IntroductionThis superlatively precious town of about 5700 inhabitants sits on a beautiful hilly landscape together with many other villages in an area called “ The Balcony of Umbria” for from its position the sweeping view it affords is just magnificent. Montefalco is the central town of the
Strada di Sagrantino, the wine road that sweeps across fields blanketed with vineyards, golden sunflowers and five enchanting fairy tale villages. The road is signposted and accessible by car or bike and the tourist offices in the area offers brochures for wine connoisseurs and aficionados alike relish its beauty. Brochures include information about accommodation, routes, vineyards, restaurants, history and wine tasting places. Around the
Piazza del Comune are excellent enoteches, restaurants devoted to wine tasting. Vineyards in Tuscany can be visited by travellers and wine aficionados or experts; however, Umbrian vineyards only open their gates to public the last Sunday of May. For those wishing to taste Umbrian wines Cantina Aperte is the moment. Year round the only chance to sample this region’s wine is in
enoteche. A world famous vineyard is Arnaldo Capral in Torre di Montefalco which unlike other Umbrian vineyards has a tasting room available regularly. Its wines are exported and have a reputation worldwide in all continents. Another vineyard to try Umbrian wine is between Bevagna and Foligno in Paolo Bea, a family run business creating four wines, to which you can add a visit to the vineyards, tasting their olive oil, the typical bruschetta…and to please all senses a musician strumming an harp.
The
Museo Civico San Francesco is the most remarkable construction in town situated next to the deconsecrated church of Saint Francis, where there is fresco created by the Umbrian Benozzo Gozzoli, a kind of avant garde painter of the 15th century as he introduced perspective for human figures. Its picture gallery has a collection of medieval tools from a vineyard.
Where to EatHotel Ristorante Ringhiera Umbra will not you down for its excellent dishes, warm atmosphere and good rates. Its
strangozzi with ruffles and Sagrantino sauce is delectable.
How to Get to/away
BY BUS: from Montefalco to Foligno (length: 30 minutes, services: eight a day), to Perugia (length: 1 hour, services: 3 a day). Bevagna to Montefalco and vice versa (length: 20-40 minutes, services: 5 a day).
