Umbria and Abruzzo are protected by the overflow of international tourism. They're also a true surprise for all those who are looking for “Off the Beaten Path” experiences.
They are also regions that release spirituality, with a profound mystique and that live on traditions linked to Christmas celebrations. Our itinerary begins in Assisi, a wonderful village that develops around the Basilica of San Francesco, a splendid example of medieval architecture, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Assisi is not only a place strongly linked to Christianity but also a real museum, where you can admire works by Giotto and Cimabue.
Every year, it hosts an evocative Living Nativity Scene: a theatrical performance involving hundreds of people in period costume and which evokes the atmosphere of ancient Bethlehem.
UMBRIA: HOMELAND OF BEAUTY
Gubbio, called the "grey city" due to the historic centre built almost entirely in limestone, is a town that captivates with its medieval charm and the prankster spirit of its inhabitants. The city is also famous for its tradition of the largest Christmas tree in the world, which is lit on December 7, in Piazza 40 Martiri.
Umbria has always been the homeland of beauty. The region gave birth to Perugino, the “heavenly painter”, “Italy's best maestro”, master of Raffaello and forefather of the Umbrian Renaissance.
Taking an itinerary along the Umbrian Renaissance means discovering an artistic school with a characteristic and independent language, also famous for the works of "Pinturicchio". Not to be missed: the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia; Città della Pieve, which was the birthplace of Perugino; Panicale, a pretty village perched south of the Trasimeno lake; the wonderful Spoleto and its Cathedral.
The best ambassador of this land is perhaps Brunello Cucinelli. By visiting the village of Solomeo - which represents the centre of his family, entrepreneurial and spiritual life - you can breathe with incredible power the truest and deepest essence of Umbria.
ABRUZZO: THE ANCIENT HEART OF ITALY
This intimate journey in search of the roots of the self continues in nearby Abruzzo, a region of wild and rich nature, where wonderful villages survive, such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio, stone houses, overhanging fortresses, hermitages carved into the rock, romantic heart-shaped lakes as in Scanno, gullies and trabucchi.
Here, over the centuries, artisan workshops expert in goldsmith production have grown up, giving life to precious artefacts made with the filigree, fusion, embossing and chiselling techniques, inspired by nature and combined with magical-symbolic elements.
Refined and highly prized ceramics and majolica are also produced in Abruzzo.
The epicentre of this art has always been the hamlet of Castelli, the most famous centre of ceramic and majolica production since the end of the 15th century. The works created by Castelli can be admired in some of the most important museums on the planet, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, to the Louvre in Paris, up to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Let us create a transformative experience or a celebratory event for you: thanks to Olympia Waters you can immerse yourself in the depths of the most authentic Italy.