Umbria or Tuscany? Why choose this Italy’s hidden gem

When most people dream of the Italian countryside, the question often becomes: Umbria or Tuscany?

Images of green rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and rustic villas usually point straight to Tuscany. It’s a name that evokes wine, romance, and Under the Tuscan Sun daydreams. But what if we told you that just next door lies a lesser-known region that offers all this, and perhaps even more?

We are speaking about Umbria, often described as “The Green Heart of Italy”.

If you can’t decide between visiting Tuscany or exploring an equally beautiful part of hidden Italy, keep reading. This guide will help you discover why Umbria might just be the Italy you didn’t know you were looking for.

Similarities: What Tuscany and Umbria Have in Common

Let’s start with why this comparison even makes sense. Tuscany and Umbria are geographic neighbors, and remarkably similar under many aspects; both regions are:

• Visually stunning: Green rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards, medieval hill towns: they share the same iconic Italian countryside look;
  
  
• Culinary powerhouses: Think truffle-laced dishes, handmade pasta, delicious cured meats and full-bodied red wines;
  
  
• Rich in culture and Traditions: From Renaissance art to ancient Etruscan roots, both regions are steeped in history;
  
  
• Perfect for slow travel: Whether you’re renting a villa or exploring on foot, both regions invite you to slow down and savor the Italian Dream. 

But while you scratch the surface you’ll find out about their differences too, and you’ll realize that Umbria has a character all its own.

Differences: Why Umbria Might Be the Best Choice

Fewer Tourists, More Authenticity

Unlike Tuscany, which is firmly on the tourist trail, Umbria still feels like Italy’s well-kept secret. Wander through towns like Bevagna, Spoleto, Spello, or Gubbio and you’ll mostly encounter locals going about their day. The streets aren’t crowded with souvenir shops or tour groups. Instead, you get a genuine taste of Italian life, with quiet piazzas, friendly café owners, and long, lingering dinners under the stars. It's an experience rooted in connection and authenticity, not curated for mass tourism.

More Affordable Travel

Traveling in Umbria often means getting more for less. Accommodations, meals, guided tours, and even wine tastings tend to be significantly less expensive than their Tuscan counterparts. This makes Umbria ideal for travelers who want to indulge in the Italian lifestyle. Umbria offers beautiful agriturismi, local cuisine, adventurous activites and wine & olive oil tastings, all without blowing their budget. It’s luxury with heart and passion, not hype.

Unspoiled, Wild Nature

While Tuscany’s landscape is carefully cultivated and famously picturesque, Umbria’s appeal lies in its raw natural beauty. The region is greener, hillier, and more diverse. In fact, in Umbria you can enjoy dense forests and misty valleys as well as dramatic peaks like those around Norcia and the Sibillini Mountains. But the natural wonders don’t end there: you’ll also find medieval hilltop villages, cascading waterfalls, tranquil lakes, and vibrant cities like Perugia and Foligno, all within a relatively compact area. 

Outdoor lovers will find countless trails for hiking and biking, while the more adventorous can enjoy rafting, paragliding and even a tibetan bridge. 

Culture seekers can wander through cobbled streets, discover ancient churches, and stumble upon local festivals in towns seemingly untouched by time. It’s the perfect region for travellers craving open space, soulful silence, and rich, authentic experiences.

Still Undiscovered

There’s something powerful about going where few others do. While Tuscany has been immortalized in films and guidebooks, Umbria remains refreshingly under the radar. You won’t find long lines to see famous landmarks or restaurants catering only to tourists. Instead, you’ll discover places that feel untouched, even timeless. You will be able to closely see and touch the Italian way of life and you’ll explore towns where church bells still mark the rhythm of daily life, and traditions are passed down without performance. 

In Umbria, you’ll find Italy before the crowds and mass-tourism. 

Experiences You’ll Only Find in Umbria

If you’re the kind of traveler who seeks moments that feel real and rare, Umbria delivers them in spades.

• Hunt for truffles in Norcia, one of the few places in the world where black truffles grow in abundance. Many local families open their homes to visitors for a foraging adventure hunting for truffles followed by a home-cooked meal you’ll never forget.
  
  
• Taste some Umbrian olive oil straight from the source. In Umbria, olive oil it’s a way of life. Many family-run frantoi (olive mills) open their doors to visitors for guided tours through ancient groves, tastings of freshly pressed extra virgin oil, and even hands-on experiences during the autumn harvest (October/early November). It’s a chance to learn about centuries-old traditions and savor the deep, peppery flavor that makes Umbrian olive oil one of Italy’s best culinary secrets.
  
  
• Savor the flavors of Perugia, where chocolate is rooted in tradition. Home to the famous Baci Perugina and the Eurochocolate Festival, this historic city blends sweet indulgence with Etruscan mystique.
  
  
• Feel the force of nature at the Marmore Waterfalls, a 165-meter manmade cascade originally engineered by the Romans. Set within a lush park, it’s ideal for a hike or picnic.
  
  
• Drift across Lake Trasimeno on a quiet afternoon, with only birdsong and the ripple of water as company. Stop in lakeside villages like Castiglione del Lago for wine and lake fish fresh off the boat.
  
  
• Join in authentic local festivals, from ancient medieval reenactments in Gubbio to olive harvest celebrations and jazz concerts under the stars.
  
  

These aren't staged tourist attractions, they’re rather part of everyday life in Umbria that is open to visitors too. And you're invited.

Before You Book Your Tuscan Villa…Think about Umbria

Take a moment to consider what’s waiting just across the regional border, far from the crowds. Umbria offers the same beauty and flavor of central Italy, but with fewer people, more surprises, and an authenticity that’s getting harder to find.

Whether it’s your first time in Italy or your tenth, don’t overlook the magic of this Italy’s hidden gem. Next time you’re wandering “Tuscany or Umbria?”, try and give a chance to Umbria, and you might just fall in love with a side of Italy most travelers never see.

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