Umbertide is the southern-most town in the Upper Tiber Valley and the last exit on the E45 highway. It is the second largest and most populated town in the valley after Città di Castello.

It was already well-known in ancient times, when it was an important centre for trade between the Umbrians and the Etruscans on the banks of the Tiber. It was destroyed by the Goths in the 6th century CE and, according to legend, was rebuilt where it now stands by the sons of Uberto, the Marquis of Tuscany. For this reason, it was called Fracta filiorum Uberti. For its first 1,000 years, the town’s name was Fratta. The name was changed to Umbertide after the Unification of Italy in 1850. Of all the towns in the valley, it was the one that suffered the most damage during the Second World War. Part of the historic centre was razed to the ground by bombings in 1944 and many monuments were lost.

The historic centre is quite small, easy to reach and has a large car park near its fortified walls. The first and most majestic monument you will encounter is the Rocca. This medieval fortress, which was built in the late 1300s, has been restored and transformed into a contemporary art gallery. The following churches of the historic centre conserve works by renaissance masters and are a must-see:
- The St. Mary Maria of the Reggia Collegiate; a late 16th-century Renaissance building with a beautiful “Ascension” by Pomarancio.
- The gothic Church of St. Francis.
- The Church of St. Mary built in 1486; in the lunette above the portal is a fresco painted by Pinturicchio in 1504.
- The Church and Museum of the Holy Cross that opened in 1998; inside hangs an altarpiece with a “Deposition” by Luca Signorelli (his only work that has remained in its original location) and a “Madonna and Child” by Pomarancio (transferred from the Church of St. Francis for security reasons).
The environs of Umbertide offer many castles that are worth visiting, the most majestic of which is in the hamlet of Civitella Ranieri.

Museums Of Umbertide
Churches Of Umbertide
Events Of Umbertide