If you're looking to get well off the beaten track in central Italy, then Stroncone in the province of Terni is as good a place as any. For a town that has been inhabited since Roman times, and which still preserves its medieval walled structure, it is surprising Stroncone is so way off the tourist map.

In fact, we had to pull out all we had on Umbria before we found one small paragraph mentioning the town. Apart from what we have just said, Stroncone overlooks the 'conca Ternana' and must have provided a strategic forward point for the larger Terni.

Delicious Italy visited Stroncone on what can only be described as the worst day of the year. It was the first week of March on a windy, rainy, freezing afternoon as dusk arrived. It was so cold, we decided not to visit the fabulous Marmore waterfall, the main reason for making the trip to the zone. We left it for a later barmy summer's day.

The House of Hospitality of Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria is run by a religious fraternity member of the Institute of Piccola Fraternità Francescana di Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria.

As well as a place to stay in the town, it is of incredible historical interest, not least as it is located in the centre of Assisi, very close to the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the Municipal Square.

More specifically it is in Piazza del Vescovado where Saint Francis famously rejected his privileged merchant upbringing by returning his fine clothes to his father to then embark on his religious calling.

For us, Gubbio is very much the iron fist inside Umbria's velvet glove. If you like suits of armour, maces and two handed swords, then this is the place for you.

Old Iguvium sits looking down the wide valley and ever since the Eugubini created their '7 bronze tables' in the 300BC, depicting life at the time, the town has retained an architectural and cultural style. The tables were found in 1444 in the area where the original Umbrian population lived and where the historical center is now located.

Interestingly, the Romans preferred the open land of the valley. Look out or the well preserved ampitheater and Mausoleum of Pomponio Grecino in the fields.

The Spoleto Festival is officially called the Festival dei Due Mondi or 'Two Worlds'. It was founded in 1958 by Gian Carlo Mennotti and still has the objective of encouraging cultural exchanges through art and music.

Pietro Vannucci was a renaissance artist whose life and work were based in Umbria, especially the towns of Città della Pieve (his birthplace), Perugia (his adultlife) and Fontignano (his last years). He was born in 1450, son of a priest. In his early twenties he picked up the nickname 'Il Perugino' which was given to him by his contemporaries in Florence under whose rule Perugia fell.

The town of Amelia was founded by the Umbrian-Italic tribesmen and sits on a hill still protected by some of the old polygonal walls from 1134 BC. It was nicknamed 'The Byzantium Passage' as it was on the alternative route to the south when the Via Flaminia was controlled by the Longobards.

Perugia is perhaps best known for the annual events of Eurochocolate and Umbria Jazz held respectively in October and July. With the city airport now connected to the low cost flight hubs, there is no excuse to not find out more about the regional capital of Umbria.

Just under 50km from Perugia, Montone sits perched on two hilltops in the upper Tiber valley. With its antique gates and powerful medieval walls this place was built to be defended.

The impressive view of the nearby Mount Catria and Mount Nerone is not there by chance as the town rose in the IX century following Charlemagne's victory of the Longobards.

Assisi in central Umbria is truly a special place and the tranquil atmosphere of the town relaxes everyone. It is really easy to get there by train. Once at the station just wait for the shuttle bus to take you to the old medieval gates.

The birthplace of Saint Francis was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2000, just after the major earthquake made serious ruins of several medieval masterpieces.

Painstakingly pieced back together, much is now as it was before. Although who saw them before the disaster can only leave with a sense of loss.

Unlike Bracciano and Bolsena in north Lazio, the third of Italy's great central lakes, Lake Trasimeno, is not of volcanic origin. Perhaps for this reason the depth of the water never surpasses six meters.

Yet, it is huge, some 128 square kilometers and surrounded by soft valleys and sweeter hills where vineyards alternate with sunflower fields and olive trees.

Orvieto is perched on a 300 sq. meter lump of tufa rock between the rivers Paglia and Chiani Urbs Vetus in Umbria and was perhaps the most important of all the Etruscan settlements.

All roads may lead to Rome, but the medieval hill top town of Todi is uncannily 40 kilometers from each of Spoleto, Terni, Assisi, Perugia and Orvieto.

Todi has also been classified as the 'città ideale', or ideal town, by a group of American researchers who were looking to find an urban center ideal for the social demands of the near future.

The city of Terni can be described as the 'Italian Capital of Industrial Archaeology'. This can be taken as a grim warning or an invitation to discover an alternative to the ubiquitous wine and olive oil routes.

Corciano is your classic central Italian medieval town. It sits on a hill, is surrounded by a city wall (two in fact) and is full of priceless works of art and architecture.

Visitors should make sure they get a photo of the iron cage swinging over the main town gate which once housed petty thieves for all to see and insult.

The Valnerina is one of the Appennine's most beautiful valleys. It's harsh, narrow, dotted with castles, bridges, forts and monasteries and was a tough one for travellers until very recently.

Umbertide in north Umbria, is less than 40 km from Gubbio, Perugia, Sansepolcro, Cortona and Lake Trasimeno. So Umbertide might make a good family holday base to see them all.

Here are two itineraries to get you off the beaten olive oil track around Spoleto. Rather than heading along the valley floor to Trevi and Assisi, look up to the hills and climb to 1000 meters above sea level to visit lost abbeys and little visited castles.

The Cantico Wine Route or 'Strada dei Vini del Cantico' is a spectacular itinerary taking the traveller past medieval hamlets, castles, abbeys, and churches.

It could be described as a spiritual journey as the route was inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi following his ode to nature 'Cantico delle Creature'.

La Strada del Sagrantino is the advised route for discovering the Sagrantino wine of Umbria. It is possible to tour the zone of Montefalco and Bevagna tasting the Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco wines on the way, as well as purchasing fine olive oil directly from the producers.

There are 4 wine routes in Umbria. They are the 'Strada del Vino dei Colli del Trasimeno', the 'Strada dei Vini del Cantico', the 'Strada dei Vini Etrusco Romana' and the 'Strada del Sagrantino'.

Walking holidays in Italy, and particularly those which follow the old medieval pilgrim routes are becoming increasingly popular. The tourism authorities have picked up on this underdeveloped resource and funds, both from Italy and the EU, are being made available.

If you are looking for demanding bike or cycle itineraries in Italy at any time of the year, then why not try one of the stages of the recent Giro d'Italia race.

If you are on a short break to Perugia, then a short walking tour of the city is always a good idea to get your bearings. The city tourism office recommends five walking tour itineraries of Perugia to ensure a full visit to the splendid capital of Umbria.