Is Umbria part of Tuscany?

No. Umbria is a separate Italian region to the east of Tuscany, with Perugia as its capital. The two share a border around Lake Trasimeno and Cortona.

Which is better, Tuscany or Umbria?

Tuscany for a first trip: Florence, Siena, Pisa, the coast and the widest choice of villas. Umbria for a quieter second trip with fewer visitors. A villa near Cortona, on the border, gives you both.

How far is Umbria from Tuscany?

They are next to each other. From Cortona, Lake Trasimeno in Umbria is about twenty minutes by car, and Perugia airport about an hour.

Can you visit Assisi from Tuscany?

Yes. Assisi is an easy day trip from eastern Tuscany, including from villas near Cortona and Montepulciano.

PlanningTuscany vs Umbria: Which Region for a Villa Holiday?

Tuscany vs Umbria: Which Region for a Villa Holiday?

Tuscany is the bigger, better-known region, with Florence, Siena, Pisa and a coastline; Umbria is smaller, greener, landlocked and quieter. For a first visit, Tuscany. For fewer crowds, Umbria. For both, stay on the border near Cortona.

Tuscany vs Umbria at a Glance

	Tuscany	Umbria
Capital	Florence	Perugia
Size	About 23,000 km²	About 8,500 km²
Coast	Yes, the Tyrrhenian coast and islands	No; Lake Trasimeno instead
Famous towns	Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Montepulciano	Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Spoleto, Todi, Gubbio
Landmark wines	Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile	Sagrantino di Montefalco, Orvieto
Truffles	White truffles around San Miniato	Black truffles around Norcia
Crowds	Busy in summer, especially in the cities	Noticeably quieter
Airports	Pisa and Florence	Perugia (small)

Choose Tuscany If

You want Florence, the coast, or the widest choice of villas. Tuscany has the Renaissance cities, the classic Val d'Orcia landscape, the Maremma beaches and far more villas to choose from. It is the easier first trip. Our regions of Tuscany guide helps you pick an area.

Choose Umbria If

You have seen Florence and want hill towns without the crowds. Assisi, Orvieto, Spoleto and Todi feel less visited, and the landscape is greener and more wooded. The trade-off is fewer villas and no coastline.

Or Stay on the Border and Have Both

A villa near Cortona puts Tuscany and Umbria within the same week. Cortona sits in eastern Tuscany above the Val di Chiana, with Lake Trasimeno about twenty minutes away and Perugia and Assisi within a day trip. Montepulciano and the Val d'Orcia are on the Tuscan side. See our villas near Cortona and the Val di Chiana.

Map of day trips from Tuscany's villa areas, including eastern Tuscany towards Umbria — Day trips from each villa area, including Cortona and the Umbrian border. Open full-size map ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Umbria part of Tuscany?: No. Umbria is a separate Italian region to the east of Tuscany, with Perugia as its capital. The two share a border around Lake Trasimeno and Cortona.
Which is better, Tuscany or Umbria?: Tuscany for a first trip: Florence, Siena, Pisa, the coast and the widest choice of villas. Umbria for a quieter second trip with fewer visitors. A villa near Cortona, on the border, gives you both.
How far is Umbria from Tuscany?: They are next to each other. From Cortona, Lake Trasimeno in Umbria is about twenty minutes by car, and Perugia airport about an hour.
Can you visit Assisi from Tuscany?: Yes. Assisi is an easy day trip from eastern Tuscany, including from villas near Cortona and Montepulciano.

Next Step

If Tuscany wins, start with where to rent a villa in Tuscany. If you want both regions, browse villas near Cortona or read Umbria from Tuscany.

Every enquiry is answered personally.

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