Small gems
The smaller, lesser-known towns in Umbria are some of the most beautiful. Gubbio, in the northern part of the region, is carved into the mountains and divided into upper and lower levels. In the upper portion, accessible by foot or elevator, is the Fontana dei Matti (Fountain of the Mad) so named because it is said that you will go crazy if you walk around it three times. In the lower part of town is the 13th-century church of San Francesco and Via Frate del Lupo (Street of the Wolf) where, according to legend, Saint Francis tamed a particularly vicious wolf that had been terrorizing the city. The turreted tower of Palazzo dei Consoli, commissioned by the citizens in 1332, dominates the skyline of Gubbio. The museum there houses the Eugubine tablets, seven bronze slabs inscribed with Etruscan and Roman characters. Dating from 300 to 100 B.C., these tablets are used to study the ancient Umbrian language. Outside of town is a Roman amphitheater built in the 1st century. Todi, in Central Umbria, was an ancient Etruscan then Roman settlement, and its medieval center is surrounded by well-preserved walls. The star of the town is Santa Maria della Consolazione, a large church based on a plan by Bramante, the famous Renaissance architect. Construction began in 1508 but the church wasn't finished until a century later. There is also the Museo Etrusco-Romano, a museum displaying Etruscan and Roman artifacts.
Nearby is the town of Montefalco, which is said to have the best views in all of Umbria. Italians have nicknamed it la ringhiera d'Umbria, or the balcony of Umbria. Apart from the breathtaking panoramas, Montefalco is famous for its wonderful local red wine, Sagrantino di Montefalco, which comes in two forms: a dry, dark red or passito, a sweeter version. East of these two towns is Spoleto, a quiet village that comes alive every July for the Festival Dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds). For the past 50 years, this famous art festival has featured exhibitions, ballet, opera and theater. The town is also known for its 12th-century duomo, which has a stunning Romanesque façade with eight rose windows and a bell tower built from salvaged Roman stones. Inside the cathedral are Fra Filippo Lippi's frescoes of the life of the Virgin. Founded by the Umbrians, Spoleto later became a Roman colony and there is a 1st-century Roman arch and excavated Roman house just outside of the town.

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