Situated in the centre of the “Bel Paese”, Umbria is one of the smallest regions in Italy. The gentleness of the landscape, the still uncontaminated nature and its central geographic position have earned this land the name of the “Green Heart of Italy“. Thanks to a growing community of travellers who want to have more in a travel than only an amazing place to stay for a while, more and more tourists are deciding to spend their holidays in this beautiful land, famed destination of the Grand Tours travellers and Land of the Saints, very rich in culture, folklore and ancient gastronomic traditions.
Tourists that are coming to Umbria are people who are looking for authentic experiences: tasting the food and the wines that local people have every day, knowing more about Italian traditional life and, above all, experiencing another way of living: a “slow life” far from the caos and the smog of big cities.
To let travellers living “like a local“, young entrepreneurs have involved in their “Discovering Umbria“* project, only small local family-run farms, wineries, oil mills and food producers, as well as for the accommodation – farmhouses, b&b and apartments in the historical centre of Medieval towns – managed by local people. For this reason, “Discovering Umbria” travel proposals are focused on the discovery of local products, such as the extra-virgin olive oil production – one of the best in Italy – the secrets of the vine cultivation and wine production, the ancient recipes and food traditions.
This choice to collaborate with small companies allows travellers to get in contact with the producers, wine, oil and food makers and to share a day with them, walking in their olive grove, tasting wines in their cellars, cooking a traditional recipe with a local cook and, above all, to experience the passion that these wonderful people have in their work.
On the other end, thanks to these visitors, local community can benefit for this kind of tourism, a “responsible tourism”, a virtuous circle, where local people have their right to be the protagonist in developing sustainable tourism in their native land, while the travellers receive in “exchange” a very enriching and unforgettable experience.
This way of travelling – based on values, on respect and mutual tolerance – is possible in Umbria, a magic land that will stay in your heart forever.
* In February 2010, Discovering Umbria won “Italian Responsible Tourism Award” for the category ” Nature and territory – Wine Tours in Umbria”. The prize – promoted by L’Agenzia di Viaggi, the leading professional publication for tourism in Italy for the last 40 years and under the patronage of Enit, Uftaa and Fiavet – it is based on quality criteria established by UNWTO (The United nations World Tourism Organisation).