Umbria, Dante’s Paradise: presentation of a new regional thematic tourism itinerary

19/05/2021 - Press conference to present a regional touristic itinerary dedicated to the traces of the Supreme Poet in Umbria

Umbria is the first Italian region to present a unitary project on the cultural heritage of Dante in its territory.

The objective of ‘Umbria, Dante’s Paradise’, is to create a regional itinerary, called the Way of Dante in Umbria, which enhances and promotes traces of Dante and related initiatives around Umbria. The Association of Operators of the Park of Monte Cucco has created the project, presented by its president Francesca Fantozzi during a press conference, aimed at creating a network of places that are relevant and named in the Divine Comedy or have characteristics and works related to the Supreme Poet, for the celebrations of the 700^th anniversary of his death. To date, 28 Umbrian municipalities and their territories have joined the project.

Speaking at the press conference, Sviluppumbria’s president Michela Sciurpa observed that the Umbria Region, through its operational arm Sviluppumbria, "is paying close attention to the theme of itineraries, including as a tourism product. It is essential for our region to work as a team with municipalities and associations.”

Paolo Piacentini, an expert on walking itineraries for the Ministry of Culture, also spoke, and conveyed the greetings of Minister Dario Franceschini who, he notes, "cares deeply about the initiatives of Dante and the paths related to Dante", not only this one but also those of the Cammino di Dante Ravenna-Florence and the Cammino di Dante in Casentino. In a vision of future development, to increasingly promote cultural aspects and the growing trend of slow tourism, this initiative aims to eventually join the 'Way of Dante in Umbria' to that of Ravenna-Florence and Casentino (which already cross the St. Francis Way, La Verna, and other paths of interest to Umbria).

The project also foresees that the paths are structured in rings to allow tourists to savour each territory with more tranquillity and without rushing, "as opposed to routes that usually foresee only one passage", as Fantozzi explained. In collaboration with Identità Terra (a communication and services agency and tour operator), a web portal and packages are already being created to involve accommodation facilities, artisanal businesses and local producers as well as tourism services. "The goal,” continued Fantozzi, “is to create a new regional thematic experiential product that offers personalized vacations with a full range of services."

Taking part are the municipalities of Acquasparta, Assisi, Bastia Umbra, Bevagna, Castiglione del Lago, Citerna, Città di Castello, Costacciaro, Fossato di Vico, Foligno, Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio, Magione, Montefalco, Norcia, Nocera Umbra, Orvieto, Pietralunga, Preci, Perugia, Spoleto, Sigillo, Scheggia e Pascelupo, Terni, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Torgiano, Todi, and Valfabbrica. Participating associations, other than the Operators of Monte Cucco Park, are Tourist Guides of Umbria, Tramontana, Suoni controvento, Cai of Perugia, Astronomica Umbra, Proloco of Sigillo Costacciaro Scheggia e Pascelupo, Col di Peccio, Ad Ensem, and FAITA Confcommercio. The initiatives are in collaboration with AIRC.