Today we set out for a village perched on a hilltop in central Umbria, celebrated for one of the region’s most beautiful medieval piazzas, perfectly framed by its cathedral and historic civic buildings. Just beyond the centre stands a remarkable Renaissance church, often recognised as an architectural masterpiece. Here, you may choose to linger on the town’s edge balconies, taking in the sweeping views, or lose yourself in the laneways lined with eclectic little stores, before we gather for lunch at a restaurant run by two sisters whose lively personalities are matched only by the dishes they create, using ingredients sourced from the surrounding farms of their tiny village.
In the afternoon, we travel on to Deruta, a town renowned for its ceramics and the art of maiolica since the 13th century. Shelves brimming with colour and intricate design reveal the skill of artisans whose techniques have been passed down through generations. We step into a working ceramic studio, where clay slabs, scattered remnants, and a turning lathe set the scene for your own hands-on experience. Guided by a generational artisan, you’ll shape your own ceramic piece to take home, learning the craft while hearing the stories that have kept it alive for centuries.
Returning home in the early evening, there is time to refresh at your leisure before we come together once more for a sunset dinner at our 17th-century home.
