Italy Panorama

Norcia

Perugia Province, Umbria
Population: 5,000
Elevation: 604 meters

The Umbrian town of Norcia is considered very important to Italian culinary tastes, but probably unknown to most foreigners.

Piazza San Benedetto

Norcia sits amongst the Monti Sibillini situated in a vast valley about halfway between Spoleto and Ascoli Piceno. There is a relatively easy access from either of these towns by new tunnels through the mountains that allow for relatively easy road access.

Norcia sits on the north end of the wide valley and is completely surrounded by its medieval protective walls with very little development outside them. Besides having a place in Italian culinary history, Norcia is also the birthplace of San Benedetto in 480 AD who of the Benedictine Order which is spread wide across Europe with as many as 40,000 monasteries at one time. He founded the famous abbey at MonteCassino. The center of town is Piazza San Benedetto with his statue in the middle and Chiesa San Benedetto off to one side.

Norcia’s culinary contribution is sausage and ham; in many places around Italy a butcher specializing in pork is called a Norcineria. Sausages come in all shapes, sizes and flavors as well as the delicious prosciutto. When you visit this town you will also see that tartufo, or truffle, is also one of their big foods. It is a type of fungus found in the forests of Italy.

It is interesting that with Norcia being the birthplace of San Benedetto and Assisi being the birthplace of San Francesco, both in Umbria, and both of well known Catholic Orders there is a sharp contrast in the grandeur of the basilicas dedicated to each saint in their respective hometowns.

Norcia in addition to her charming historic center and culinary delights the town makes a popular point for venturing into the nearby mountains for either day hikes or longer excursions.