While enjoying your holiday in Umbria you will come in contact with a traditional life style, the life of italian farming community. Umbria has a tradition of ancient methods passed from father to son and such practices are still in evidence today. In every small village it is easy to locate a shop or a market filled with products of skilled craftsmanship.

The most popular products are terracotta, ceramics, and majolica.

Terracotta, ceramics and maiolica

A tradition passed down through generations. The quarrying of clay from the banks of the Tiber, used to fashion by hand artefacts and utensils, as in the times of the Etruscans and the Umbrians.

The Ceramics and Majolica are hand painted to perfection. The famous town of Deruta provides one with every possible choice and it’s not uncommon for complete dinner services to be ordered and shipped throughout the world; or you may leave just with a simple tile as a souvenir of your vacation.
High class ceramics can also be found in Perugia, Gubbio, Gualdo Tadino and Orvieto; each has its own style of decorating and colour. You can still buy traditional styles, but there are modern ones available too.
Many of the pieces, such as tiles or table wares, plates and bowls or cups and saucers, are unique as they are hand painted rather than transfer decorated.

Terracotta is available to purchase in the Marsciano region: the towns of Ripabianca and Ficulle are two towns that still practice the craft of terracotta and along the streets of these towns you will find many workshops where it is possible to see and purchase products made in terracotta, such as vases, pots, fountains and other garden ornaments.

Textiles and Lace

Another famous product of Umbria are textiles and lace, dating back to the 12th century. Such works are typical of Lake Trasimeno, Assisi, Orvieto and Isola Maggiore. Lake Trasimeno began the tradition of lace making before the twentieth century when lace making techniques were taught; today, examples can be seen in the “Merletto Museum”.

Perugia, Montefalco and Città di Castello offer many beautiful woven textiles in either linen, cotton or silk, woven by hand or on Jacquard looms.

The kinds of textiles on sale include table sets, pillow covers, towels and even material for making clothes, all available in many beautiful colours.

Wrought Iron

The skill of working in wrought iron has been practised in Umbria since the middle ages; it was used to decorate palaces and churches. Many works of wrought iron can be found in country farm houses today, and many blacksmiths will create items to order.

Baskets/h2>

The first containers made by man were created by weaving straw, reed and bamboo; they were mostly used on the farms and for bringing home freshly caught fish. Basket making is still practised today and you can buy a wide variety of shapes and sizes.