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If you've just landed here out of the blue from a search engine, this is merely a summary page: you'll find a lot of information on Umbria — over 600 pages and 1600 photographs — by going on to the main page. To get the most out of this site, use the navigation bars at the bottom of each page.

Towns of Umbria: Accessibility

Umbria owes much of its charm to the way its old towns are perched on sharp hills. From a practical standpoint, though, those same hills may make things difficult for some.

This list covers all of the 92 full-fledged townships (the comuni), as well as a few smaller places within some of them. I've been to every one of these places, so the information on this page is from my own personal knowledge. Links send you to my page/site for that town.

For detailed information about recreational vehicle and camper parks, the gentle reader should see CamperWeb's list of Umbrian camper parks, listed by province: Perugia Terni

Acquasparta, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Terni to Perugia, about 500 m from the town, although a bit of a climb.

Allerona, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it fairly steep.

Train: the station called "Allerona" is in the plain below, 7 km away.

Alviano, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it on a slope.

Train: station in the plain about 3 km away.

Amelia, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it very steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Narni, 14 km, with another station at Orvieto (on a different line), 50 km; bus service to each.

Arrone, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Terni, 13 km.

Assisi, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat — except for the walk to the Rocca Maggiore, which, unfortunately so to speak, has a spectacular view.

Train: The station, labelled "Assisi", is 3 km away in the plain in the town of S. Maria degli Angeli, with a stiff climb in between. Regular and very frequent shuttle buses, though.

Two large parking lots: at the E end of the town, piazza Matteotti; at the W end, closer to the basilica, at the piazza Porta S. Paolo.

Attigliano, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: at the edge of this very diffuse town.

Avigliano Umbro, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Montecastrilli Scalo, 12 km.

Baschi, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: The station called "Baschi" is several kilometers away, with no bus connections that I know of; but some buses run between downtown Baschi and Orvieto, and must surely stop at the station, which lies between them.

Bastardo, flatland.

The town is more or less flat.

Train: no service. The nearest stations are at Foligno, about 22 km; and on the less convenient FCU line, at Todi, about 19 km.

Parking: Easy.

Bastia Umbra, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: on the outskirts of town, a perfectly flat 10‑minute walk.

Bettona, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: There is no train station, but there are buses from Perugia.

Bevagna, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service, but there are buses from Foligno and Montefalco.

Calvi dell' Umbria, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it mostly very steep.

Train: no service, but there is bus service from Terni.

Campello sul Clitunno — there is no actual town by this name, the comune comprising a number of hamlets scattered on small hills.

Train: the station called "Campello" is in the plain several kilometers from anywhere.

Cannara, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: but about 3 km away, and passenger trains almost never stop there.

Cascia, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steepish.

Train: There is no train service, but there are buses to Spoleto and Norcia.

Castagnola, hilltown.

The town is basically level.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Todi, about 18 km.

Parking: Easy, right outside the walls — the town is very small.

Castelgiorgio, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service, but circuitous bus service from Orvieto.

Castelritaldi, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Spoleto, about 13 km.

Castelviscardo, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Orvieto. There is circuitous bus service from Orvieto.

Castiglione del Lago, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: The station is about 2 km W. The train line is the Rome-Florence line; for most other parts of Umbria, you will need to change at Terontola (N of Castiglione) or Orte (S).

Cerreto di Spoleto, hilltown.

Two towns actually, and both the upper town and the lower town are interesting (i.e., worth visiting) and flat. They are connected by about 5 km of road; and by the pedestrian shortcut, a very steep, slippery muletrack on the side of a cliff.

Train: no service, but there are buses to Spoleto and Norcia.

Parking: in the lower town, easy, on the street.

Citerna, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping, with a miniature rocca.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at S. Giustino, 10 km.

Città della Pieve, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it pretty flat.

Train: the station bearing the town's name is 6 km away.

Parking: large car park just outside the walls; from there, gentle uphill on the main street. Smaller park outside the walls at the top of the town: from there, flat.

Città di Castello, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: station in town, on the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Perugia to Sansepolcro.

Collazzone, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Marsciano, 13 km.

Corciano, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: the station called "Ellera-Corciano" is in Ellera Scalo, 4 km away.

Cospaia, hilltown.

The town is sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at S. Giustino, about 2 km.

Costacciaro, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fossato di Vico, 12 km.

Parking: very limited; either just outside the gate, or at the belvedere.

Deruta, flatland. The tiny town center is flat but sits on a steep hill. The important commercial areas where most of the ceramics are sold are in a flat area at the foot of the hill.

Train: the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Terni to Perugia. The station is several km from the town. In 2000 there was a free bus shuttle.

Parking: in the lower town, on the street; the main commercial strip or just off it.

