pietà (1486), with a fresco attributed to Pinturicchio, and the Church of San Francesco, the oldest in Umbertide (1299): following meticulous restoration work to preserve it, it was reopened to the public and for worship in February 2005.
Worth a visit nearby are the castles of Civitella Ranieri, of Serra Partucci, Montalto, Ascagano, Romeggio and Polgeto, and the old medieval villages of Montemigiano and Santa Giuliana.
The many churches include in
particular the Abbey of San Salvatore and the Monte Corona Hermitage, built at an elevation of 700 meters in a beech and chestnut wood overlooking the Camaldolese abbey founded in 1008. It has a notable 11th-century crypt with Romanesque capitals and a fresco (14th century) of the Annunciation.
Lastly, there is the exquisite medieval village of Preggio, with the ruins of the Rocca (fortress), the Church of the Santissima Trinità in San Francesco (13th century) and the Church of Madonna
delle Grazie (15th century).
EVENTS
Spring Festival – Chamber Music (April-May)
Umbertide 25th April Prize for Literature (April)
Rockin’ Umbria (June)
Umbertide September Festival (September)
“Fratta dell’Ottocento” September Festivals (September)
Ecotipica – Ecological Agriculture Fair (September)
Fratta Painting Prize (September)
Chestnut Festival - Preggio (October)
Feast of the Patron Saint, Our Lady of Heaven (8 November)
Open Theater Festival (December-January)
TYPICAL PRODUCTS
Wine: Umbertide is part of the Colli del Trasimeno Wine Route
Salami, prosciutto, etc.
White truffle
INFORMATION
Commune of Umbertide
075.94191
Website: www.comune.umbertide.it
How to get there
From the south: A1 motorway, Orte exit. E45 expressway toward Cesena, Umbertide exit.
From the north: A14 Adriatica motorway, Cesena Nord exit. E45 expressway toward
Perugia-Roma, Umbertide exit.
A1 motorway, Valdichiana exit. Perugia-Bettolle slip road, Passignano sul Trasimeno exit, toward Castel Rigone-Preggio, at the fork continue toward Umbertide.
Tourist Information
IAT – Upper Tiber Valley District
Piazza Matteotti - Logge Bufalini - 06012 Città di Castello
Tel. 0758554922 - Fax 0758552100
E-mail: MAILTO:info@iat.citta-di-castello.pg.it |
