Todi is Featured as a Recommended Destination in Travel & Leisure Magazine
Todi is a beautiful, Medieval hill town located in the central region of Umbria, overlooking the Tiber Valley. The town is located approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes north of Rome and 2 hours south of Florence. Todi is also conveniently nearby Perugia (46km), the University city, known for its annual chocolate festival; the famous wine regions of Orvieto (38km) and Montepulciano; Deruta, known for its classic ceramics, Spoleto (44km), Assisi and several other beautiful hill towns.
While Todi is frequented by tourists, it is mainly occupied by its locals — young and old — who give Todi its true ambiance, flavor and culture. Among the local people are the ancient buildings they reside in and the many seasonal festivals and events they celebrate. Todi also has a cosmopolitan quality – it has the largest piazza in Italy, high-end boutiques, art and antique galleries, fantastic trattorias and cafés and several high-end hotels. Many actors, artists and writers also reside in and around Todi and it is sometimes referred to as “Todiwood”!
Cuisine
The local cuisine is among the best in Italy. Especially in the colder months, Umbrian cuisine is deliciously flavorful, comforting and rustic. Seasonal dishes and ingredients include linguine* with black truffle sauce, papparedelle* with tomato and cingiale (wild boar) sauce, cuts of veal fillets with peppercorn sauce, chestnut and barley stews, porchetta (pork dishes), local cheeses with figs, pears and honey, fresh biscotti and cappuccino and the best local red and white wines.
*Gluten-free choices are widely available in restaurants and food markets.
“We especially loved Restaurant Pizza Cavour, the views, watching the older people garden and seemingly easily walk the very hilly streets. ”
Weather
Todi has four seasons. The Autumn and Winter months can be somewhat cold and brisk from November through February; Spring starts in late March and the weather is comfortably warm; Summer months can be hot and dry and last from June through early October.
Seasonal Events in Umbria
In Umbria, there is an abundance of unique festivals and events that take place in the area. We’ve hand-picked our selection, which will appeal to jazz and classical music lovers, foodies, truffle-hunters, chocoholics, wine and culture-vultures!
Spring (Apr - Jun)
Cantine Aperte (May)
Perfect for wine lovers the Cantine Aperte, which translates to Open Wine Cellars, is Italy’s biggest wine event taking place in May. In its 15th year this important event offers visitors the opportunity to taste Montefalco wines and is a unique opportunity for all those who love to visit the wine cellars and vineyards to explore Umbrian wine culture and all its secrets. The largest producers in the area offer wine tasting matched to typical local produce.
Flower Festival (May)
Spello – The feast of Corpus Domini (the Body of Christ) is one of the most spectacular events in Umbria. The normally peaceful town of Spello is transformed into wonderland of flowers like none other. The streets are literally carpeted with flower petals of every imaginable color both found in nature and dyed.
Truffle hunting expeditions (June)
TodiCastle organizes truffle expeditions for all the lovers of the Umbrian countryside, good food and nice smells...there will be an expedition into the Estate of Todicastle, where you will find big and flavoured truffles in their natural habitat.
Summer (Jun - Sept)
Water Festival (July)
This event, held at the Lake Piediluco, set in the Umbrian Hills, dates back to the extremely ancient tradition of the celebration of the Summer Solstice featuring rites, purification ceremonies and lighting of fires. As time has passed, the festival has retained its original features but has expanded to include other events such as an illuminated procession of decorated boats by night, firework displays, theatrical performances and concerts of classical music.
Festival dei Due Mondi (June - July)
The Medieval town of Spoleto hosts one of Europe’s most vibrant festivals during the month of July with a remarkable programme of visual arts performances. Typically the festival begins with an inaugural concert on the Piazza Duomo outside the Cathedral. During the annual festival visitors can enjoy quality concerts of classical music, opera, theatre, ballet, visual arts and cinema at various venues across the beautiful city.
Umbria Jazz (July)
The Umbria Jazz festival is one of the most important jazz festivals in the world and now attracts some of the most famous jazz musicians. For ten days dozens of concerts take place in the historic centre of Perugia from different musical origins including jazz, soul, blues, gospels, pop and salsa. Jazz takes over the city with the pastry shops making cakes in the shapes of saxophones and guitars and the museums feature jazz paintings and photography.
The International Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix (July)
In its 20th year the Italian International Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix, held in Todi, sees more than 70 hot air balloons arriving from countries all around the world. The balloons are inflated twice daily creating spectacular photo opportunities.
Todi Arte Festival (August)
The annual Todi Arte Festival, in the last week of August is held in courtyards throughout the city, presenting theatre, music, classical and ethnic dance, art and cultural events.
