Each month we’ve highlighted a place of interest around the globe that we consider as unique as Borgo di Vagli. The tips are selected as they either show respect for the environment, nature, and architectural beauty or are deeply indigenous to their individual origin.
This month we highlight David Copper’s trip to Norcia.
One of the great things about being an owner at Borgo di Vagli is not only its proximity to some of the most beautiful regions of Tuscany, but access to its lessor known neighboring province of Umbria as well.
During our last visit to BVD this past May, we decided to visit the small Umbrian town of Norcia – a town we had visited several years back. Unlike most towns in Umbria, Norcia is almost flat (although surrounded by the Sybilline Mountains) and is completely enclosed by a full circuit of walls that have survived intact since the 14th century.
One of the main attractions for visiting Norcia is its foodstuffs, especially those made with pork and wild boar (sausages, capocollo, salumi). In fact, its production of hams made from wild boar and domestic swine has given a word to the Italian language - norcineria - a pork butcher's shop. Other important local gourmet items are black truffles, pecorino, and the lentils of Castelluccio di Norcia. The store owners are extremely welcoming and offered lots of samples to taste.
For those interested in the more religious and historical attractions, Norcia is also famous for being the birthplace of St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine monastic system, and his twin sister St. Scholastica. Contemporary monks care for the Monastery of St. Benedict, built over the Roman ruins of the house of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica.
Inside the town there are a number of churches and shops to visit, and some wonderful restaurants in which you can try the local cuisine.
On the way back from Norcia, we stopped off at the beautiful Umbrian towns of Montefalco and Bevagna. Although there are many other places to stop off enroute including, Perugia, Spoleto, Spello, and Assisi to name just a few.
The drive to Norcia took approximately 2 hours through some spectacular mountains and one of the longest tunnels in Italy.
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