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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Porchetta

Porchetta is whole roast pig sold from vans on the side of the road in Italy
7 December, 2014
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A Walk On Monte Ginezzo Near Cortona

A view on the Monte Ginezzo walk near Cortona, Tuscany
6 December, 2014
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Trattoria Dardano, Cortona

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6 December, 2014
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A Walk Around Cortona

Cortona-Town-Halll
6 December, 2014
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Hot Springs At San Casciano dei Bagni

Hot Springs at San Casciano dei Bagni
5 December, 2014
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Sensational Umbria – The Steve McCurry Exhibition in Perugia

The village of Castelluccio and the Piano Grande in Umbria photographed by Steve McCurry
2 December, 2014
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Wine Tasting At The Città di Castello Truffle Festival 2014

White Truffles at the Citta di Castello Truffle Festival
5 November, 2014
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Aerial Photos of The Rocca di Pierle

Rocca di Pierle seen from above
31 October, 2014
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Aerial Photos of Umbertide

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28 October, 2014
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Antique Market In Citta di Castello

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1 June, 2014
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The Perugia Flower Show

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27 May, 2014
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I Girasoli di Sant’Andrea Restaurant

Tagliata at I Girasoli di Sant'Andrea Restaurant
14 March, 2014
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Latest from the Blog

Niccone Valley

On January 13, 2015   /   Niccone Valley  
The Niccone Valley Many of our rental villas in the beautiful Niccone Valley on the Tuscany Umbria border, Italy. It's a great place to have a holiday, there is a combination of stunning landscapes, ruined castles, vineyards and olive groves. The Niccone Valley Lake Trasimeno Lake Trasimeno isRead more →
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Piero della Francesca Trail

On January 6, 2015   /   Arezzo, Art, Monterchi, Piero della francesca, Sansepolcro  
The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca
Piero della Francesca's Paintings Piero della Francesca (1416/17-1492) was a Renaissance artist and mathematician. Perhaps because of his interest in mathematics his paintings are noted for their perfect perspective and the solid, almost sculptural, quality of his figures. Art historians often cite the way he painted hisRead more →
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La Grotta, A Restaurant In Cortona

On January 5, 2015   /   Cortona, Food, Restaurant  
Mixed antipasti at La Grotta, Cortona
La Grotta, Cortona, Tuscany La Grotta is one of my favourite restaurants in Cortona, I last went there for after going on my Monte Ginezzo Walk in the hills behind the town. La Grotta Location La Grotta is located just off the Piazza della Repubblica, right in theRead more →
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Pissignano Antiques Market

On January 4, 2015   /   Antiques, Market, Pissignano, Shopping, Trevi  
A stall at the Pissignano antiques market
Pissignano Antiques Market We really enjoy going to local antiques markets, often heading to nearby Città di Castello on the third Sunday of the month. The biggest antique market in Umbria and probably one of the biggest in Italy is held in the village of Pissignano. TheRead more →
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A Night Out At Trattoria Nonna Gelsa

On December 14, 2014   /   Food, Niccone Valley, Restaurant  
Dining at Nonna Gelsa, a trattoria in Umbria, Italy
Trattoria Nonna Gelsa A couple of weeks ago we went to an excellent local trattoria called Nonna Gelsa to celebrate Emma's birthday. Trattoria Nonna Gelsa is in the village of Niccone and is run by Chiara and her family. The trattoria specialises in high quality local dishesRead more →
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Etruscan Tomb Long Walk

On December 11, 2014   /   Etruscan, Umbria, Walking  
The stone entrance door to an Etruscan tomb
Etruscan Tomb Long Walk These photos are from my Etruscan Tomb Long Walk, a route from my ebook, Circular Walks On The Tuscany Umbria Border. This walk generally takes around four hours and takes in two abandoned castles, an abandoned villa, the Etruscan tomb and numerous views across theRead more →
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A Visit to The Pucciarella Winery

On December 11, 2014   /   Wine  
Sparkling wine made from pinot nero grapes
The Pucciarella Winery, Umbria Last night I visited the Pucciarella winery in the village of Villa near Magione. I went as past of a group studying for the first level of the Italian Sommelier's Association and we were given an in depth tour of the cellar. MagioneRead more →
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Sagra dei Bringoli

On December 10, 2014   /   Activities, Food, Pasta  
Bringoli, a thick hand made spaghetti type pasta
An Italian Village Festa in Lisciano Niccone What Is Bringoli? It seems that almost every village in Tuscany and Umbria has a festa of some sort each summer. If the festa is food related it is referred to as a "sagra" and Lisciano Niccone holds a festa inRead more →
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Water Slide At Umbertide Pool

On December 9, 2014   /   Activities, Children, Umbertide  
At the top of the Umbertide water slide
Umbertide Swimming Pool In the heat of the summer, we usually spend a lot of time at the public swimming pool in Umbertide, our local Umbrian town. The pool is near the Coop supermarket which you are almost certain to visit if you stay at one ofRead more →
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