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Report 450: Saints and Flowers, Ham and Cheese: Seven Days in Norcia, Umbria

By Jeannew from PA, Spring 2003

Trip Description: Seven days in Norcia, June 5-11, walking, eating and hanging out in southeastern Umbria.

Destinations: Countries - Italy; Regions/Cities - Umbria

Categories: Hotels/B&Bs; Sightseeing; Walking/Hiking; Independent Travel; 2 People

Page 1 of 8: Introductions

Norcia is located in the Mt. Sibillini National Park which straddles southeastern Umbria and Le Marche. This pastoral countryside is easy to explore by car, bike or on foot. Norcia itself is a pleasant old town of pre-Roman origins and a gastronomic center for black truffle and pork products like salami and prosciutto. So legendary were the pork processing skills of Norcia butchers that the term Norcineria is known throughout Italy and refers to shops that carry a variety of hams and other preserved pork products.

My husband and I are just a bit shy of retirement age. We prefer an informal but active life style and tend to spend more Italy time in small towns than in large cities. We chose Norcia for the last part of this 3 week trip to Italy for two reasons. One was to catch the nearby Piano Grande (great plain) in bloom and the other was to revisit and relax in a town we had enjoyed in the past. We spent 3 days at a monastery on our 1st trip in 1998 and I had the good fortune to be there for the annual black truffle festival in 2001. Held on the last weekend of February, the festival attracts visitors and food vendors from all over Italy.

For more information on the area you can consult a guide book such as the Cadogan Guide to Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches or visit the listed web sites. On the Casale nel Parco site, go to the excursions section for stunning photos.

Contest Winner 2004

Trip Report Pages

Introductions

Accommodations and Food

Around Town and Shopping

Days 1 and 2, Arrival and a Walk to St. Rita's House

Days 3 and 4, Another Saint, Cheese, Old Cars and a hike

Day 5, Castelluccio and the Piano Grande, More Flowers

Day 6, Lunch in Scheggino and Art in Norcia

Day 7, Goodbye and Black Truffle Fondue

Resources

Resources are on the last page of the trip report.

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