Banxiana

ADDITIONAL LOCATION INFORMATION

Nearest Airport: Florence Peretola 1 h 38 min; Roma 1 h 53 min
Nearest serviced town: 4 min
Nearest major city: Siena 1 h
Driving time estimated by Google Maps

Due to its proximity to Tuscany, any traveler who goes from Florence to Rome by land should pass through Umbria. This region is worth a visit of its own for the beautiful landscapes and enchanting lakes. Several filmmakers found it to be the perfect location for movies such as The English Patient, Life is Beautiful, and Under the Tuscan Sun (despite its namesake). Perugia is the capital city and is renowned for hosting the annual Umbria Jazz Festival, held in July, and the Eurochocolate Festival at the Perugina Chocolate Factory, in October.

There are several notable tourist attractions throughout the region. Lake Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy, offers a plethora of activities for sporty vacationers. The medieval town of Deruta has been producing handmade majolica ceramics for centuries, and it is the ideal place to buy some home decor to bring home. Check the Ceramics Museum on the hilltop main piazza. Spoleto is arguably one of Umbria's most beautiful hill towns, and a renowned host of the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of the Two Worlds), an annual summer music and opera festival held from June to early July. You may also want to sample the Umbrian wine along the Sagrantino Wine Road near Spoleto and Montefalco, which is lined with wineries, many of them open for tastings.
Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, where you can enjoy a visit to the Basilica di San Francesco, which is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Last, but not least, is Orvieto, known for its wine (Orvieto Classico, a dry fine white wine) and because it is one of the main centers of Italy's Slow Food. Do not miss visiting its magnificent Duomo, considered the most glorious example of Italian Gothic style.

WHERE TO EAT
Ristorante Apollinare - A 12th-century church near the Roman theatre. A fun, warm place to enjoy good food and international wines.
Via S. Agata 14, Spoleto - +39 074 322 3256
Il Duca d' Orvieto - Traditional Umbrian cuisine based on regional products, reinterpreted by its owner. Do not miss the homemade desserts!
Via della Pace 5, Orvieto - +39 076 334 4663
Le Melograne at Le Tre Vaselle Hotel - The restaurant of this 5-star hotel is high-end but worth the splurge.
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 48, Torgiano - +39 075 988 0447
If you do prefer an authentic homey atmosphere, go to I Sette Frati (if you cannot find it, ask around for Signora Marisa's restaurant). Fantastic (yet very simple!) trattoria, local cuisine with a very reasonable prix-fixe menu. Do not be discouraged by the decor; come with a big appetite and be ready to eat the dishes of the day (there is no menu). Relax, enjoy, and Signor Mario will take care of the rest.
Via Assisi 15, Torgiano - +39 075 985147
Ristorante Buca di San Francesco - A family-run restaurant where the menu features classic dishes of Umbrian cuisine, paying special attention to meat and mushroom dishes. Try the beef with truffles or the tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms – in summer, outdoor seating is available.
Via E. Brizi, Assisi - +39 075 812 204

WHERE TO SHOP
Food – a street market is held every Thursday and Saturday in Orvieto’s Piazza del Popolo. Buy some lentils, one of the local food specialties to bring home. This legume, with its characteristic thin and tender skin, is the flagship product of the country par excellence.
Clothing - for women, check Luisa Spagnoli's Outlet, an acclaimed brand and a symbol of Italian elegance and quality in the world.
Via del Cashmere 13, Perugia - +39 075 401 58
Ceramics - Ceramiche Torretti - besides the large selection of products to buy at factory prices, if you have 40 minutes to spare, you may want to take a tour of the factory, which includes watching the artisans at work.
S.S. E/45 Km. 55,600, Deruta Sud - +39 075 971 1342
Chocolate - Pasticceria Sandri - The oldest pastry shop in Umbria, opened in 1860 and located in the historical center of Perugia. Free the chocoholic in you and go wild...the choices are endless! Outdoor seating available in summer. Corso Vannucci 32, Perugia - +39 075 572 4112
House linens Mastro Raphael's, high-quality artisanal Italian linens.
Via dei Duchi 5-7, Spoleto or check its outlet in Via delle Industrie 21, Loc. Santo Chiodo, Spoleto - +39 0743 23081