Guide to San Benedetto

"Sunny mornings exploring quaint old towns. Lazy afternoons picnicking in the Italian countryside. It's time you surrendered to Umbria's simple charms."

Blink and you might miss San Benedetto. It's one of those places you won't find flagged up on many maps, a little patch of countryside sprinkled with just a handful of houses. But herein lies its appeal. It's pretty, it's peaceful and it's deliciously unspoilt. And then there's the location. Sometimes places like this have remained untouched simply because they're too tucked away for man or beast to ever find them. But not San Benedetto. Hop in a car and within 5 minutes you'll be at the handsome town of Umbertide, where you'll find shops, cafes and a few good restaurants nestled between a collection of higgledy piggledy old churches. Or make the 10 minute trip to Montone, a gorgeous Medieval village set high up on a hill. Here, soak up magical views of the Upper Tiber Valley and save a little time for the Gothic church of San Francesco, where valuable works of art by Bartolomeo Caporali await. Of course, this captivating region offers up plenty of great opportunities for walking. On the banks of the Tiber, 4km northwest of Montone, you'll find the impressive Byzantine fortress, Rocca d'Aries. These days it's a venue for concerts and exhibitions, but it's loved first and foremost for its sweeping views across the Valle del Carpina. Around San Benedetto itself, there are plenty of places to wander. Simply throw together a picnic of juicy sun-blushed tomatoes, soft mozzarella and oven-fresh bread and set off for an al fresco lunch in the Italian countryside. What could be nicer?

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