Places to Visit
Villa Santa Caterina is perfectly placed for you to explore the beauty & cuisine of Umbria.....
Explore
Umbria hosts an enormous variety of traditional events throughout the year. The local communities treat these events as an opportunity to confirm their roots and identity and it is a wonderful opportunity for tourists to experience genuine expressions of Umbrian culture and folklore.
Here just some of the wonderful place you can reach from the Villa in under an hour:
Umbertide
13km
Umbertide is our nearest town, well equipped and with easy parking to meet all your basic shopping needs. Your in-room guide offers info on pharmacies, supermarkets & restaurants. There's an everything-you-think-of market on Wednesday mornings in its lovely old historic centre, and a zero kilometers local produce market every Saturday morning. It located on the River Tiber and has a number of good walks along the river.
Special Event:
Festa del 800, Early September
Montone
22km
This town is one of the unspoilt gems of Umbria. Try to arrive in time to enjoy the sunset from the top of the town and take in the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Then grab a quick drink in the delightful town square before heading to one of many good restaurants in the town.
Special Events:
Umbria Film Festival - July
Festa di Santa Spina - August
Festa del Bosco - November
Perugia
23km
Perugia is the capital of Umbria, and the nearest major city to Villa Santa Caterina. Home to a University for foreign students, the town is lively, vibrant, and full new life in historic surrounds. Italians come for miles around for the Napoli-style pizza at 'Mediterranea'. Lines at their original spot got so long, they opened a second one!
The old part of town is wonderful, full of monuments to its Etruscan, Roman and medieval past. The closest car parks to the centre are Pellini and Partigiani. When you park at Partigiani take the escalators to the main street up through the original walls of the fortress that was Perugia.
Special Event:
Umbria Jazz, April & July
Gubbio
34km
Gubbio is one of Umbria’s most perfect medieval hill towns. Its atmospheric streets and alleys are unspoiled and often found deserted, except for locals going about their daily lives. The town is set at the foot of the Apennines and spectacular views can be enjoyed from a variety of lookout points. The main square is half-way up the town and houses the Palazzo dei Consoli, which is a vast 14th century palace.
Less touristy than Assisi, and still spectacular architecturally, Gubbio is well-worth a day out. Take the cable car right to the top for breathtaking views. Enjoy typical Gubbio cuisine, or for the more avant-garde, try fantastic vegetarian restaurant, Orto.
Special Event:Festa dei Ceri, 15 May every year
Citta' di Castello
36km
A bustling little town offering all kinds of regular and annual events, from a truffle festival to a monthly flea market to one of the most important European Chamber Music Festivals.
Special Events:
Festival delle Nazioni Chamber Music Festival, September
Altrocioccolato, Fair Trade Chocolate Festival, October
Assisi
46km
One of the most popular excursions for our guests, the birth place of St Francis never disappoints. From Giotto's frescoes to the magnificent Rocca, Assisi is a true gem to be discovered.
Special Event:
Calendimaggio, May
Lago Trasimeno
50km
Beloved of celebrities and day-trippers alike, Lago Trasimeno is one of Italy's lesser-known, yet spectacular lakes, the country's fourth largest. Sample the lake fish, enjoy a gelato, visit surrounding castles.
In addition to the water sports on offer, towns such as Passignano and Castiglione del Lago are the most appealing, and the islands of Maggiore and Polvese can be accessed by short and enjoyable boat rides. Isola Maggiore features the ruins of a castle and church which people always enjoy visiting.
Special Event:
Trasimeno Blues Festival, July-August
Cortona
56km
Despite featuring in a film and book titled ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’, this beautiful Tuscan hilltop town hasn’t lost the charm for which it became famous. With a wonderful square, lovely restaurants and wine shops and a great walk to the monastery at the top of the town, there is still much to attract people. From above the town, there are magnificent views across the countryside in every direction and it is easy to see why it has become so famous.
Special Event:
Giostra dell’Archidado, June
Montefalco
72km
Visit Umbria's most famous wine-producing area, boasting a huge number of cantinas where you can sample Sagrantino wine, among others. If you prefer not to drive, we can arrange transportation!
Special Event: Cantine Aperte, May
