Tuscany & Umbria Blog

The Gorgacce Rentals blog has lots of useful information for the visitor to the Tuscany Umbria border, Italy. Use the category search to find specific articles on towns, art, restaurants, itineraries, activities, food and wine.

Towns In Tuscany & Umbria

Larger towns include Perugia, Arezzo, Siena and Florence. The many smaller towns you could visit include Cortona, Montepuciano, Assisi, Gubbio, Citta di Castello, Sansepolcro, Spoleto, Montefalco, Bevagna and Spello.

  • Activities
  • Ambrogio Lorenzetti
  • Antiques
  • Ape

Ursula Gritti – Vineyard Owner In The Niccone Valley

Ursula Gritti in her vineyard in the Niccone Valley, Umbria, Italy
Ursula Gritti & I Girasoli Di Sant'Andrea Ursula Gritti is the owner of the only commercial vineyard in the Niccone Valley, I Girasoli di Sant'Andrea. Ursula moved to the Niccone Valley in 1996 with her husband Carlo Massimilliano Gritti. They bought a house called Sant'Andrea located closeRead more

Lunch At Zibu Restaurant, Umbertide

Inside Zibu restaurant, Umbertidenside Zibu restaurant, Umbertide
Please Note Ristorante Zibù seems to have closed since I wrote this! Since it opened a couple of years ago we had heard good reports about dining at Zibu restaurant in our local town of Umbertide. Inside Zibu restaurant, Umbertide A couple of weeks ago we decidedRead more

Niccone Valley Castles

Reschio Castle in the Niccone ValleyReschio Castle in the Niccone ValleyReschio Castle in the Niccone Valley
Niccone Valley Castles The numerous castles in the Niccone Valley on the Tuscany Umbria border are testament to the violent nature of the Italian peninsular in the middle ages. Italy has only been a single country since 1860; this was the first time that the Italian peninsularRead more

The Ape, A Three Wheeler Vehicle

The Piaggio Ape You've probably heard of a Vespa (Wasp) scooter but, unless you've already been to Italy, possibly  never encountered the Ape (Bee) three wheeled vehicle. The Ape (pronounced Ah-pay) has a maximum speed of around 30km/h and it won't be long until you are stuckRead more

Via Ianelli, Cortona

Overhanging upper storeys in Via Ianelli, Cortona
Cortona On Sunday we went to the nearby Tuscan hill town of Cortona to visit an antiques market held on the third Sunday of each month. Unfortunately, all but one of the roads to the town were closed because of a car race and when we finallyRead more

Niccone Valley Walk To Migianella

Migianella, an old village above the Niccone Valley on the Tuscany Umbria border
Migianella Walk, Niccone Valley Yesterday afternoon I went over the route of the Migianella Walk from my book, Circular Walks On The Tuscany Umbria Border. Migianella, an old village above the Niccone Valley on the Tuscany Umbria border Start Near Spedalicchio The walk starts with a climbRead more

A Visit to Gubbio

The Palazzo dei Consoli in Gubbio
Gubbio, Umbria Last week we went to visit the medieval Umbrian town of Gubbio, the day had started off with blue skies but by the time we arrived it had clouded over, giving the stone buildings of this impressive town a rather austere look. The town hall,Read more

Montone

Montone, Umbria Montone is a hilltop village above the Tiber Valley in Umbria. It's close to most of our villas on the Tuscany Umbria border and definitely deserves a look. There are several restaurants in Montone and a couple of bars in the piazza, as well asRead more