Nocera Umbra, in the province of Perugia, represents Umbria with an ancient past. Its name, in fact, derives from "Nuceria", a Tuscan-Umbrian toponym meaning "New Creation", and dates back to the 8th century B.C., when its territories were home to the Italic peoples. But the present settlement is medieval in origin, as evidenced by the defensive walls that enclose the historic center. Nocera Umbra today holds several places of historical interest: the Campanaccio, or Civic Tower also known as the "Torrione" (“Great Tower”), from the 11th century, the only remnant of the Rocca dei Castellani; the Church of San Francesco, dating from 1368 and used as a picture gallery since 1957, which houses frescoes by Matteo da Gualdo, a 1483 Alunno Polyptych and works of the Umbrian school; the co-cathedral of the Assumption, the village's main religious architecture, from the 12th century; the Church of San Filippo, built in neo-Gothic style with a façade decorated by a large rose window; the Archaeological Museum inside the Bishop's Palace, which houses artifacts dating from the Stone Age, the Middle Bronze Age and the Late Middle Ages; the Church of Santa Chiara (13th century), completely renovated during the 19th century, which houses the Nativity of the Virgin, a 17th-century painting by Carlo Maratta; the Municipal Theater, a splendid Art Nouveau building; and the Piervissani Library, which contains as many as 50,000 texts, mostly manuscripts, incunabula, sixteenth-, seventeenth- and eighteenth-century books of the highest cultural and historical value. Special mention for the ancient thermal tradition of Nocera Umbra: in Bagni di Nocera, in fact, the waters of the Angelica Spring gush forth. The valleys crossed by streams, the mountain springs of mineral waters and the underground ones, in fact, have allowed over the centuries (starting as early as the 1500s) the expansion of spa and wellness tourism, thanks to the international fame acquired by the village over time. The charm of the place also derives from its events, particularly the Satriano Ride in September, during which knights in period costume retrace the last journey of St. Francis in 1226, from Nocera Umbra to Assisi. The richness of the area, on the other hand, is evidenced by Nocera's cuisine, which offers characteristic dishes based on the presence of wild mushrooms and white and black truffles, both of which are abundant in the thicket of the surrounding countryside. Another typical flavor is that of field herbs, combined with ricotta or grated cheese, used in the preparation of “biscio”, a kind of savory strudel in the shape of a snake (hence the name “biscio”). Nocera gastronomy is completed by lentils, chickling peas, roast wild boar and hare, cured meats, ham, and the dessert known as "rocciata". The strength of local handicrafts, genuine foods, various agricultural products and cultural roots will amaze any passing traveler. Nocera Umbra is ready to amaze.