Favorite towns in Umbria?

We loved little Spello. Close to Assisi, untouristed (we were there in December), easy access to Perugia, Spoleto, and much more. I like Spoleto, too, but it is bigger. I understand Assisi can get crowded.

Gubbio.
Pretty and famous for ceramics. Also extremely safe from crimes thanks to the local priest, Don Matteo, who improvises as detective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Matteo

I second the town of Gubbio. Don't miss the "birdcage" lifts up the mountain. At the top is a Duomo to visit. Read up on the history of Gubbio on how the town took a stand against the Nazi'z during WWII. We spent a day there, but could have spent a lot longer. Nice town, not crowded.

Gubbio is great. So are Orvieto, Todi, Assisi, and Spello, which is only a few kilometers from Assisi. There are smaller towns on every hill, just stop when you see something interesting. Trevi is a little jewel on top of a hill, not many tourists.

Thanks! That is exactly the type of information I was looking for.

In Umbria, we've only been to Assisi and Orvieto but loved loved loved them.

We enjoyed all three day trips we made from Perugia to Assisi, Gubbio, and Spoleto. Spoleto has a Roman theatre and a huge viaduct you can walk across sited aside a fortress that was fascinating as well. A real highlight for me anyway were the Lippi frescoes in the cathedral. And the lamb chops I had for lunch in a beautiful piazza, but that's another story, and not nearly as esoteric.

The lamb chops topic may be just as good! Some of my best travel memories relate to food.

Assisi was by far our favorite.

Loved Orvieto!

Orvieto is a great place, and an easy 1 hour train ride from Rome. The church (duomo) is very colourful, and you can take an interesting walk around the walls of the town.
Allow a full day there if you can.

Gail
Check out Cortona as well small but the views from the top are spectacular. We had a car so we stayed at a place at the bottom of the town. Allow perhaps a day on your travel Assisi or Gubbio. Just down the road from Perguia is a small down of Deruta where they hand paint pottery. Many shops there and there are artisans at work as well. Lovely area-enjoy.

Absolutely love both Orvieto and Assisi. Making return trips to both this fall.Don't miss the boar salami!

If you haven't made reservations yet, I would suggest staying at Titingnano, which is between Orvieto and Todi. It has the best meals that I have ever enjoyed anywhere and the location is beautiful. It is in the middle of many hill towns in Umbria.