Fabro, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: at Fabro Scalo, about 3 sometimes steep km from the old town.

Ferentillo, hilltown.

Ferentillo is two towns under the same administration: Matterella (flat) and Precetto (steep and that, of course, is where most of the interesting stuff is). A thorough visit would include very steep walks to the castles.

Train: no service. 20 km to the nearest stations (Terni or Spoleto): this although the Italian Railway System, in many of its stations all over Italy, perversely displays large posters of Ferentillo to get you to take the train.

Ficulle, on a long flat ridge.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is Allerona Scalo, 13 km.

Parking: easy parking on the street.

Foligno, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: The station is conveniently in town. Major rail and bus center.

Fossato di Vico, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find flat terraces connected by steep changes of level.

Train: climb 2 km of road to get to the town. Cab service available.

Parking: a few spaces just outside the gate; in 3 months living there I never saw them all taken. Around the "back" of the town, easy parking also on a traffic-free one-lane road.

Fratta Todina, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: Fratta is served by the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Terni to Perugia, about 2½ km from the town.

Giano dell' Umbria, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Massa Martana (Scalo), on the FCU (privately-owned) line from Terni to Perugia, 14 km; but far more convenient is the station at Foligno, 23 km.

Giove, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it mostly flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Attigliano, 5½ km.

Gualdo Cattaneo, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is to the E in Foligno, 17 km. The station of Marsciano, to the W on another line, is not much farther away.

Gualdo Tadino, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep with a flat central area.

Train: The station is about 1.5 km away.

Guardea, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Alviano (Scalo), about 10 km.

Parking: ample space on the streets.

Gubbio, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find narrow flat terraces connected by very steep changes of level; to see the city properly, you have to climb them, although one change of level (from midtown to the Duomo) is now served by an elevator, and a funicular connects the lower town to the top of Mt. Ingino.

Train: the station sometimes called "Gubbio" is in fact at Fossato di Vico, 22 km away, with connecting buses. Bus service also to Perugia; center of bus transport to outlying villages.

Parking: at least one large parking lot at the lower fringe of the town.

Lisciano Niccone, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Tuoro sul Trasimeno, 14 km.

Parking: ample parking on the streets.

Lugnano in Teverina, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Attigliano, 9 km.

Magione, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: The station is there, but well hidden on the outskirts.

Marsciano, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: Marsciano is served by the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Terni to Perugia, about 2 km from downtown.

Massa Martana, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: the station called "Massa Martana" is about 5.5 km S of the town; served by the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Terni to Perugia.

Montecastello di Vibio, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fratta Todina (Scalo), 6 km.

Montecastrilli, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping.

Train: The station called "Montecastrilli" is about 6 km away.

Montecchio, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Baschi, about 8 km.

Montefalco, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: no service, but buses from Foligno and Bevagna.

Parking: two large lots a couple hundred meters outside the town.

Montefranco, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat to gently sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Terni, 16 km.

Montegabbione, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fabro (Scalo), 9 km.

Monteleone di Orvieto, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat: it's stretched out on a long ridge.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fabro (Scalo), 9 km.

Monteleone di Spoleto, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The "nearest" stations are at Spoleto, 41 km, and Rieti, 45 km.

Monte S. Maria Tiberina, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Città di Castello, 11 km.

Montone, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Umbertide, 6 km.

Narni, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: in Narni Scalo, 2 very steep km to the old town.

Nocera Umbra, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: The station is over 3 km away; I know of no bus service.

Norcia, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: No service, but good bus service from Spoleto and to Cascia.

Parking: a large lot just outside the main gate.

Orvieto, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find the essential sights: flat.

Train: at the foot of the hill, with very frequent bus and cablecar connections.

Parking: several lots; for the average visit, the simplest by far is to leave the car at the foot of the hill and use the cablecar.

Otricoli, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Civita Castellana, 11 km but not all trains stop. The best station is Narni, 15 km.

Paciano, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Chiusi, 11 km.

Panicale, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steepish.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Castiglione del Lago, 11 km.

Parrano, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fabro (Scalo), 11 km.

Passignano sul Trasimeno, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat except for a very small rocca.

Train: The station is on the outskirts of town.

Penna in Teverina, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Orte, 14 km.

Parking: right in the centre of town, in the courtyard of a Renaissance building.

Perugia, hilltown.

This large city includes lots of hills separated by ravines in the most unexpected places: very difficult to navigate, and the penalty is a fair amount of climbing. Locally flat areas include the centre of town (with the Cathedral and the National Museum of Umbrian Art), and the Borgo XX Giugno that includes S. Domenico, S. Pietro and the Archaeological Museum.

Train: There are several train stations, and two different train companies serving them. Make very sure you know where you're going.

