About the Areas
Central Italy is without doubt one of the most naturally beautiful areas of Europe and has long been a firm favourite with travellers from all over the world. When you add to this great natural beauty a mediterranean climate, superb cuisine, amazing art cities and a wealth of historical treasures dating from Etruscan times, it is easy to understand why so many people choose Italy for their second home purchase. Italian Heartland offers a variety of properties for sale in three of the most popular regions of central Italy.
The Tuscia (north-west Lazio)
The Tuscia historically was the southern-most part of Etruria, the ancient land inhabited by the Etruscans. Today it equates to the Lazio province of Viterbo and is situated just north of Rome bordering with Tuscany to the north and Umbria to the east. An area of outstanding natural beauty, it has remained relatively undiscovered by mass-tourism but is now proving extremely popular with foreign house purchasers due to its easy access to Rome's international airports (1-2 hours' drive) and relatively low property prices compared to Tuscany.
The main towns of touristic interest are Viterbo, Tuscania, Tarquinia, Montefiascone and Bolsena which have museums and vestiges of the Etruscan and Roman civilizations, but many small villages of medieval origins offer beautiful centres with all facilities for home purchasers. The countryside is characterized by rolling hills of olive groves and vineyards cut by steeply wooded river gorges. Driving in the area is a joy as the roads are good and there is very little traffic. The economy is rural with virtually no industry and the typical local produce is olive oil, pecorino cheese and wine. The province is bordered to the west by the Tyrrhenian coast and inland are the stunningly beautiful volcanic lakes of Bolsena and Vico, which both offer bathing beaches and water sports.
Western Umbria
Umbria is often referred to as the green heart of Italy and for a very good reason: the whole region is made up of the high mountains of the Appennini range with their steep hill-sides covered in rich green vegetation. The Tiber river cuts through the area and is dammed in several places to form small lakes to generate hydroelectric power. The western part of the region is easily accessible to Rome and offers amazing cities such as Orvieto, Todi, Perugia and many more. The A1 motorway from Rome to Florence to the west of the region forms the border with Lazio and Tuscany and the E45 highway runs through the centre of the region giving easy access to all the main towns to the east such as Spoleto and Assisi. The economy is based on farming and tourism and the area is famous for its cuisine, especially the truffle which is used in many of the regional dishes.
Southern Tuscany
Ask anyone what they know of Italy and they will probably talk of Tuscany. A favourite destination of overseas travellers for more than a century, the cities of the region need no introduction. Florence, Arezzo, Siena, Pisa are on every tourist's itinerary. To the south of Siena reaching to the Lazio border, is the lesser known area of the Val d'Orcia and Val di Paglia, which is rapidly winning the hearts of all who visit. The hillsides overlooking the wide valleys are dotted with little gems such as Montalcino, Pienza, Bagni Vignoni and San Casciano dei Bagni. This is the route of the ancient Via Francigina, the path the pilgrims took in ancient times to get to Rome. Along the way they rested and refreshed at the many natural springs and the waters are still enjoyed to this day. The famous Brunello wine of Montalcino is enjoyed throughout the world and Pienza has become known as a centre for pecorino cheese.
Further west, the slopes of Monte Amiata (winter skiing) and the valley of the Fiora river are a more remote area of enormous beauty. The land falls away slowly until it reaches the coastal strip of the Tuscan Maremma, south of Livorno. There are some stunning towns and villages such as Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana and the thermal town of Saturnia and of course, the beautiful beaches of the southern Tuscan coast.