Some Umbrians will tell you that it’s no coincidence that the region’s name sounds so familiar to the Italian word ombra, or shadow, so long has it found itself overshadowed by its more celebrated neighbour Tuscany. Yet Umbria’s relative tranquillity, far from the madding crowds of all those Tuscan tourist traps, is one of its big advantages.

Known as the green heart of Italy, thanks both to its numerous national parks and lush valleys cut through the landscape by the River Tiber as it makes its way out to sea, and to its geographical position at the centre of the country.

It’s a heart that’s beating increasingly fast when it comes to property values. A 2011 extension to Perugia’s San Francesco d'Assisi airport saw it upgrade from a national to an international air travel hub, which in turn has seen better transport links and an additional impetus for property prices, rising an average 10 per cent a year since the early 1990s.

Climate

With the Apennines perched on its eastern border, Umbria’s weather is heavily influenced by its landlocked setting. July and August are the hottest months, with typical maximum temperatures of around 29°C and 30°C and 10 hours a day of bright sunshine. However, December to February can see temperatures drop to freezing and snow in mountainous areas.

This scenic, unspoilt region is best explored on foot. St Francis of Assisi famously did just that in 1206, when he walked from Assisi to Gubbio, 25 miles to the north. Many present-day visitors make good use of the numerous hiking trails, one of the most well-trodden being a two-day walk that recreates St Francis's epic journey. For those who prefer a more leisurely way of taking in the sights, Umbria's beauty can be appreciated just as well by car.

Perugia, the capital

This is a region of hilltop towns, rather than sprawling cities. The best place to start is Perugia, Umbria’s capital, sitting bang in the middle of the region and home to just 149,000 people, despite its size and status.

Among its many attractions is the Temple of Sant'Angelo, a 15OO-year-old round church made in part from Roman ruins, and San Pietro, a medieval church with walls adorned with paintings and frescoes. There is also a series of escalators leading up a steep hill and passing through an Etruscan fort.

Perugia, one of the most famous Italian university cities for foreigners, and with one of the oldest universities in Italy, dating back to 14^th century, offers variety of courses in all fields of education to circa 23,000 students, boasting several centres of excellence.  Famous for its annual music festivals, including its celebrated Umbria Jazz Festival (taking place in July, everyone from James Brown to Elton John has made an appearance) and the October’s Eurochocolate festival, no wonder many young people decide to study in this charming people-size city.

For something more highbrow – and less fattening – there’s the National Gallery, home to some wonderful Renaissance works by Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca and a host of Umbrian masters, including Benedetto Bonfigli, Perugino and Pintoricchio.

An hour’s drive or so the northwest, lies Tuoro sul Trasimeno, overlooking Lake Trasimeno. It was founded on the site of a 217BC battle between Hannibal and the Roman army. As well as the tranquil lake views, it’s also worth taking a look at the 12th-century San Salvatore church and the Castle of Mont Gualandro.

Leaving Tuoro and working your way clockwise around Umbria, you come to the town of Gubbio, some 40 miles away. lt boasts an impressive first-century BC Roman amphitheatre and is one of Italy’s best preserved medieval towns.