In the silent heart of the Umbrian greenery, halfway between Florence and Rome and only a few kilometers from cities rich in art and folklore, such as Assisi, Perugia, Todi and Spoleto, in a splendid natural area rich in local plants and animals, the Nature Reserve of Torre Burchio is located.
The nearest town to this little paradise is Bettona: this town is without a doubt one of the most interesting historic and artistic sites of Umbria. Its imposing Etruscan walls, perfectly conserved and endowed with towers and drawbridges, enclose an group of buildings from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, harmoniously distributed and of fine construction.

The Biancalana and Baglioni Palaces, the Communal Palace and the Palace of the Podestà are of exceptional beauty and importance. Within the latter the Communal Art Gallery is located. This is one of the most important museums of the region, housing works by major Medieval and Renaissance artists like Perugino, Fiorenzo di Lorenzo and Dono Doni.

The churches of S. Maria Maggiore and S. Crispolto, the oratory of S. Andrea and the ex-convent of S. Antonio Abate also contain numerous works by the same artists, thus adding to the value of their already notable architectural beauty.
Bettona stands atop a hill that dominates the fertile plain surrounding it and from which the green valleys of the Tevere and its major tributaries are entirely visible, so that one can clearly admire the cities and villages that populate and dominate these valleys: Assisi, Spello, Torgiano, Bevagna, Perugia.
The Bettona hill divides the plane of the Umbrian capital from the low chain of the Martani Mountains facing it. Advancing towards these mountains one immediately encounters a vast vegetation of trees of tall and medium height, typical of the Mediterranean forest, and rich in wildlife. On the other side, descending towards the plain, one encounters the villages of Colle and Passaggio; within their confines one can admire other splendid and interesting buildings, such as the Etruscan Ipogeo (second century A.D.), the tall Tower of the Molinaccio, the imposing Villa of the Boccaglione, and many ancient churches and convents.

Torgiano, on the road to Perugia (about 6 kilometers from Bettona and 14 kilometers from the capital), is a medieval city, as one can see from the remains of the ancient walls and the imposing Guard Tower, which stands apart from the city itself. Torgiano is known above all, however, for its wine production, to which a museum has been dedicated.

Not far from Torgiano and still on the E45, we find Deruta, a center of ceramics production. For centuries this city has been known in fact for its production of prestigious and artistic majolica, hand-decorated by expert artisans. One should visit the various artisans’ studios, as well as the interesting collection in the Regional Ceramics Museum of Deruta, in the convent of S. Francesco (in whose church important works are conserved, including a painting by Fiorenzo di Lorenzo).

Next...