Eastern Umbria is an exotic mix of flora and fauna, cured meat delicacies, and a beautiful, Gothic-style St. Benedict church.

The official capital city of Umbria is Perugia, however the walled city of Norcia enjoys the reputation of being the culinary capital of the region. In the area’s untamed and mountainous east, beneath the well-known Appennines, the forests give shelter to game birds; its rivers are well-stocked with trout; and, the pork and truffles are the best in the world.

The Norcinerie

Norcia is well-known for its grocery stores, most especially the pork butcher shops (norcinerie), which still stay true to centuries-old practices in killing and butchering the pigs. These practices date back to the Middle Ages. In the markets, you'll find pork items like prosciutto ham, pancetta bacon, as well as innumerable salami and sausage varieties.

The shop interiors are awe-inspiring! Watch out for the stuffed boar's head, hunks of prosciutti hanging from hooks, shelves full of salami, and the scent of mounds of cheeses wafting through the air. At ground level, you'll see sacks of locally-grown legume varieties like black-eyed peas and pale cannelloni. To sample the finest of lentils, request "lenticchia de Castelluccio di Norcia".

Mix and match any of these delicious items for an impromptu snack that you can prepare using popular panini breads. Norcia is also famous for its truffles. They are a mainstay of menu items, and you can bring home the taste in a bottled version. Delectable truffle-based sauces may serve as a pasta sauce component in combination with anchovies, garlic, and olive oil.

Cathedrals and So Much More!

Norcia is home to Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictines, an order of monks. The city’s inspiring architectural pride is the great Gothic-style church that is named after St. Benedict. It is the focal point of the piazza at the core of the city that bears this name. Due to multiple earthquakes, the church retains only some of its original exterior façade, but careful restoration has made sure that the cross-shaped building, with its polygonal apsis and beautiful ogival portal, has kept its awesome frescoes and paintings. These harken back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Underneath the cathedral lie the supposed remains of the saint's home-place. The Church of St. Augustine dates back to the 1300s. Inside you will find a fresco depicting the Holy Mother and Child. The one-time fortress Castellina currently houses the Municipal Diocesan Museum and also dates back to the Renaissance era.

Pastoral Settings and Pristine Nature

Around Norcia, you'll find paths for trekking among the verdant Umbrian ranges. Begin by walking from the town of Serravalle, which is close-by, after taking in the feel of Italian country life by roaming the narrow pathways of this postcard-perfect village. Springtime offers the sight of fields full of glorious floral displays on the Plain of Castelluccio.

At the Parco Nazionale Monti Sibillini, located close to the village of Visso, the walking path meanders through the woods of the Apennine mountains as you climb through the Valle di Visso, then proceed back down into the valley of Preci. Another favourite walk takes you to one of Europe’s highest plateaus, the Piano Grande, with sits amidst many mountains, including the 2400m Monte Vettore. For hundreds of years the Castelluccio farmers have planted their fields to produce the special lentils found in Norcia’s specialty grocery stores.

Your trip to eastern Umbria will create lasting memories. If your quest is for Saints, Salamis or pristine Scenery, you are sure to be pleased.