Updated: May 23, 2013, 12:00 AM
In pictures: Touring Umbria and Tuscany
Italy bike tour (Photo by Rosemary Behan)
The Parco Regionale del Monte Cucco, a protected area surrounding Monte Cucco, one of Umbria’s highest points. Rosemary Behan / The National
Gubbio, a spectacular medieval town of 32,000, is built on slopes so steep a bizarre system of public lifts has been installed to help residents. Rosemary Behan / The National
Gubbio's Palazzo dei Consoli is extraordinary both in their scale and level of preservation. Rosemary Behan / The National
Cortona is just over the border from Umbria in Tuscany. Rosemary Behan / The National
Tucked away in the back streets of Montone are some high-end restaurants and hotels. Rosemary Behan / The National
Cortona, by virtue of being in Tuscany, gets more tourists than the Umbrian villages and towns. Rosemary Behan / The National
The Palazzo Comunale in the town of Cortona. Rosemary Behan / The National
The hilltop town of Montone. Rosemary Behan / The National
Cortona was originally part of Umbria. Rosemary Behan / The National
Montone is a gloriously tiny hilltop town, which, somewhat unbelievably, hosts an annual international film festival. Rosemary Behan / The National
The Parco Regionale del Monte Cucco, a protected area surrounding Monte Cucco, one of Umbria’s highest points. Rosemary Behan / The National
Montone has population of 1,600. Rosemary Behan / The National
A snack at Pasticceria Sandri on Corso Vanucci. Rosemary Behan / The National
Perugia, Umbria’s capital city, is a hulking fortress city with a gothic twist. Rosemary Behan / The National