Umbria in Festival: Autumn
October and November are well-celebrated in Umbria! It’s a fabulous time to get to know the very heart of Italy with people who have a lot of heart! Festivals are run by town members who proudly present their culture and history with lots of fun and food, of course!
Let me know which festivals interest you and I will tell you the exact dates to include those festivals.
Or
Let me know your dates, and I will let you know which festivals are going on during that time.
Rome can be added on after your visit in Umbria. Please inquire.
Autumn Festivals in Umbria:
Before or during the festivals, you will be given guided tours of many of the towns. Below the festivals are listed by town name in the order that they are usually held. Please click on the town name to see more info and photos of each town.
TREVI – the festival
Paolio dei Terzieri – Medieval competition between the three neighborhoods
(usually held at the beginning of October)
At this festival, the three neighbors, each with their own carts, participate in an enthralling race through the town, take a key out of the right hand of a wooden bust of a Saracen figure, and use it to open the door of the tower, run up the tower stairs and ring the bells claiming victory of the town! It is delightful because the entire town is dressed in medieval clothing and the cantinas are opened so that everyone, townspeople and visitors alike, can sit together at long tables to eat and celebrate, not just the victory of the winning terziere (neighborhood), but also the history of the town itself, which is listed as one of the most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets) in Italy!
TREVI – the town
Nicknamed, the ‘little gem’ in the green heart of Umbria, Trevi’s historical center includes a combination of medieval and Renaissance buildings, assisting in its official rating as one of the official most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets) in Italy. Trevi also prides itself as being among the founders for the Slow City Association as it has a rich cultural circuit that, between its museums, churches and monuments, satisfies art lovers. Sitting in the middle of the many Umbrian hills, the town looks down on the Spoletana valley and looks beyond the hillside to the Apennine Mountains while being hugged on all sides by olive groves, the principle product of the town.
PERUGIA – the festival
Euro-Chocolate Festival
(usually held mid-October)
Attention chocolate lovers: come one, come all – you can’t say you’ve tried the best chocolate in the world until you actually sample it, all of it, yourself! For about two weeks, the entire city is filled with chocolate vendors from around the country and around the world, sharing with you their very best chocolate, both in terms of quality and taste and in terms of design and creativity. Have you never eaten a chocolate cell phone or toolbox before? In addition, and perhaps most importantly, there are opportunities to participate in tasting events with a professional chocolate connoisseur (what a job!) who will teach you how to discover a good chocolate from a mediocre one – who knew?? One Sunday during the festival there are even chocolate sculpting competitions: the chocolate artists carve away at a gigantic block of chocolate to create works of art – and the best part? They bag up the carving scraps and give them away to onlookers! yummmm… My favorite part? Simply strolling around town with a REAL cup of hot chocolate (none of that coco powder nonsense, but real melted chocolate in a cup!
PERUGIA – the town
Perugia is the capital of Umbria and the home of the Etruscan tribe, a wealthy, luxuriant people who enjoyed the finer things in life. A visit typically includes visiting the Etruscan tombs ( 2nd c. BC. Perugia is also known for the famous glass-art family that was commissioned in the late 1800s/early 1900s to remake in glass DeVinci’s Last Supper which now rests in a museum in California. A visit to the family studio is really quite special and makes seeing the stained glass in the church made by the very same family much more interesting. In the historical center of Perugia we will enter Rocca Paolina (the city under the city), and will visit the Galleria Nazionale, the Maggiore Fountain which has its own story to tell, the Roman aqueduct (now a walkway leading to the former Pagan Round Temple), the Etruscan Arch near the historical University for Foreigners, and the homemade chocolate shop! We will eat both dinner and lunch out today. There will be plenty of free time for shopping! (Note: This is a big walking day.)
