Umbria

Landlocked and one of the smallest regions of Italy, Umbria is naturally beautiful and full of antiquities. It is known for its meat and game, especially pork (fed on chestnuts and acorns), lamb, beef, goat, wild boar and pigeon, and these are typically either grilled or char-grilled. Legendary black truffles come from Norcia, tiny lentils from Castelluccio, and Umbria’s capital, Perugia, is famous for its chocolate.

Umbria is bordered to the north by Marche, to the north-west by Tuscany, and the south by Lazio and Abruzzi. Although landlocked, it certainly does not lack for water. There is the famous Lago Trasimeno and a multitude of rivers and streams, including the Tiber (or Tevere in Italian), which rises in Tuscany and flows through Umbria on its way to Rome. This green and tranquil region has many qualities, not least its weather. As in most of central Italy, it is hot in summer, warm in spring, mild in autumn and relatively cold in winter.