Umbria, The Green Heart of Italy. Landlocked region in central Italy known as the Green Heart of Italy for its abundance in vegetation. A scenery characterised by enchanting medieval hilltop towns and by sways of cypresses and olive trees with their twisted, gnarled physiognomy and silver-green foliage.

Umbrian cuisine is full of straight forward and bold flavours, synonymous with simple, essential recipes which are much sought after for this very reason. Influenced by Umbria’s humble monastic origins it is inspired by “ancient” forms of cooking: traditional salt free wood oven baked bread, pork roasted on the spit and freshwater smoked fish. This medieval gastronomy is almost intact, and its flavours take us back on an intriguing journey of the senses.

The deep black colour of truffles and the green and gold hues of extra virgin olive oil provide significant colour to Umbrian food that is both precious and familiar at the same time.

Terre Francescane is located in Spoleto.

Located in southeastern Umbria, Spoleto is one of the region’s most fascinating art towns. Its wealth of history, varied cultural heritage and important arts events make it one of the tourist destinations most highly esteemed by visitors.

HISTORY

An important fortified Umbrian settlement, Spoleto became a Roman colony and later a municipium (90 BC). After the fall of the Roman empire, it was taken over first by Theodoric, king of the Visigoths, and then by the Byzantine Belisarius. Seized by Totila, it was rebuilt by the Byzantine general Narses.

In the early Middle Ages, it became the capital of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto. In 1155 Spoleto was conquered and destroyed by Frederick Barbarossa, and after a series of conflicts between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines it was conquered again by Cardinal Albornoz, who secured it for the papacy and made it an important town in the Papal States.

Apart from the brief period under Napoleonic rule, the papal rule continued unbroken until Spoleto joined the new Italian State.

TERRE FRANCESCANE | Masterpieces of Nature since 1639