TREVI – the festival
Sagra di Sedano Nero / Black Celery Festival
(usually held in mid-October)
The specialty ‘dish’ of Trevi is ‘sedano nero’, which is literally translated as ‘black celery’, but not to worry, it isn’t black at all…the celery of Trevi is darker in color than your typical celery as well as much more tasty! What’s more, the townspeople have specialized in preparing dishes with celery for centuries and they have created some really unique and spectacular dishes. One of my favorites is a puree of celery soup with a thin duck-stuffed crepe sitting in the middle of it. It was almost too beautiful to eat, but it was too delicious not to! In any case, it is a great excuse to visit Trevi, whose city symbol is a piano with celery sticks for the long keys and olives for the short ones. The town is also known for its wall piano from the 1500s housed in the church at the top of town.
TREVI – the town
Nicknamed, the ‘little gem’ in the green heart of Umbria, Trevi’s historical center includes a combination of medieval and Renaissance buildings, assisting in its official rating as one of the official most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets) in Italy. Trevi also prides itself as being among the founders for the Slow City Association as it has a rich cultural circuit that, between its museums, churches and monuments, satisfies art lovers. Sitting in the middle of the many Umbrian hills, the town looks down on the Spoletana valley and looks beyond the hillside to the Apennine Mountains while being hugged on all sides by olive groves, the principle product of the town.
CITTA DELLA PIEVE – the festival
Festa di Zafferano / Saffron Festival
(usually held toward the end of October)
Since ancient times, Zafferano (Saffron) has been the main export from this darling medieval town, and so naturally, the townspeople celebrate their harvest yearly! The festival includes the opportunity to participate in the harvesting of the plant while taking a guided walk in the countryside, an art exhibition with works made from infused saffron, and, the best part of course, eating fabulously creative dishes that please both the taste bud and the eye! There is also an open market set up in town with wandering musicians and artists. (a cooking course on how to use saffron in the kitchen can be arranged upon request)
CITTA DELLA PIEVE – the town
The birthplace of the famous, high Renaissance artist known as ‘Perugino’ (Pietro Vanucci), Citta della Pieve is a city of art, housing not only several works by Perugino and other important artists, but also ‘housing’ an entire artistic town – one might even go as far to say that the town needs no art gallery, it is an art gallery – of everything from architecture to alleyways, all with its own unique expression. In addition to Citta della Pieve, Perugino’s art work can be found in the Louvre in Paris, the National Gallery in Washinton DC, the Uffizzi Museum in Florence, several places in Perugia, the Hermitage in St. Petersbury, the Galleria Borghese in Rome, and in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. But instead of trekking through the big cities to view his art, you can hang out here, in this darling town, indulge in the local Umbrian cuisine, soak up the view at the border of Tuscany, and delight in the local life!
CASCIA – the festival
Festa di Zafferano / Saffron Festival
(usually held toward the end of October)
The medieval period understand well the many uses and benefits of saffron, and since that time there is a record of its abundant uses by the people of Cascia who use saffron in the kitchen as often as one typically cooks with salt and pepper! And this tiny mountain town is surrounded by it! Good thing, too, because one gram of saffron requires about 200 flowers. The don’t just use it for color or flavor, but also for its nutritional values and they are quite knowledgeable about its many benefits to the body. A walk to harvest saffron is possible in the morning as harvesting must be done before the flowers open. The festival also includes traditional folk performances, flag performances, and an open market.
CASCIA – the town
With just over 3,000 inhabitants, the mountain community of Cascia lies in the Valnerina valley. Yeah, so the Byzantines were here, the Longobardi were here, Federico II was here…but why do people come to this little mountain town? Some say people make the pilgrimage to Cascia for Santa Rita (Cascia houses the monastery of Santa Rita, the matron saint of the town known for impossible or lost causes). But others say that the real ‘miracle’ to be found in Cascia is the ‘good’ it will do you to ‘cambia aria’ (change air), quite literally as breathing the mountain air does has its effects, and to enjoy the local hospitality as the townspeople of Cascia are extremely warm and welcoming.
