Author: Ellen Kramer

My time in this Italian region during my Teach in a Homestay program was one of generous hospitality and new cherished friendships, leaving me with the desire to return to explore and experience more of what Perugia and Umbrian region have to offer.

Disclaimer: I urge you to read on; however, up front I apologize for my  flowery, romantic  ramblings. You cannot help but be caught up in the ‘ Love is in the air’ mentality as you dreamily watch passer buys slurp their gelatos while avoiding  scooters skilfully traversing  narrow alleyways and steep inclines. In fact  I would go as far as challenging anyone visiting Perugia (commonly referred to “Green Heart of Umbria”) to not come away ‘smitten’ and a little in love.

Perugia is the Capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy. Perugia is located about 164 kms north of Rome, and 148kms south-east of Florence. The region is of Umbria is bordered by Tuscany, Lazio and Marche.

Perugia is the main city in Umbria where you can soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere, take in a walking tour of cultural and architectural significance, and be “gob smacked” by the remains of Etruscan settlement. Explore an underground city , follow the aqua ducts and bask  in the vibrancy of alfresco dining among  the multi-cultural population of students attending the two renowned universities and the many tourists visiting this impressive city.

Whilst in the Umbrian region, there are short distance trips to small medieval towns nearby, with their impressive churches and handcrafted bell towers. The stone houses have window boxes overflowing  with colorful flowers perched on hilltops overlooking the rolling green hills of Umbria. The bold red geraniums flourish in terracotta pots giving  the “air of romance” to these historical villages.

Following  a visit to one such small village, Gubbio, I learned Gubbio is one the earliest villages with ancient origins. By day, Gubbio  provides a look into its rich history.  It was made famous for the discovery of a set of bronze tablets that together constitute the largest surviving text in ancient Umbrian. History has it that after the Roman conquest in the 2^nd century BC, the city remained important and was home to a Roman theater, the second largest surviving  in the world. During the summer, the Roman Theatre holds several  music and theatre performances as part of Gubbios  cultural life. Exquisite Gothic style homes dating back to 14^th and 15^th centuries line narrow streets where you can wander  through the churches and cathedrals. By night, the narrow alleys lead you to charming restaurants and gastronomic indulgences.

Just 19 kilometres from Perugia is the birthplace of St. Francis, Italy’s  patron Saint. St Francis was born in  Assisi  around 1182, the son of a well to do cloth merchant. Francis abandoned his worldly ambitions, instead becoming a humble unassuming character. Thereafter, he became a mystic who had visions of Christ and Mary. He composed poetry of the beauty of nature and founded the famous order of friars known as the Franciscans. Assisi is an exceptionally well preserved medieval town with a feeling of peacefulness.

Further reading provides the origins of Lake Trasimeno, just a 20 kilometre trip from Perugia near the Tuscan border. The lake accommodates three small islands which can be reached by boat. History reveals that three  million years ago there was a small sea in this area of Umbria. A depression formed by geologic fractures allowed the present- day  Lake Trasimeno to form. The lake offers recreational boating, swimming ,fishing with a 50km cycle track established to allow tourists and locals the opportunity to explore.

[Above: Maree (center) with her host mom Annamaria (left) and host sister Nicoletta (right)]

With a a childlike curiosity and wonder of the world beyond her own, 57-year-old retired nurse Maree Taberner embarked on an adventure in May 2015. Placed in the small town Perugia, Italy in the Umbria region, Maree is currently participating in the Teach in a Homestay program. She shared with Greenheart Travel the following thoughts on her first few weeks in Italy:

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By Maree Taberner, Teach in a Homestay Italy participant

Blessed is what I feel. From the warm, welcoming arrival in Italy, to meeting my extended host family, to exploring a rural part of Italy I’d never have the opportunity to visit, it has been amazing here in every way.

My host Annamaria and I are constantly learning from each other during meals with the family or by sharing of recipes. We even practice English together in the car while going about all the normal things in the daily upkeep of life, like visits to the gym or shopping at the supermarket.

We laugh a lot. At times, the English lessons (and my attempts at speaking Italian) look more like a game of charades, with arms flying in the air. Then we collapse in laughter and relief when we understand the word or the phrase we were trying to convey. I’ve been attending gym classes, and not understanding a word of it, but also not caring that I can’t understand as long as the male Italian instructor keeps talking and counting in Italian.

I feel as if I’m living the dream in rural Umbria, Italy. If I am dreaming, don’t wake me up. I have had the opportunity to explore an underground city in Perugia, step inside amazing churches in Assisi, climb breathtaking stairs to even more breathtaking views of the Umbria region. What really stands out for me is the scenery I have been happily living in for the past few weeks. It has the green rolling hills and tall majestic cypress dotted throughout the countryside where the terracotta tiled roofs and stone houses cluster on hilltops overlooking valleys of olive groves. This is Umbria. This is Italy.

The memorable moments made here are many, and are often the most simple of things — spending time with friends who have welcomed me into their homes and hearts or taking walks along narrow country roads lined with poppies with the distant sound of bells ringing. These moments make for a perfect day.

Everything from the weather to the spectacular scenery to the scrumptiously delicious food has surpassed anything I could have imagined. To say I am grateful for this experience is an understatement. This and so much more is embedded in my heart along with the lifetime friendships developed along the way.

I would encourage anyone who wants to share, learn, live, better understand and appreciate each other’s’ worlds and come out happier and better people to enroll in this program. I give a many, many thanks to Greenheart Travel for assisting me to have this experience. The concept of immersion in culture has captured my heart and I am in love Italy.