Autumn (Oct - Dec)
Celebration of ‘Made in Italy’ (October)
This nine-day event held in Orvieto each year, celebrates the wine and gastronomic tradition of the ‘Made in Italy’. The prestigious event was born in 1996, after a memorable world congress of the "Slow Food" Movement which took place properly in the Umbrian city. The event features conferences inside the beautiful museums and historic monuments, foot tasting, art exhibitions and themed dinners.
Frantoi Aperti (End of October to beginning of December)
The Frantoi Aperti festival, taking place during the first weekend of November, sees the doors open to several mills around Umbria offering visitors the chance to admire the olive trees, talk to producers and learn more about olive oil production through seminars and guided tastings as well as learning the secrets of a Mediterranean diet! Numerous farms and restaurants also take part in the festival by incorporating quality olive oil with traditional dishes. Some of the most important museums of Umbria are also free to visitors during the festival with guided tours.
Euro chocolate (October in Perugia)
This annual event will be any chocolate lovers dream! Dedicated to the chocolate for which Perugia is famous, this event comprises chocolate tasting, cooking classes, workshops and chocolate sculpting. Visitors will devour more than 50 tons of chocolate throughout this eight-day event. It is a great festivity, where everybody comes to taste the God's Food. Finding chocolate in its innumerable, traditional and unusual varieties, as well as being involved and wrapped in a lively atmosphere in this historical city. TodiCastle organizes trips to Perugia and also offers a chocolate menu in the beautiful medieval banquet room.
Grape Harvest (Vendemmia) (October)
The grape harvest is a joyful time of year all over Italy. Umbrian winemakers in the area of TodiCastle specialize in Grechetto (white) and Sangiovese (red). TodiCastle is a wonderful place to spend a week of bacchanalian activities amid the beautiful scenery of vineyards and the countryside.
Foliage and Truffle hunting (October)
October and November are the best months to discover the red and gold foliage of the lush Umbrian countryside. At this time of the year this area is also full of wonderful and delicious porcini mushrooms.Olive Harvest (November)
November is the month of the olive harvest in Italy. This means bucolic scenes of crinkly faced farmers shaking their boughs and plenty of extra virgin oil, which can be sampled fresh at the press. Umbria produces one of the best extra virgin olive oils in the entire country.
Tasting of Italian Wines (November)
This renowned competition, established in 1981 has now drawn considerable attention for its professionalism and aims to promote both nationally and internationally wine from Umbria. Relax over a dry white Orvieto, produced on lands made fertile by volcanic outpourings or simply take in the pride of the wine producers.
Winter (Dec - Mar)
Umbria Jazz Winter Festival (End December)
The Umbria Jazz Winter Festival delivers five days of great music in the picturesque setting of Orvieto. Concerts are held in the 19th-century Luigi Mancinelli Theatre, the halls of the Emilio Greco Museum, the 14th-century Palazzo Soliano, the Hall of the Quattrocento in the Palazzo del Popolo, and the Palazzo dei Sette. The event kicks off with street parades and continues with a series of knock-out performances. The New Years Eve dinner is the high point of a packed evening with music and concerts lasting well into the New Year.
Christmas in Umbria (December)
During the Christmas period in Umbria, religious ceremonies, historic commemorations and folklore events are organized. Living nativity scenes can be seen in many towns in Umbria and concerts of classical and jazz music are held in beautiful churches. Visitors will also be able see the world's largest Christmas tree made out of lights in Miranda, (close to Terni )which can be viewed from the valley below. Standing at 800 metres long and 400 metres wide and lit with over 7.5 miles of electric cables, it really is a spectacular sight.
New Year's Eve at TodiCastle (December)
TodiCastle offers a special deal for the week of Christmas to New Year. Celebrate your Christmas and New Year's eve in the cozy and picturesque atmosphere of TodiCastle. The beauty of winter in Umbria will amaze and delight you. The Orvieto Jazz Music Festival could be a special and magic place to spend the night of December 31st.
Umbria Carnival (February)
The Umbria Carnival takes place in Guardea and features an elaborate parade with spectacular floral decorations, flags, torches and candles. During the carnival guests may taste sweets typical of Perugia including a frittelle made with honey, sugar and fruits or the struffoli made with small balls of pasta sunk in orange honey and garnished with candies and sugared almonds. (www.carnevalediguardea.net)
Black Truffle Fair (February)
More truffles are found in Umbria than anywhere else in Italy and it is especially famous for black truffles, a specialty of Italian cuisine. The primary truffle areas are around Spoleto and Norcia. The Black Truffle festival held on the last weekend in February is a great time to visit the region and taste the truffles. The festival attracts local and national food producers and other exhibitors including crafts, Folkloristic entertainment, conventions, shows and sports competitions all centered on the truffle.Truffle hunting on Todi Castle Estate is a perfect way to spend time when in Umbria. An expert tartufaio (truffle hunter) and his dog will guide you to the discovery of the truffle and reveal the secrets of its search. You too can become involved in a fascinating "battuta" (combing of the area) in the search for the precious truffles.