Central Italy: Umbria and Lazio

The landlocked region of Umbria is named after the Umbrii, described by Pliny, the Roman naturalist, as the most ancient tribe of Italy, predating the Etruscans who founded the town of Perugia and Orvieto. The Etruscans later founded powerful city states here, before being succeeded by the Romans, whose rule ended in the 5th and 6th centuries when fortified towns were built in response to invasions by "barbarians". The region is one of Italy's most beautiful with unspoilt medieval towns.

Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi (born in 1182), the founder of the Franciscan order. After his death in 1226 the beautiful basilica was built in his honour, decorated by wonderful frescoes by Renaissance painters. One of St, Francis' disciples was St. Clare, who founded the Order of the Poor Clares, the female order of the Franciscans. The town is an absolute gem, drawing millions of tourists and pilgrims; although recently the basilica was severely damaged by an earthquake, it has been restored.

Perugia is one of the best preserved medieval hill towns of Italy, one of the Etruscans' twelve powerful city states in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. The Romans conquered it in 310 BC and called it Perusia. It had a violent history, both because of internal feuds and wars with neighbouring city states. It was the birthplace of the Flagellants, a 13 th century Christian sect that practised whipping themselves to pay for their sins. It became part of the Papal States in 1538.

Tarquinia, founded in the 12th Century BC and home of the Etruscan kings who ruled Rome before the republic was created, is located in the region of Lazio, (or Latium), near Rome. It was probably founded in the 12th Century BC and became an important economic and political centre of the Etruscan League. Tarquinia has a great number of tombs in a necropolis (burial grounds), many richly decorated with frescoes.

	View of Assisi	Street in Assisi	Assisi	St. Peter church
	Basilica of St. Francis	Street corner, Assisi	View of Perugia	Narrow street, Perugia
	Near Tarquinia	Etruscan tomb	Etruscan painting	Etruscan sarcophagus

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