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.

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A Visit To Assisi

Sermon to the birds, Legend of St Francis
A Day Trip to Assisi in Umbria Last Sunday we decided to spend the day in Assisi. We started our visit with a great lunch at Osteria Piazzetta dell'Erba and then went for a quick wander around the town, our final objective being the huge Basilica ofRead more

Lunch In Assisi, Osteria Piazzetta Dell’Erba

A plate of tagliatelle at osteria piatta dell'erba
Osteria Piazzetta Dell'Erba, a Restaurant in Assisi Last Sunday we drove to the Umbrian town of Assisi, we started our day out with Sunday lunch at a great restaurant, the Osteria Piazzetta dell'Erba, a short walk from the central piazza. The weather was quite unsettled last weekRead more

Lizard Orchids On The Front Lawn

Lizard Orchids on the lawn at Ca di Bracco
Several weeks ago I noticed the unmistakeable shape of orchid leaves on our front lawn at Ca' di Bracco. I've been carefully mowing around them and waiting to see what they would turn into. Lizard Orchids on the lawn at Ca di Bracco A week ago, IRead more

The Return of The Amazing Spider Orchids

A Spider Orchid in the garden of Ca di Bracco
Springtime in central Italy means wild flowers and an abundance of wild orchids. We live in the Niccone Valley, right on the border of Tuscany and Umbria in central Italy. A Spider Orchid in the garden of Ca di Bracco Spider Orchids appear every April on oneRead more

Aerial Photos Of Preggio

An aerial view of the hill top village of Preggio in Umbria
Aerial Photos Of Preggio I took these photos of Preggio in the Niccone Valley last autumn but haven't got around to posting them on the blog until now. Preggio is at over 600 metres altitude and has outstanding views over the surrounding countryside and Lake Trasimeno. It'sRead more

A Visit to Cantina Bianchini

Wine tasting at the Bianchini winery in Umbria
Bianchini Winery, Selci, Umbria The Bianchini winery is in the small town of Selci, situated just north of Città di Castello in the Upper Tiber Valley, Umbria.  I went there yesterday with a group of trainee sommeliers to learn how to prune vines and, of course, toRead more

La Trattoria In Pissignano

An outside table at La Trattoria, Pissignano
La Trattoria In Pissignano On our trip out to visit the Fonti del Clitunno last Sunday we went for lunch at La Trattoria, a restaurant on the opposite side of the road to the natural springs. We had first eaten here on a trip to Pissignano Antiques MarketRead more