Growth of tourism in Umbria in 2011

Tourism continues to be one of the leading sectors of the Umbria economy. From January to November 2011, tourism in Umbria has recorded over the same period of 2010, an increase of 7.65% of arrivals and presences of 7.20%.

Overall, arrivals amounted to two million of presences, while the share of attendance affect 5 million of tourists. A great growth, when comparing the figures with those of the past, when the total arrivals was 1 million 942 thousand 578 and the attendance of 5 million 433 thousand 755.

These are the latest data on tourism in Umbria, collected by the Tourist Service of the Region, surfed on the movement (the districts of the provinces of Perugia and Terni) and seasonality. "A positive picture and comforting, especially in times of crisis - says Regional Councillor for Tourism Fabrizio Bracco - who corrects and updates from ISTAT data published yesterday by a newspaper, and in which the figure in 17th place in Umbria ranking among the regions.

Compared to the facilities the most growth in terms of tourists presences was recorded first for farm houses second for hotels in Umbria.

New Year's Day itinerary in Umbria

Have you ever thought of spending a New Year's Day different than usual, perhaps on the road?
Today we propose a route for the 2011 New Year's Eve to the discovery of Umbria with our tips for discovering the best of this region during the transition to the new year.
Sit back, prepare your bags, book countryhouse in Umbria and begin our journey.
It starts from Perugia, the capital city of the region, where between Christmas markets, street performers and many college students can discover the charm of the old town walking through the narrow medieval streets to discover corners very suggestive of a lovely city.
Going up to the high Umbria, Lake Trasimeno are small with its ancient villages where the New Year is colored reflections of the fireworks over the water, these days you have the chance to discover the sounds of one of Gospel's most important festivals in Italy, the Umbria Gospel Festival, which will accompany the transition to the new year with the great artists of the international gospel scene

Going to the south we come to Gubbio, where the New Year is celebrated in the square, the "Piazza Grande in New Year's Eve event ... waiting for the New Year" sponsored by the town of Gubbio offers a program rich with an evening of live music and shows the streets of the old town with the traditional sound of the bell.
We now move to the province of Terni, where the appointments are so many New Year 2012: Umbria Jazz Winter begins with the show of Orvieto with Happy New Year! Funk Off on Stage, the New Year's Day discovering Marmore Waterfalls, the highest waterfall in Europe and the New Year's Day in many villages of Valnerina, where tradition and folklore come together into a spectacular New Year's Day.

The occasions eg spend New Year's Eve 2012 in Umbria are many, and if you have not yet chosen your destination, try searching through the many last minute to stay that offers Umbria.

The Ways of the Nativity in Gubbio

Umbria is a region closely linked to the traditions and during the Christmas holiday many countries in Umbria recall the birth of Jesus through Nativity scenes, real representations of history and Christian tradition.

Among the many nativity scenes of Umbria we recommend you the Nativity of Gubbio, which takes place from 8 December 2011 at 6 January 2012 on the historic district of San Martin, the Christmas crib is set up by life-sized characters that populate the city ​​streets and winding through the narrow medieval streets.

The imagination and the skill of craftsmen and artists give rise to  characters who seem to live with the locals, fell in an almost real busy scenes of everyday life and in the crafts and arts of ancient Gubbio.

For visit Umbria you can book an Hotel in Gubbio

Umbria Jazz at 43° Festival Internacional Jazz Barcelona

From 27 September to 1 December in the 43rd edition of the Barcelona International Jazz Festival Barcelona.

The November 7 to 14 weeks will be dedicated to the Italian Jazz and Umbria Jazz, with a series of concerts and gastronomic events dedicated to Umbria.

On November 7, scheduled Danilo Rea and Flavio Boltro, the trio of Gabriel Mirabassi 8, 9 Gianluca Petrella Guidi and Giovanni, 10 Enrico Rava with his new project Tribe, just out of work for ECM, 11 Paul Fresu in duet with Omar Sosa, 12, a piano solo by Stefano Bollani.

The 14-gourmet food and wine event: the meeting between the Umbrian white truffle and black Catalan.

To book an accomodation in Barcellona: Hotel Barcellona.

Devil in the fresco of Giotto

The 'fresco by Giotto in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is known throughout the world and is one of the most beautiful works of art among those kept in our country. This consideration makes it even more important to the discovery of Chiara Frugoni, a historian, as well as specialist Franciscan. Ascent to heaven in the clouds of St. Francis is the devil's nest.

It 'amazing that a painting that has been there for 800 years and was seen by millions of people from all over the world, as well as by hundreds of scholars is still able to keep secrets. This finding is also changing the holder of a single first, that of the first artist to use the clouds to hide others. The primacy of Mantegna was, but now no doubt be assigned to Giotto. The discovery of the devil in the clouds, in some ways, revolutionized the history of art.

It must be said that in medieval times it was not unusual to think of devils and demons as inhabitants of heaven, from this point of view the representation of Giotto is not at all strange. Scientists now are questioning the motives that led Giotto to hide this element in his fresco for a place of worship, even then, very important.

This discovery adds another reason to question the life and works of a saint among the most popular of all mankind. For the Franciscan fathers is just one more reason to objectify evil in our lives to be able to isolate and avoid. Too bad they can not ask the reason of that Giotto demonic face a few meters from an angel.

The exceptional discovery will push many tourists from all over the world to visit the Umbrian town with a different look to admire the work of Giotto, the happiness of many hotel in Assisi.