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| Luxury Country House Estate |
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| What to do at La Preghiera |
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For enquiries please contact
La Preghiera LLC by email |
| at: info@lapreghiera.com |
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| The local area, in the Upper Tiber Valley |
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Umbria, a beautiful region in central Italy, has medieval hilltop villages and towns scattered across its lush green countryside, Roman ruins and amphitheatres and Etruscan tombs. In the south, the fertile slopes are covered with olive trees and vineyards and to the north, the hills on either side of the Tiber river have oak and chestnut woods where white truffles and porcini mushrooms are found. Neighbouring Tuscany, Umbria is often overlooked, but it is a mystical and fascinating part of Italy. Its roots are ancient and it still maintains a quintessentially Italian feel, with the modern day Umbria very linked with their history and traditions. Perfect to go exploring, the roads are fairly quiet and many of the more beautiful, undiscovered sights are off the beaten track.
For more information on Umbria, see our sister site, www.lifeinumbria.com.
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Cittā di Castello
A thriving Umbrian market town, Cittā di Castello has a charming historic medieval centre. Cobbled streets wind their way to the main square where there are restaurants, shops and cafčs. At dusk, the pedestrianised Corso (High Street) comes alive with locals taking their daily passeggiata, meeting friends and family. Famous artists Raffaello and Signorelli worked here and some of Raffaello's graffiti can still be seen on some of the towns palaces!
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Umbertide
Originally called Fratta, Umbertide was once an important trading centre on the Tiber river for the ancient Umbri and Etruscans, (it later had the region's largest cattle fairs), and is now a busy market town. Although it suffered a lot of damage in the second world war, the "Rocca" still stands in the middle of the town. The main square with the town hall is lovely and over the road is the Piazza San Francesco which has three ancient churches in a row and a museum with paintings by Pomarancio and Signorelli.
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Montone
Voted one of the 10 prettiest hamlets in Italy, Montone is an absolute jewel! Only 10 minutes drive away from La Preghiera, this medieval hilltop town is beautiful preserved with stunning views over the Upper Tiber Valley. Host to the annual Umbrian Film Festival, a huge silver screen is hung in the centre of the piazza showing films in the warmth of a summer evening under the Umbrian skies.
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Gubbio
Fabulous medieval town situated on the slopes of Monte Ingino, it is one of the most beautiful edieval towns in Italy! There are incredible views from the Piazza Grande and a cable car can be taken up to the basilica of Sant'Ubaldo high up on the mountainside. The Palazzo dei Priori houses the famous Eugubian tables, 7 bronze tablets dating back to 300BC written in an ancient Umbri language. An important centre in Roman times, the remains of an ampitheatre can still be seen. Gubbio still holds many traditional annual festivals of medieval origins including the Festa dei Ceri. It also boasts the worlds largest Christmas Tree which covers the mountainside behind the town!
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Monte Santa Maria Tiberina
A long name for a tiny hamlet found on the top of the hillside near Cittā di Castello. The Rocca (castle) can be seen in every direction for miles around. Beautifully restored this 11C village has incredible views and a restaurant called "Oscari" right in the centre, renowned for its truffle and porcini dishes!
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Perugia
The capital of Umbria, Perugia is an incredible network of cobbled streets and twisting alleyways! It's easy to get lost here, but as long as you follow up hill, you will always arrive at the main street, Corso Vanucci and the famous fountain, Fontana Maggiore, in front of the Palazzo dei Priori. With a fascinating history (dating back to the Papal States), Perugia has many buildings of great beauty and historical importance. Part of the city is underground where you can still walk the original medieval streets.
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Home to the international jazz festival, Umbria Jazz, in July the capital comes alive to the sound of blues, gospel, rock and jazz and the streets are packed with fans. In October, Perugia hosts Eurochocolate, which brings chocolate lovers from all over the world to indulge in a week of pure chocolate bliss!!!
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Cortona
Although it is just over the border in Tuscany, Cortona is included as it is within a half an hour drive of La Preghiera. This sleepy medieval town has become quite exposed to tourism in recent years but there are tremendous views and the windy cobbled streets still have loads of character. Just down the hill from Cortona is Le Celle, an ancient monastery which has immense peace and calm and is well worth a visit. Bramasole, the house featured in the book and the film Under the Tuscan Sun is in Cortona.
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Assisi
On the slopes of the Monte Subasio, Assisi glistens soft pink and white in the Umbrian sunshine. Built out of the rock of the mountain, the town blends perfectly into the surrounding countryside. The Basilica of San Francesco has breathtaking frescoes. Early spring or late autumn are great times to visit with less tourists and you can really appreciate the works of art. Don't miss the Eremo (hermitage) further up the Monte Subasio, where Saint Francis used to meditate with his followers.
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Follow the road south to see Spello, Trevi and Spoleto, each worth discovering. Turn into the Vale of Umbria to find Montefalco and Bevagna in the heart of the wine growing region of Umbria. Famous for its Sagrantino, this Umbria red is a major contender to the Tuscan Superreds!
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Heading north from La Preghiera you will soon cross the border into Tuscany. Sansepolcro is home to the beautiful, haunting Piero della Francesca painting of The Resurection and nearby Anghiari is a delightful medieval hilltop town with a long, straight Roman road descending from the hilltop. Carry on towards Arezzo for the heart of the gold industry in Italy, a medieval town centre and more frescoes and paintings by Piero della Francesca.
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