Natural delights
In addition to its hill towns, Umbria boasts some beautiful rural scenery.
Lake Trasimeno, in the center of Umbria, is a popular summer retreat known for its trout and carp fishing. The largest lakeside towns are Castiglione del Lago, whose castle is used for concerts in the summer, and Passignano sul Trasimeno.
Valnerina, the valley around the Nera River, is dotted with lovely towns such as San Pietro in Valle. This 8th-century monastery in the hills is one of the few surviving memorials to the Lombards in Umbria. The river empties out into the Cascate delle Marmore, a waterfall near the city of Terni. It was created by the Romans in 290 B.C. when they diverted the Velino River into the Nera River. At 541 feet, it is one of Europe's highest waterfalls.Northeast of the waterfall is the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, part of the Apennine Mountain range, which was recently designated a national park. Piano Grande, also part of the national park, is a plateau covered with colorful flowers in the spring and summer.

Eating well
In Umbria, most dishes are simple preparations of fresh, local ingredients cooked in quality Umbrian olive oil. These dishes might include porcini mushrooms, black or white truffles, trout, carp or wild boar. Thick, handmade Umbrian pastas such as ciriole, stringozzi, umbrecelli and tagliatelle are served in a tomato, mushroom or meat sauce or with shaved truffles. Meat is usually seasoned with garlic, sage, olive oil, salt and black pepper, then grilled or roasted on a spit.In addition to the regional food, most towns have at least one specialty. Castelluccio, situated above the Piano Grande, is famous for its small brown lentils (lenticchie di Castelluccio) as well as for its ricotta and pecorino cheeses. Just west of the Sibillini Mountains is Norcia, famous for its cured meats (prosciutto, salami and sausage) and its truffles. There are several kinds of truffles: the scorzone (available in the spring and summer), the high-quality tartufo nero and the treasured white truffle. Norcia hosts a festival every year to showcase these jewels.The food is just part of what makes Umbria special. These charming hill towns and renowned art were just a sampling of all that Umbria has to offer, a quick tour of some of the beautiful places that are waiting to be discovered.

Spoleto is famous for its pork products and these easy-to-prepare pork chops are characteristic of the town's simple but delicious cuisine.

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