Walking on Water
Sep | 27
The normal venue for Professor Cynthia Clough’s weekend hikes are sides of mountains. Clough, who lives in Spoleto and teaches Creative Writing at the Umbra Institute, leads frequent hikes in the valley that runs between Perugia and Spoleto. This past weekend, however, she changed... Read MoreLooking to Get Lost…
Sep | 25
Last weekend students Katy Branston, Erica Mouch, and Liz Olszewski lost themselves in the beauty of the Umbrian countryside. Literally! Rising early Friday morning, these connoisseurs of unconventional travel walked into "Ciclismo Sport", rented three bikes, and peddled away with... Read MoreExploring the Bay of Naples
Sep | 24
This weekend was the first of two optional Umbra trips this semester. Students spent three days touring Amalfi coast from visiting the ruins of Pompeii and basking in the sun on the isle of Capri to enjoying pizza from the very place it... Read MoreIn the Kitchen with Umbra!
Sep | 24
Last Thursday marked the second installment of In the Kitchen with Umbra. Professional chef, and part-time resident of Perugia, Christine Hickman, was on hand to teach students the art of gnocchi making. Students prepared the gnocchi from scatch along with... Read More
Wine Tasting in Good Company
Sep | 20
Monday night students gathered at Enone, a posh local restaurant and wine bar, for Umbra’s first evening of wine tasting for the semester. Silvia Bartolini, a professional sommelier, taught students the basics when it comes to the art of enjoying... Read MoreThe Garden of Eden
Sep | 19
The Etruscans who built the massive city walls here in Perugia several thousand years ago used no mortar between the blocks of Travertine that they built with. Each block was painstakingly carved to fit tightly against its neighbors, and as... Read More