We begin in Città di Castello, the main town of the Upper Tiber Valley, where the artistic languages of the fifteenth and twentieth centuries seem to come together naturally. How is this possible? Visit the Cathedral of Saints Floridus and Amantius and the magnificent Renaissance palaces, before discovering Alberto Burri’s contemporary works, housed at Palazzo Albizzini and the Former Tobacco Drying Sheds, to find the answer.

Gubbio is one of the oldest cities in Umbria. It reached the height of its splendour between the 13th and 14th centuries and later gained nationwide popularity thanks to the television series Don Matteo. Visit the Cathedral of Saints Mariano and Giacomo, Palazzo dei Priori and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, before ending your visit with the panoramic views from the spectacular Piazza Grande. A tip for experiencing the city at its most vibrant: visit Gubbio on 15 May, the day of the celebrated Corsa dei Ceri.

The journey continues in Perugia. Take all the time you need to discover the treasures of its historic centre, from Piazza IV Novembre, overlooked by the Fontana Maggiore, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and Palazzo dei Priori, to the National Gallery of Umbria, home to masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Pinturicchio and Perugino, and the Etruscan Arch. The terrace of the Carducci Gardens, built on the bastions of the Rocca Paolina, offers splendid views over the valley and Mount Subasio and is the ideal vantage point for a glimpse of your next stop: Assisi!

Assisi is known throughout the world as the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare and for the message of peace they handed down. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Unsurprisingly, many of the city’s monuments are closely linked to the two saints, from the Basilica of Saint Clare and the Basilica of Saint Francis to the Woods of Saint Francis and the Eremo delle Carceri. Among the notable exceptions are the Rocca Maggiore and, above all, the Temple of Minerva, whose classical architecture stands out among the city’s buildings. As you descend from Mount Subasio, be sure to stop in the valley at Santa Maria degli Angeli to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the Porziuncola, the small church where the first Franciscan community was founded. Did you know that the name of Los Angeles is traditionally linked to the Porziuncola?

Take the expressway towards Foligno. In the Foligno area, you will find rest areas and campsites that can serve as a convenient base for visiting the city and the nearby towns of Bevagna and Montefalco.

Foligno, known as “the centre of the world” as its inhabitants like to call it, is the birthplace of Saint Angela of Foligno and a city with a strong spiritual heritage. The Cathedral of San Feliciano, together with the many other churches and the valuable works of art they preserve, bears witness to this tradition. Equally strong is the city’s connection with history: Piazza della Repubblica and the buildings overlooking it, including Palazzo Trinci, are particularly noteworthy, as is the Giostra della Quintana, one of Umbria’s most deeply rooted historical re-enactments.

And speaking of historical re-enactments, one of the most distinctive and best known is the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna. Every year, at the end of June, the town takes a fascinating journey back to the Middle Ages, with period costumes, traditional flavours and ancient crafts faithfully brought back to life.

Montefalco, just a few minutes from Bevagna, is one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”. As you wander through its narrow streets, you will come across churches and historic buildings of great artistic value, but its most remarkable attraction is undoubtedly the Museum Complex of Saint Francis, which houses frescoes by Perugino and Benozzo Gozzoli. Before leaving the town, be sure to taste its DOC and DOCG red wines, including Sagrantino and Montefalco Rosso, which have made Montefalco famous in Italy and around the world.

Once you have finished exploring the Foligno area, take the expressway again and head to Spoleto, the city of the Festival dei Due Mondi. The city’s most important monument is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, whose medieval origins are reflected in its façade, embellished with a striking Byzantine-style mosaic. Other religious buildings are equally noteworthy, including the Church of San Paolo inter vineas and the Church of San Pietro Extra Moenia, from where you can enjoy a sweeping view over Spoleto as far as the imposing Ponte delle Torri. The bridge connects the Albornozian Fortress with the mountain overlooking the city and the evergreen holm oak woodland of the Sacred Wood of Monteluco.

Have you grown accustomed to plains and gentle hills? Now it is time for a change of scenery: the final stages of the journey lead into the mountains, through the Umbrian section of the Apennines. But don’t worry, the journey is comfortable and relatively short: less than an hour separates Spoleto from Cascia and Norcia, places closely associated respectively with Saint Rita and Saint Benedict. In Cascia, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria and the modern Sanctuary of Saint Rita are well worth a visit.

In Norcia, still engaged in the process of reconstruction, you can stroll through the town’s streets and admire the enduring beauty of its monuments, foremost among them the Basilica of Saint Benedict. Sample the local specialities, from truffles to traditional cured meats – and don’t miss the Prosciutto di Norcia – before taking advantage of the proximity of the Monti Sibillini National Park to end this long journey through Umbria’s towns and cities immersed in nature.