The Umbria: Italy's Timeless Heart (Hardcover)

by Paul Hofmann (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Italy's well-known and loved travel writer shares the secrets of his favorite province.

Nothing is more authentically italian than the mountains and valleys of gentle Umbria, where the olive groves and vineyards, like the ancient hill towns that populate the region, remain almost entirely undisturbed. These restful landscapes, less publicized than those of neighboring Tuscany, enfold impressive Etruscan and Roman ruins, medieval castles, grand cathedrals and palaces, and outstanding art such as Giotto's frescoes in Assisi, paintings by Perugino, who was Raphael's teacher, and other native masterwork. Paul Hofmann, whose most recent travel guide was hailed as "an indispensable book, a book to cherish" (The New Yorker), knows Umbria intimately. After four decades of visits and sojourns, he has produced this volume, rich with personal and historical anecdotes, profiling its cities and towns, villages and natural sights. Though the farthest reaches of Umbria are only a three-hour train or car trip from Rome, many of its hidden spots are unfamiliar even to Italians in neighboring provinces. Hofmann's affection for the region is infectious, his insight unparalleled, and in his able hands, its simple joys--twisting country roads, robust wines, hearty food--unfold for the visitor.

About the Author
Paul Hofmann was for many years chief of the New York Times bureau in Rome. He is the author of many books, including the highly acclaimed Cento Citto, That Fine Italian Hand, and The Seasons of Rome. Paul Hofmann lives in Rome.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080504678X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805046786
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,031,967 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #56 in	Books > Travel > Europe > Italy > Umbria
  #57 in	Books > Travel > Europe > San Marino & Umbria

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not up to old standards, September 4, 1999

By	Jan Brewton (Folly Beach, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

For those who read THE SEASONS OF ROME and enjoyed it, as I did, UMBRIA will most likely be a disappointment. If you enjoy travelogues then you may yet like this book. I, on the other hand, do not care where every little painting of the Madonna resides, or where St. Francis spent every night when he was outside his normal abode, ad nauseum. The author writes as if those who read his pennings are completely clueless as to current events (i.e. the earthquake which destroyed many historic sites) and then goes on to leave out much of what it was that made the headlines! In summary, not worth the bother, frankly.