Christmas and Winter Music in Umbria
Umbria, despite its small size and rural feel, is home to a surprising number of world class music festivals during the year. Most are held in summer, when piazze and parks across the region host outdoor concerts, but there is plenty going on during the Christmas season to keep any music aficionado happy. Most towns organize a holiday concert of carols and classical pieces during the holidays, most often in the cathedral or duomo. Each local tourist information office has updated schedules; in Perugia the Amici della Musica foundation organizes the traditional annual concert at the breathtaking Basilica di San Pietro (the richly decorated interior is as much a feast for the eyes as the music is for the ears).
If you are looking for something a little more offbeat, head to Orvieto for the winter edition of the world famous Umbria Jazz festival where concerts, dinners, and wine tastings all swing with some of the best contemporary jazz musicians around. Otherwise, for spiritual music that doesn't smack of the Christmas carol, try the Soul Christmas: Umbria Gospel Festival organized in the small towns around Lake Trasimeno.
Art in Umbria
Perugia aspires to become a European Capital of Culture in 2019, and the quality of the art exhibitions staged in the galleries of her principal art museum, La Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, in recent years is testimony to the growing effort of both the city and the entire region to cement its standing as a contender in the fine arts. When the winter wind forces you indoors, pop in at this lovely museum to warm yourself while enjoying both the permanent collection and temporary shows.
If your aesthetics run to the future rather than the past, Umbria has a surprisingly vital contemporary art scene. Two new contemporary art museums have opened in 2010: the CIAC Museum in Foligno and the renovated Museo Carandente (part of the Palazzo Collicola Arti Visive complex) in Spoleto, both of which have both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Even if you came to Umbria to revel in its Old World Christmas atmosphere, its always fun to take a peek at what the future may look like!
Christmas in Umbria from Rebecca Winke:
- Where to See Christmas Creches and Nativity Scenes in Umbria
- Christmas Markets and Artisan Shopping in Umbria
- Christmas in Umbria on Dream of Italy
Brigolante Guest Apartments
Christmas in Umbria was contributed by Rebecca Winke, who with her Italian husband owns Brigolante Guest Apartments. The three self-catering vacation apartments offer an agriturismo experience in a restored 16th century farm house in the foothills of Mount Subasio near Assisi.
Umbria Travel App
If you have an iPad, iPhone or similar, you can find more tips about visiting Umbria from Rebecca Winke in her app, written with Alex Leviton, Umbria Slow: Food, Culture, Travel.
