AMELIA

Amelia is ancient in origin and lies 80 km north of Rome in southern Umbria, a region that has gained a name for being the green heart of Italy, and also because in the last 30 years the woods in Umbria have become ever more beautiful and more extensive. Tourism is growing sharply because of the unfamiliar harmony between nature, antiquities, historic centres and culture. In the region more and more immigrants from other countries of the European Union are also settling or buying second homes. The quiet of the countryside, good provisions and an inimitable cuisine are the great draw. Rents for houses are low in comparison with Tuscany, also because houses in Umbria on average are smaller than in Tuscany.  

Amelia is gorgeously sited on the rocks. The walls originate from the pre-Etruscan period (700 BC). It forms an ideal starting point for enjoying the peace of the surrounding hill and mountain landscape and on the other hand making at least 40 trips by car to sparkling towns like Todi, Orvieto, Narni, Spoleto, Viterbo (15 to 40 min.) or Perugia, Gubbio, Spello, Assisi, Tuscania and Tarquinia on the coast with a magnificent little museum of Etruscan art and Etruscan tombs with 2,300-year-old frescos (60-75 min.) or somewhat farther north the Etruscan ruins at Volci. You can also easily visit places in the southern part of Tuscany by car such as Siena, San Geminiano, Pienza, Cortona, Senalunga, etc.

Many tourists visit Rome once or more times from Amelia, by car on Sundays and during the week mostly by train from the stations Narni-Amelia or Orte (because of traffic pressure in the week). Then in the more immediate surroundings there are numerous charming little houseges - of medieval origin - which are increasingly being renovated for weekend and summer tourism: San Restituta, Civita di Bagnoreggio, Lugnano, Stroncone, Labro (max. 40 min), Montefranco, Arrone, etc. Hard by also lie the vast ruins of the Roman city of Carsulae.

And we must not forget the mountains with some splendid woods, e.g. Terminillo (up to 2000 metres by car). In 30 to 60 minutes you can also reach the shimmering lakes of Bracciano, Vigo, Piediluco and Bolsena as well as Trasimeno with boat trips on these last 2 lakes to the islands. There is a little lake among the rocks under the city walls of Amelia where you can stroll, and tennis courts can be reached within a few minutes. There are various public swimming baths in Amelia and the surrounding municipalities. From the point of view of accessibility of sites of interest Amelia is so centrally situated that the town is optimum for a holiday of a few weeks. Nearly everywhere in summer you can combine a car trip with a dip in the swimming pool. On the longer journeys also with a dip in one of the lakes (Bolsena and Trasimeno) or in the sea.

CASA DI MARTA