Farmhouses in Umbria
Umbria is foreign buyers’ favourite part of Italy behind Tuscany. Yet it more than matches Tuscany for appeal – spectacular landscapes that have earned it the nickname The Green Heart Of Italy; a series of pretty, unspoilt hilltowns; and some great property deals, especially on charming farmhouses such as these…
  One of Umbria’s key attractions is its countryside, some of the most stunning in all Italy. It boasts 750,000 acres of woodland – around a third of its total land area – that includes no fewer than seven nature reserves. On its borders lie Lake Trasimeno, described by Britain’s Guardian newspaper as
one of the world’s best beach holidays.
Scattered around Umbria are a range of charming medieval hill towns and villages, all so conveniently located within easy reach of one another that they can all be visited in a couple of days. They include Perugia, one of Italy’s great art cities and capital of Umbria, yet home to just over 150,000 inhabitants. The city is renowned for its summer jazz fiesta and a Eurochocolate Festival in autumn. Just outside Perugia is the San Egidio international airport, around 30-45 minutes from most parts of the region.
While Perugia may be Umbria’s administrative capital, Assisi is its spiritual heart. Arguably the best-known of Umbria’s hill towns, it has become one of the world’s premier pilgrimage sites thanks to its giant St Francis Basilica, which attracts millions of people each year. Then there is Todi, named in an American university study as the best town in which to live anywhere in the world.
Other must-sees include Orvieto, perched atop giant cliffs and home to a magnificent cathedral; Bevagna, built over Roman ruins; Spello, on the slopes of Mt Subasio; and wine-growing Montefalco, dubbed “Umbria’s Balcony” for its panoramic vistas as far afield as Spoleto and Assisi.
Most prospective investors in Umbria real estate find themselves spoilt for choice over where to buy. One good idea is to base yourself in either Assisi or Orvieto and spend at least a weekend – slightly longer if you have the time – sampling various stretches of this delightful region in the heart of Italy.
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