Sensing Umbria

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Sensing Umbria

Umbria, Italy. Localism through altered senses. A mutation of perception. www.sensingumbria.com

16/08/2026

A red brick guardian watching over the valley for centuries.
The unmistakable layout of Monteleone d'Orvieto has earned it the nickname "lion lying on the hill".
Built as an anomalous and strategic "municipal castle" guarding the Val di Chiana, this proud military outpost hides an unexpected cultural fervor.
Amidst its severe architecture blooms the art of Perugino's school and the music of "I dilettanti del suono e del canto", the oldest continuously active local association since 1848.

09/07/2026

Did you know that Franco Rasetti, who helped shape nuclear physics alongside Enrico Fermi, was born in Pozzuolo, Castiglione del Lago, Umbria?
A brilliant scientist with an unusually wide curiosity, Rasetti was part of the generation that transformed modern physics in the 20th century. In 1929, his research helped show that the atomic nucleus was made of protons and neutrons, not protons and electrons, as many still believed at the time. He later joined Fermi’s legendary Via Panisperna group, but chose not to take part in the Manhattan Project, reportedly on moral grounds.

Yet Rasetti’s story extends far beyond physics. Over the course of his life, he devoted himself to paleontology, botany and the study of the natural world, following the same instinct to observe, understand and discover.

Today, the Museo Franco Rasetti, housed inside Palazzo Moretti, preserves this remarkable legacy through documents, medals, personal objects, fossils and family works. A small museum, perhaps, but one that connects an Umbrian village to the history of modern science.

05/07/2026

Long before Isola Polvese became one of the wildest and most peaceful places on Lake Trasimeno, this little island had already lived many lives.

The Etruscans first frequented the island. Later the Romans left their traces, and centuries later the Olivetan monks helped shape the landscape that still defines it today. 🌿

Between 1482 and 1624, the monks planted around 6,000 olive trees and turned Polvese into a place of olive groves, cultivation and quiet work. Even now, those trees still stretch across 75 hectares of the island. The olive groves are so deeply tied to the island’s identity that a local legend says on quiet November nights during the harvest, you can still hear the phantom creaking of the monks’ original stone millstone turning.

Today, that long history is part of what makes Polvese so special: a wild, untouched-feeling place where nature, silence and centuries of stories all live side by side. It’s the kind of spot to come for a slow walk, a swim, a picnic, or simply to spend a day in one of the most beautiful corners of Umbria. ✨

11/06/2026

In the final chapter of our conversation, offers a deeper look into the creative life of iron—exploring how rust, oxidation, and the passing of time become active collaborators in his work. And how he allows nature to participate in the artistic process, embracing transformation as an essential part of creation.

As our conversation comes to an end, Luca shares a particularly timely reflection on craftsmanship in the age of artificial intelligence. In a world that is becoming increasingly virtual, he believes the value of handmade objects lies in their ability to reconnect us with the physical world. We can touch them, feel their texture, sense their weight, and experience them through more than just sight.

For Luca, this may be one of the reasons craftsmanship remains so relevant today. As more of our lives move onto screens, our other senses risk being neglected. Handmade objects invite us back into a richer sensory experience—one grounded in touch, materiality, and direct human connection. Rather than competing with technology, craftsmanship offers something different: a way of engaging with the world through the body as well as the mind.

06/06/2026

In the second part of our conversation, delves deeper into the philosophy that shapes his artistic practice. He reflects on how the ideas of Arte Povera encouraged him to see value in materials often overlooked or considered imperfect. Rust and oxidation, once viewed as problems to be controlled or removed, became powerful expressions of time, transformation, and memory. By embracing these natural processes, Luca allows his works to evolve, revealing the hidden beauty within change itself.

The discussion also explores the importance of the workshop as a living space of creativity. Surrounded by tools, metal, textures, and ongoing experiments, Luca finds inspiration in the daily act of making. The workshop is not simply where artworks are produced—it is where ideas are tested, relationships with materials are deepened, and artistic vision takes shape.

Through his words, Luca invites us to reconsider our relationship with materials, imperfection, and the passing of time—showing how attentiveness to the senses can open new paths to creativity and meaning.

Third part of the conversation is coming soon. Stat tuned.

28/05/2026

A special conversation with Umbrian artist , whose sculptural practice is deeply rooted in the landscapes, histories, and ancient memory of central Italy.

Drawing inspiration from Etruscan art and symbolism, Peppoloni is fascinated by elongated forms, ancestral imagery, and the relationship between material and time. His works often combine forged iron with natural elements gathered from the Umbrian territory — stones from the Chiona Valley, flowers from Monte Subasio, and surfaces marked by rust, which he describes as “the memory of iron.”

A third-generation artisan and founder of L’Officina in Spello, he transforms metal into poetic objects that sit between archaeology, nature, and contemporary art, carrying traces of both the ancient Etruscan world and the Umbrian landscape that surrounds him.

19/05/2026

A journey through clay, fire, and centuries of craftsmanship 🧱✨

Hidden inside the 14th-century Palazzo Pietromarchi, the Museo Dinamico del Laterizio e delle Terrecotte preserves the artistic soul of Marsciano through ancient tools, terracotta works, and the stories of the people behind them.

From Roman-era traditions to Renaissance masterpieces and modern artists like Antonio Ranocchia, every room reflects how deeply craftsmanship shaped this Umbrian town. 🇮🇹

Save this post and follow us to discover more hidden museums, artisans, and hidden gems across Umbria. ✨

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