What a difference a C makes…
Cumbria is a wild, wet and wellie-wearing region in the north of England, whose damp hedgerows and fields of daffodils fired the literary imagination of Wordsworth several times over.
Umbria, on the other hand, is a fragrant, olive-soaked region in central Italy, whose soft pink stone apparently fired the literary imagination of C.S.Lewis and introduced the rest of the world to Narnia (via the real world town of Narni.)
As a Brit, I knew Cumbria far better than Umbria (in my mind a smaller, wetter, wellier version of the Cumbria with perhaps a slightly different ratio of poets to daffodils.)
How wrong I was.
Let me clear up any misunderstandings here and now by introducing you to the region of Umbria, Tuscany’s neighbour and overshadowed little sister. Umbria is the Mary to Anne Boleyn, the Dannii to Kylie Minogue, the Robert F. to JFK. Whatever you may believe about those names, Umbria certainly doesn’t deserve its place in the shadows.
So, pull up a chair, dust off your screen and enjoy a taste of Umbria via the means of this photo essay.
Umbria – Part of the Slow Food Movement
Visiting Umbria
A sanctuary for pilgrims at Le Silve Hotel
The Tradition of Lace around Lake Trasimeno
Assisi
Mount Subasio
Individual, in-depth stories to follow…
Disclosure: I travelled to Umbria as a speaker with TBU. All words, photos, opinions and daffodils remain my own.
I was so sorry to miss TBU this time but looking forward to all your posts.
Missed seeing you too!
Gorgeous!!! I adore Italy!
I’m still discovering it bit by tiny little bit. No complaints though – so much to see!
I love the depth and romance of your photos! I was also so sad to miss TBU and can’t wait for your posts!
Thank you! Yep, it’s a shame we can’t make everything that’s going on all the time!
Beautiful! I really enjoy the photo of Assisi, and that last shot is great.
I think the first one’s my favourite but I also love those candles!
Great Post! You really captured the essence of beautiful Umbria in words and photos!
Hmm. I’m not so sure now! I think it needs even more photos of food!
Love the photos! I’ve traveled all around the world a few times and now wish I had a better camera! (p.s. Also love the short about box: “a doctor for a life on the road…” very cool)
Yes, it’s one of the few things I wish I’d done earlier! Once I bought an SLR, I kicked myself for not buying one sooner because you can never reclaim those moments you’ve lost. Happy travelling…
The Mary to Anne Boleyn.. Lol sold! I’ve always wanted to visit the C-less Cumbria. ;) your photos just made me want to go even more.
Haha! It’s absolutely beautiful (not that I’m knocking the Cplus C-umbria. It’s just not quite the same…;) )
AC also makes living in Seville bearable during July and August :-)
Badoum-bash!
I would definitely say it is a bit different than England lol! This place looks wonderful. What a cute getaway!
Haha! Yes, it was beautiful. And so peaceful…
Very funny!
And I completely agree with you about Umbria.
Less known than its closer sister Tuscany, and for this reason more wild, in the sense of keeping its original atmosphere.
Yes, I suppose that’s the perennial travel conundrum! I want places to be appreciated but with that appreciation comes a touch of Disneyland and swarms and swarms of tourists. And there goes the original atmosphere…
Funny that you picked up on the Cumbria/Umbria thing as well. Whenever I told anyone where I was going for the week the usual inquisitive reply was Cumbria?
Umbria blew me away with its beauty, the rolling green fields with small towns perched on hillsides.
Can’t wait to go back!
Oh Paul, thank goodness someone else understands! I had that moment just after I hit publish when I thought…Hmmm…Is this going to be one of those things that only I get?! That’s never a good thing…
Thanks so much for these wonderful photos…you really captured both the majestic and humble sides of this unforgettable region!
You are very welcome. Thank you for the invitation to see this part of the world. More to follow!