Do you want to visit a fascinating place in Italy that is full of history and culture? Travel to Umbria and you will be able to enjoy the best that Italian life has to offer. You can enjoy outdoor sports in an attractive setting, holiday breaks in a peaceful destination, as well as be attracted to its cultural and artistic heritage. Umbria is located between Le Marche and Tuscany. It is in Italy's geographical center and its capital is Perugia (founded by the Etruscans). ... http://www.squidoo.com/travel-in-umbria Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:40:26 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:01:30 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/travel-in-umbria Do you want to visit a fascinating place in Italy that is full of history and culture? Travel to Umbria and you will be able to enjoy the best that Italian life has to offer. You can enjoy outdoor sports in an attractive setting, holiday breaks in a peaceful destination, as well as be attracted to its cultural and artistic heritage. Umbria is located between Le Marche and Tuscany. It is in Italy's geographical center and its capital is Perugia (founded by the Etruscans). Just a few meters west of the capital city you will find Lake Trasimeno, the largest body of water in the area. Then, south of the lake are houses that are built with terracotta bricks instead of stone. This gives a unique look to the countryside. In between the Tuscan towns of Arezzo, Cortona and the Tiber valley, there is a wide area of wooded hills. The hills are covered with plenty of evergreen oak, which is the reason why Umbria is called "green heart" in the whole of Italy. Sports oriented visitors will find a lot of activities in Monte Vettore (which is near Norcia), and Monte Cucco (which is above Gubbio) - these are areas for hand-gliding fanatics. You can also watch the Arab Horse Endurance competition which is held once a year. Or if you love kayaking or white water rafting you can head for Val Nerina (which is near Spoleto). You can also enjoy, winter skiing, pony trekking, nature and bird watching, country walking, and golf almost everywhere. For art enthusiasts, you can go to the National Gallery in Umbria, with a great collection of paintings by Pinturicchio, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Gentile da Fabriano, Giotto, and Duccio. In the south, Citta della Pieve was the birthplace of the Umbrian painter Pietro Vannucci - who is also known as "Il Perugino." The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a very famous tourist spot. You will find plenty of good wine and food in Umbria. Taste smoked and fresh trout, as well as truffles in Val Nerina. Every autumn, wild boar's meat is turned into sausages and prosciutto. Also, Grechetto white wine and Montefalco red wine has an international reputation to be one of the best. All over the region, you will find plenty of olives growing - which is why Umbrian olive oil is widely recognized for its delicate flavor and low acidity. Because of all this, it is no wonder why a sizeable population of holiday foreigners and residents are now living alongside hospitable and genial Umbrians. So the next time you travel, visit Umbria for a different yet memorable experience. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:01:30 -0600