In terms of tourism, Umbria seems to suffer the misfortune of sitting in the metaphorical shadow of Tuscany, its neighbor due west. Why? Compared to Tuscany, Umbria falls short along several dimensions. It’s one-third the size, making it the smallest region in Italy, and it has no large cities. Umbria is also the only region in Italy without a coastline or border with another country.

Although Umbria hasn’t achieved the same celebrity and allure in pop culture (film, novels, lifestyle magazines) as has Tuscany, its “shortfalls” actually offer many advantages to visitors interested in experiencing Italian art, history, culture and cuisine. With fewer tourists, its cities have remained more authentic and less pretentious. With shorter distances and less traffic, it’s an easier region to navigate between cities by car. Costs of both accommodations and restaurants tend to be more affordable.