Bradt's Umbria & the Marche is the most detailed guide to combine these
two small central Italian regions, which offer all the beauty, history
and culture of neighbouring Tuscany only without the crowds, the traffic
or eye-popping prices. Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (authors of the
original Cadogan guide to the area) lived in Umbria in the 1980s and
have been returning regularly and writing about it ever since. They are
the perfect guides to the region's landscapes, hill towns, food and
wine, and art and architecture.The superb art cities of Umbria and the
Marche steal the limelight - Perugia, Orvieto, Urbino, Loreto, Todi,
where art fills every church and palazzo. There is a dedicated chapter
on Assisi, the rose-tinted pilgrim destination, and the Valle Umbra,
including Spoleto, medieval capital of the Lombards and home of the
famous arts festival. But never far from these centres wait unspoiled
countryside of rolling olive groves, forests and meadows, long walks and
towns and tiny villages, nearly all with a masterpiece or two to show
off and a great little family-run restaurant. The Bradt guide covers
them all, along with the republic of San Marino.The Apennines rule here.
The Marche's geography is dominated by a series of east-west river
valleys - the Metauro, Esino, Tronto, etc - twisting down to Adriatic
and often ending in long sandy beaches, from the historic towns of
Senigallia and Fano through Ancona's Cornero Riviera to the Riviera
delle Palme at San Benedetto del Tronto. Landlocked Umbria, where rivers
flow into the mighty Tiber, has exceptional water features as well:
Italy's fourth largest lake, Trasimeno; the Tiber Valley; Clitunno
springs (once sacred to the Romans); and Italy's most beautiful
waterfall, the Cascata delle Marmore. Featuring superb photography and
expert recommendations to suit all budgets, Umbria & the Marche - the
fifth in Bradt's increasingly highly-regarded series of Italian regional
titles - is a timely guide to a more authentic corner of Italy.