GUBBIO – the festival
Festa di Tartufo Bianco / White Truffle Festival
(usually held the last weekend in October, the first weekend in November)
This festival is one of great importance in exhibiting the rare and precious white truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pico), locally found. In addition to a number of stands and opportunities to taste and acquire white truffles, vendors of other particular products (such as fresh and aged cheeses, dried meats, olive oil, honey, and sweets) offer tastings as well. Invites to vendors are always exclusive and so you will only find the very best quality products. It is also an opportunity for local arts and crafts (such as ceramics, wrought iron, embroidery, wooden products, leather, and more)! And the fact that the festival takes place in the beautiful historical center of Gubbio make it all the more delightful!
GUBBIO – the town
With historical origins from the Bronze Age, Gubbio was an important pre-Roman, Umbrian town made famous for the discovery of Eugubine Tables, ancient bronze tablets that together constitute the largest surviving text in ancient Umbrian. The historical center of town is most certainly medieval and is also quite austere because of the dark grey stone, narrow streets, and Gothic architecture. In addition to seeing the bronze tablets housed in an early 14th century palace, one can visit the Roman Theatre (1st c.) and Mausoleum, the Duomo and museums, or simply stroll about town browsing the many arts and crafts shops as well as noting the peculiar doorways of the 14th and 15th century houses.
MONTONE – the festival
Festa del Bosco / Forest Festival
(usually held the last weekend in October, the first weekend in November)
Yes, here in Umbria we even celebrate the forest in general! Why not?! You can start off with a morning walk in the forest to pick mushrooms and then bring your basketful into town to see which ones are edible and which are not (if you were successful, we can bring your mushrooms back to our villa and have our chef cook them up for you!) Otherwise, beginning late morning the town starts bustling with activity including a folkloristic chorus dressed the part and well as a famous wandering jazz band specially invited each year. In addition to hot roasted chestnuts, local wine at 1euro a cup, and a winding path of vendors all over town, the cantinas open their doors for family style eating at long tables all together!
MONTONE – the town
With about 1,600 inhabitants, Montone is a well-maintained medieval village surrounded by the beautiful countryside. Historically, Montone is remembered for Braccio Fortebraccio (1368-1424), the Italian condottiero who defeated the cruel Baglione family of Perugia in 1416 after a rather complicated history between the two families. Standing in the middle of this incredibly beautifully and peaceful village, it’s hard to believe that it was the origin great dominance and power. In fact, today what dominates the most is the ‘picture perfect’ village feel where you might find neighbors chatting from their windows, lots of smiles, and the smell and beauty of the surrounding nature. And emulating the town itself (which is officially listed amongst Italy’s most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets), there is also a small museum/gallery filled with astoundingly beautiful art.
CITTA DI CASTELLO – the festival
Festa di Tartuffo Bianco / White Truffle Festival
(usually held the first week in November)
This town celebrates the precious white truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pico) priding itself on the acute perfume, the largeness, and the roundness of the truffles, said to be amongst the most particular. Along with white truffles, you can find black truffles along with other forest products such as chestnuts, mushrooms, honey, and marmalade made from wild berries. Festival activities include: tastings, tastings with theatre, tastings with musical concerts, a live cooking show with truffles, a flag twirling performance in medieval dress, and an open street market.
CITTA DI CASTELLO – the town
Surrounded by soft rolling hills and 16th century walls, this little town at the center of the Tiber River Valley has a variety of things to offer: from its artwork (Raffaello, Luca Signorelli, and even its own contemporary artist Maestro Alberto Burri) to its peculiar collections such as having the largest variety of fruit (some 400 different species), its amazingly real-like miniatures of tradesman, and over 150 train sets. But if art and ‘things’ don’t interest you – just wander around Citta di Castello and try to stay grounded in the present while recognizing the various periods, from antiquity and the middle ages to neoclassicism and gothic-style, and not to miss – the magnificent Renaissance decoration designed by Giorgio Vasari.
