The "green heart" of Italy chosen for the endless food and wine offer, the 500th anniversary of Perugino's death and the 50th anniversary of "Umbria Jazz"

 territory renamed "green heart" of Italy for its natural and "spiritual" beauties, linked to figures such as St. Francis of Assisi, and able to attract for its endless food and wine offer, even more so in 2023 when a series of events will take place that will see its products and wines celebrate the 500th anniversary of Perugino's death, the "divine painter", one of the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance, and the 50 years of "Umbria Jazz" in Perugia, the most important Italian jazz music festival and among the most prestigious in the world, and which are the symbol of a land rich in art and culture. It is Umbria, the "Best In Travel 2023" for the Lonely Planet, the only unmissable Italian destination to visit next year, chosen in the "Flavors" category through the contribution of staff, authors, bloggers and various publishers of the "Bible" of world travelers.
"A recognition of the value of our territory and the quality of its food and wine productions, which adorn the entire region with a seal of value and make it an attractor for tourists and enthusiasts from all over the world", underlines the Councilor for Tourism of the Umbria Region, Paola Agabiti.

It is no coincidence that Umbria knows how to give aromas and flavors in every season of the year thanks to its many wine producers and food artisans. Those who visit it, find happiness, because each of us basically loves good food and drinking well and Umbria is aware of it. Its most famous wines, from Sagrantino di Montefalco - the ancient mass wine of the followers of St. Francis reborn by the Caprai winery which, led by Marco Caprai, has relaunched it into international prominence as one of the most important Italian reds, together with its territory, ed. - to Grechetto di Todi, Trebbiano Spoletino and Orvieto, which find their perfect match with the delicious cold cuts of Norcia and cheeses with jams with onion of Cannara or black celery of Trevi. Not to mention the prized black truffle of the Valnerina or the white truffle of the Upper Tiber Valley, with the possibility of taking part in the "search" with truffle hunters. But Umbria is also the green land par excellence, the olive trees are there between the various hills: Orvietani, Trasimeno, Martani, Amerini and the olive belt that goes from Assisi to Spoleto. Quiet landscapes, of unmistakable beauty, and very generous when it is time to "make oil", the DOP one, among the most awarded. How many emotions on the palate, a thousand facets and softness that enhance every dish, even the simplest asit can be a potato, perhaps from Colfiorito, or the many types of legumes, from the spelled of Monteleone di Spoleto, to the fagiolina del Trasimeno without forgetting the IGP lentil of Castelluccio the only one cultivated at 1,500 meters and known everywhere. And soon it's Christmas and then sweetness can certainly not be missing. It goes withtraditional desserts such as the panpepato of Terni, the rocciata of Foligno or Assisi, the pinoccate perugine, the tozzetti with saffron of Cascia, the torciglione and the famous craftsmanship of chocolate processingdeclined in many forms for adults and children.

The starting point to discover the Region can only be Perugia. The Umbrian capital in fact, will be the city par excellence where the celebrations will take place both for Perugino (Città della Pieve, 1448 cir.ca - Fontignano, February 1523), which for "Umbria Jazz" born in 1973 and which brought Umbria to the world with its notes and welcomed in Italy the greatest international jazz musicians, and that, today, between Christmas and New Year in the Etruscan city of Orvieto has a "winter" version to replicate that success that consists of many reasons: The Umbrian hospitality, the architectural and artistic beauties, its remarkable food and wine and, of course, the excellent jazz. The National Gallery of Umbria, which houses the largest number of works by Perugino, will present the exhibition entitled "The Best Master of Italy Perugino and his time" - from 4 March to 11 June, curated by Marco Pierini and Veruska Picchiarelli: 70 works, all prior to 1504, at the time when he was at the height of his extraordinary career, here together thanks to a partnership with the most important national and international museums, such as the Uffizi Galleries in Florence and the National Gallery in Washington. And that will be the starting point to discover the other places of Perugino located throughout Umbria, Deruta, Bettona, Foligno, Panicale, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Spello, Montefalco, Trevi and Città della Pieve, small villages, full of charm, where the churches are the guardians of the mastery of the great painter and are ready to welcome travelers, who will then take a break to make the palate rejoice, as recommended by Lonely Planet.