Parking: a nightmare.

Piegaro, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Chiusi, 17 km. Another station at about the same distance at Città della Pieve (Scalo), but not all trains stop there.

Pierantonio, flatland.

The town is as flat as a board.

Train: a station right in town (FCU line).

Parking: Easy.

Pietralunga, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Umbertide, 24 km.

Parking: Easy.

Poggiodomo, in a mountainous area.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: no service. The "nearest" station is in Spoleto, 37 km.

Parking: ample parking on the streets.

Polino, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Terni, 26 km.

Ponte, in a valley.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat to sloping.

Train: no service. The "nearest" station is at Spoleto, 29 km. Fairly frequent buses at Cerreto Borgo (2 km) connect you to the transportation grid.

Parking: easy.

Porano, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Orvieto (Scalo), 7 km.

Preci, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The "nearest" station is in Spoleto, 42 km.

Rocchetta, hilltown.

The town is on two levels, with not much of a climb between them; each is flat or gently sloping.

Train: no service. The "nearest" station is at Spoleto, 33 km. Fairly frequent buses at Cerreto Borgo (7 km) connect you to the transportation grid.

S. Anatolia di Narco, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Spoleto, 23 km.

S. Gemini, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it mostly flat.

Train: the station is 3 km away, no cab or bus service.

S. Giustino, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: a station in town, on the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Perugia to Sansepolcro.

S. Venanzo, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it gently sloping.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Marsciano, 12 km.

Parking: ample parking on the streets.

Scheggia, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fossato di Vico, 18 km.

Scheggino, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Spoleto, 27 km.

Sellano, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Foligno, 33 km.

Sigillo, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Fossato di Vico, 7 km.

Parking: easy, on the street.

Spello, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep. The town is one constant incline on a ridge.

Train: on the outskirts of town, a fairly steep walk of 2 km up to the downtown area; no cabs available.

Parking: The main parking lot is on the outskirts of town, a steep walk of 1 km+ up to the downtown area. There is a much smaller parking lot at the back gate (the Porta Montanara, at the W end, the top the hill), from which the steep walk into town is down rather than up.

Spoleto, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep, and the great sights are widely scattered: among the most beautiful are the medieval aqueduct, the church of S. Pietro, and the churches of S. Salvatore and S. Ponziano — all of them good long walks in various directions. If you see only the Duomo, the Roman theatre, and the Rocca, you haven't seen Spoleto.

Train: The station is on the far outskirts of town, a steep walk of about 3 km to the cathedral. City bus service.

Stroncone, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service, but there is bus service from Terni.

Terni, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: The station is in town, though none too central.

Parking: A large lot at the train station; some street parking.

Todi, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep to very steep. Endless stairs. Worth every minute of it if you can do it.

Train: The station is about 3 km from town: a long and very steep walk. City bus service on more or less connecting schedules.

Parking: A large lot next to the church of S. Maria della Consolazione, and other spaces similarly outside the walls.

Torgiano, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: the station sometimes called "Torgiano" is at S. Martino in Campo, 5 km.

Trestina, flatland.

The town is flat.

Train: station more or less in town, on the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Perugia to Sansepolcro.

Parking: Easy.

Trevi, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it extremely steep, except for the very center of town, which is more or less flat. By good management, that's the part next to the parking lot.

Train: The station is at the edge of town, about 1.5 km from the center — which is one of the steepest climbs in all of Umbria: no place to be dragging suitcases.

Parking: Very convenient road access, with large (free) parking lot at the top of the town right outside the back gate, within 100 meters of the city center, restaurants, etc.

Tuoro sul Trasimeno, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: The station is about 2 km from the town. I saw no evidence of bus or cab service.

Umbertide, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: station in town, on the FCU (privately-owned) railway from Perugia to Sansepolcro.

Parking: In the modern sections of town, ample street parking; a good-sized lot just outside the small medieval core.

Usigni, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat or gently sloping.

Train: no service. The "nearest" station is at Spoleto, 36 km.

Parking: Easy.

Valfabbrica, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it more or less flat.

Train: no service. The nearest station is at Bastia Umbra, 16 km; but a very important train station serving several lines is at Perugia S. Giovanni, 21 km.

Parking: Easy.

Vallo di Nera, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it steep.

Train: no service. The nearest station is in Spoleto, 23 km.

Valtopina, flatland.

Once within the town, you'll find it flat.

Train: The station is very close to the town.

Viepri, hilltown.

Once within the town, you'll find it sloping, sometimes steeply.

Train: no service. The nearest station is on the FCU line, at Todi, about 10 km.

Parking: A large lot at the church of S. Maria, outside the walls. Inside the walls, some spaces.


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Page updated: 24 Feb 11