The festival: Frantoio Aperte / Open Olive Oil Mills
Held every weekend for the entire month of November – depending on which week you come, we will participate in the festival at one of the following towns (listed below). All festivals include the possibility to participate in the harvest, to take a walk through the olive groves or to ride horses in the chestnut fields, to watch the oil pressing process at an olive oil mill, lots of tastings, including learning how to properly taste and judge olive oil, street music, an open market, and other events!
TREVI
Nicknamed, the ‘little gem’ in the green heart of Umbria, Trevi’s historical center includes a combination of medieval and Renaissance buildings, assisting in its official rating as one of the official most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets) in Italy. Trevi also prides itself as being among the founders for the Slow City Association as it has a rich cultural circuit that, between its museums, churches and monuments, satisfies art lovers. Sitting in the middle of the many Umbrian hills, the town looks down on the Spoletana valley and looks beyond the hillside to the Apennine Mountains while being hugged on all sides by olive groves, the principle product of the town.
SPOLETO
Once an important town to the original Umbri tribes, Spoleto (under the Lombards) became the capital of an independent duchy in 570, ruling a considerable part of central Italy until becoming a part of the Holy Roman Empire in 774. What’s amazing about this history in Spoleto is that you can actually see it! A visit starts outside the walls of the historical city center in the Church of San Pietro to see its famous façade which depicts both story and myth in vivid detail; the church is also notable because it was built over a necropolis (ancient burial ground) for bishops in 419, and remains, still today, an actively sacred place. Nearby the church we will be able to walk over the Ponte delle Torri, a striking 13th-century aqueduct on Roman foundations which finishes in the historical town center at the six-towered Rocca Albornoziana, built in 1359–1370, housing the museum. Strolling always downhill from this point (it’s great beginning at the top…smiles), we will pass the Roman theatre and stop at a Roman House, which is a marvel to see! We will lunch at an Osteria (fixed menu each day) but that will always serve Marena and her guests the amazing fried ricotta balls made by the owners mother – yes , its’ true and it’s delicious! After lunch you will have plenty of free time to shop around, visit the modern museum of art, also quite notable, or to hang out at a caffè and people watch. (Note: this is a big walking day.)
SPELLO
Flanking the south of Mount Subasio, Spello is officially listed as ‘one of Italy’s most beautiful ‘borghi’ (hamlets)’. And no wonder it’s so lovely, the townspeople hold various contests throughout the year for who has the most beautiful street, putting neighborhoods in competition to keep blooming flowers and lovely decorations around every doorway. Spello has antique origins and maintains three Roman gates, while the rest of the town is predominately medieval and completely stone. Although tiny, this densely populated town has about 2 dozen mostly medieval churches, the most important of which house notable artwork, including work by Perugino, Pinturicchio, San Bernardino da Siena, and Nicolò Alunno.
GUALDO CATTANEO
Named after its founder in 975, Gualdo Cattaneo is a small village that is as charming as a knight on a white horse and as lovely as the princess he rescues with a kiss. Why all the fairytale descriptions? How many tiny towns have you seen with not one, not two, but three castles…? Yes, there’s artwork in the churches and one can visit the castles, but the most lovely thing about the town is the town itself. That, and well, the fact that it also happens to be in the middle of the Road of Sagrantino Wine as well as that of the Olive Oil Mills. Smiles.
Let me know your dates and/or the festivals that interest you, and I will send you an appropriate itinerary.
The itinerary is subject to change to accommodate the weather, festivals, or special needs of the guests – you.
If you have a concern or a request, please ask. Aside from not having to travel around in a herd, accommodating requests is another bonus of a private tour.
Price: euro 2600 per person/double occupancy; euro 300 supplement singles
Included:
• airport transfers in a private climate-controlled van (with water, spirits, and snacks)
• 9 nights accommodation at a villa (4 star)
• guided tours explaining the art and history along the way
• welcome lunch
• goodbye meal
• all entry tickets
• various tastings
• ‘un bel divertamento’ (lots of fun!)
• special Marena treats!
• A True Italian Experience
Not included:
• airline ticket (but we will help you to find a good ticket)
• meals not mentioned above
• gratuities
• insurance (see website for insurance link)
