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Piazza della Libertà in Udine is surrounded by buildings dating to the 16th century, including the city’s famous clock tower. The tall column to the left illustrates the city’s importance as part of the Venetian Republic.

Italy &…Its Hidden Gems

The regions of Italy contain countless hidden gems that are often missed by tourists. Sometimes these off-the-beaten track towns and villages are places that are passed through by tourists on their way to the major cities and the countless attractions that Italy has to offer. In many cases, visitors would not know about these delightful places without prompting by friends or valued resources, such as the Italian Tribune. This week, we will visit the regions of Umbria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, two often overlooked, but amazing and beautiful regions.

We begin our journey in an area often described as the green heart of Italy. Umbria is a truly charming region that features many unspoiled landscapes, rolling hills and world-class vineyards. The area is home to many enchanting medieval towns, all of which offer authentic local delicacies and must-see attractions.

Enchanting Panicale is a quintessential medieval Umbrian village.

Our first stop is Panicale, which is everything that a traditional Umbrian village should be and more. Located about 20 miles away from the Umbrian capital of Perugia, it overlooks Lake Trasimeno, which is yet another hidden treasure on our list. Despite its relatively small size, there is always something to see and do in Panicale, from its charming piazzas to any number of exhibitions and festivals that light up the town. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with family and friends. Lake Trasimeno is Umbria’s largest lake and is also home to three large islands. The breathtakingly beautiful spot is the region’s best-kept secret. It is also a natural paradise for countless birds.

To the west, overlooking the lake, the town of Citta’ della Pieve sits on a hill where Umbria skirts the border of Tuscany. The walled town was the center of brick manufacturing during the middle ages, but its most famous resident was Pietro Vannucci, better known as Il Perugino, the master painter who instructed Raphael. Make sure to stop in to see the town’s theater, a beautiful jewelry box of an opera house decked out in satin and velvet and lined with private viewing boxes. Citta’ della Pieve also lays claim to one of the narrowest streets in Italy called Via Baciadonna, because it is so slim that young men have been known to lean out the window and kiss their girlfriends across the street.

Lovely Piazza Braccio Fortebraccio in Montone plays host to the Umbria Film Festival each summer.

About 30 miles to the southeast are an impressive series of Roman waterfalls that remarkably can be turned on and off like a tap. Cascata delle Marmore is the tallest manmade water fall in the world and the three cascades were created by diverting a river by the Romans nearly 2,300 years ago. For those who enjoy nature, a day spent exploring the trails, walking under the falls and admiring the views at the three different levels are a perfect way to work up an appetite before enjoying a picnic. The total height of the falls is 541 feet, with its largest drop measuring 272 feet. The beauty of the location even inspired Lord Byron to write his poem “The Falls of Terni.”

About 20 miles north of Perugia is Montone, another beautiful medieval village. The walled town with brick-paved streets and balconies often draped with flowers was established over 900 years ago. During the summer it hosts the Umbria Film Festival organized by resident, Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. The main piazza is transformed into a cinematic haven, with a large screen and plenty of chairs dotted around the cafes.

Lake Trasimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy and numerous castles and palazzos dot its shore.

Bevagna is a quaint little town situated ten miles south of Assisi and is a worthwhile stop for those on their way to the world-famous Basilica of Saint Francis. It is a precious treasure chest where time slows down. Although the features of the village are medieval, it is also home to famous Roman baths, where you can view fantastic mosaics of sea creatures. Make sure to visit Piazza Silvestri, where you will find the Palazzo dei Consoli, Church of San Michele and also the Church of San Silvestro.

Heading north to the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Udine is a picturesque and historic city situated between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps. The center of Udine includes Piazza della Libertà, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, surrounded by buildings dating to the Renaissance, including the pink-and-white-marble Loggia del Lionello and the famous clock tower, Torre dell’Orologio. The Cathedral of Udine is an imposing edifice whose construction started in 1236 and was consecrated exactly 100 years later. In the 1700s, the interior was richly decorated in the Baroque-style and it also houses an adjacent museum of religious decorative arts. Udine is dominated by a hilltop castle built by the Venetians in 1517. The current Renaissance appearance dates from the mid-16th century. The castle houses one of the oldest Parliament Halls in Europe and is home to several museums, plus an art gallery with works by Tiepolo and Caravaggio. It also offers picturesque views of the city and surrounding mountains.

Formerly a fishing village, Grado is popular for those in Friuli Venezia Giulia, but is virtually unknown to U.S. tourists.

Bevagna is a quaint little town situated ten miles south of Assisi and is a worthwhile stop for those on their way to the world-famous Basilica of Saint Francis. It is a precious treasure chest where time slows down. Although the features of the village are medieval, it is also home to famous Roman baths, where you can view fantastic mosaics of sea creatures. Make sure to visit Piazza Silvestri, where you will find the Palazzo dei Consoli, Church of San Michele and also the Church of San Silvestro.

Heading north to the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Udine is a picturesque and historic city situated between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps. The center of Udine includes Piazza della Libertà, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, surrounded by buildings dating to the Renaissance, including the pink-and-white-marble Loggia del Lionello and the famous clock tower, Torre dell’Orologio. The Cathedral of Udine is an imposing edifice whose construction started in 1236 and was consecrated exactly 100 years later. In the 1700s, the interior was richly decorated in the Baroque-style and it also houses an adjacent museum of religious decorative arts. Udine is dominated by a hilltop castle built by the Venetians in 1517. The current Renaissance appearance dates from the mid-16th century. The castle houses one of the oldest Parliament Halls in Europe and is home to several museums, plus an art gallery with works by Tiepolo and Caravaggio. It also offers picturesque views of the city and surrounding mountains.

An eclectic mixture of styles greets visitors in Gorizia, which sits on the border with Slovenia.

Last on our stop is a city that few foreigners have heard of – Gorizia. The city of 35,000 inhabitants straddles the Italian-Slovenian border and is rich in both art and history. One of its prime attractions is the Castle of Gorizia. Within its walls lies a small village with houses, cafes and shops completely detached from the city below. Between 1915 and 1917, the hills around Gorizia saw some of the most brutal fighting of WWI and the castle houses the Museo della Grande Guerra with vivid reminders of that dark period. Another great attraction of Gorizia are its numerous public gardens, where you can take a relaxing stroll after enjoying an espresso and pastry in one of the city’s many vibrant cafés.

Via Baciadonna in Citta' della Pieve is one of the narrowest streets in Italy, named for the ability to lean out a window and kiss a girl across the street.
The awe-inspiring Cascata delle Marmore, built by the Romans 23 centuries ago.
One of the many sea-themed mosaics in the Roman Baths of Mevania in Bevagna. Curiously, Umbria is the only landlocked region south of the Italian Alps.
The Patriarchal Basilica in Aquileia was completed nearly 1,000 years ago. Once a wealthy Roman city, its archeological treasures made it a UNESCO Site in 1998.