Meet Marco, your expert in Umbria!
🌍 Lives in: Perugia, Umbria
Regions of Expertise: Everywhere in Umbria. General knowledge of Tuscany, and Marche
Languages: English, Italiano, Deutsch
Experience: 27 years guiding throughout Umbria
Marco’s specialties:
Get to know Marco!
A note from Marco
“Ciao amici miei (Hello my friends)!
I'm Marco, and I'm happy to be your Local Expert for Umbria, which is the region I was born in and where I've lived most of my life. I was raised in the little town of Terni, but have lived in Perugia, our capital city, for the last 35 years. I've been a
As a young man, I left Umbria to attend university in Florence, where I got my degree as an interpreter for English and German, studied political science, and took some art exams. My studies increased my curiosity for the world and its beauties, so after school, I traveled and got to know people from all over the world.
These global friends were always "my personal counselors" when I visited their countries, and that's how I learned the importance of local insight and knowledge. It's the people who live in a place that can show you its secret marvels and help you see what really makes it special. And that is exactly what I aim to do for all travelers who come to Umbria, my home!
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While I like to think that I've explored my region extensively, I know that there are always new places waiting to be discovered, so much of my focus now is on finding those hidden corners, panoramic roads, beautiful countryside, and little gems and restaurants where you can sit down with friends and family for a wonderful gathering.
I'm still exploring Umbria myself, and I hope to help you do the same! So let's talk and start planning your trip to my wonderful region!"
Q&A with Marco
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In some ways, Umbria is quite similar to what Tuscany was before it became a global tourism hotspot. A peaceful, bucolic region of agricultural fields and rolling hills topped by medieval towns, Umbria is beautiful and unspoiled.
The region is small and you can easily move fairly quickly throughout it, but there are wonderful cities, towns, and natural areas to visit at every step.
I think that along makes this region a wonderful place to visit, but Umbria as a whole is also a shrine to art, good food, and excellent wines, which altogether makes for an incredible place to visit. In Umbria, we make the saying "small is beautiful" come true. -
Start the day off in a sweet way: with an Italian breakfast of pastries and espresso. Then, hit the road and visit one of our lovely cities or even a little hamlet, and feast your eyes on the art and beauty of our ancient monuments, landmarks, and architecture.
Of course, no day in Umbria is complete without food, so I would always set aside ample time for a decadent meal of traditional fare at a local restaurant.
After lunch, take a walk through the city and browse the shops, maybe pop in at a museum or gallery, or just sit in a busy square and watch life ao on all around you.
Finally, as evening approaches, wind down the day with an aperitivo and then a hearty dinner. -
This is not exactly a “local expert” secret tip, but I absolutely think that anyone who comes to Umbria must visit Perugia, our lively, wonderful capital city.
Filled with students from the university, the city is bursting with life and excitement, and it holds an absolute wealth of art, history, food, shops, cafes, and panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. Perugia is not to be missed! -
There are, of course, many dishes to choose from, but below are three iconic ones.
1) Strangozzi with truffles - strangozzi is similar to spaghetti, but is cut thicker, in a rectangular shape, and most commonly served with black truffles or a meat ragu.
2) Torta al testo - Torta al testo is a thin, flat focaccia bread cooked on a cast iron skillet and served hot with cured meats, cheese, and herbs
3) Lentils, lentils, lentils - Umbria’s Castelluccio lentils are known to be among the best in the world, and they feature frequently in all kinds of dishes here (including excellent soups).
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Reading, cooking, going for swims, watching films, and sharing moments with friends and family. This is what I try to make time for when I’m not working.
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For me, traveling is all about the people you meet and the experiences that you share together. I always prioritize genuine experiences over ticking boxes or hitting the highlights, and while I of course like to be comfortable, I never need to stay in the most luxurious of places.
Other things that are very important for me in my own travels are culture, food, markets, and museums. That’s what most attracts my interest!
Umbria Travel Consultations
Plan a better trip with some help from Marco
Sit down with Marco for a one-hour planning session to get his expert advice and the best local tips and recommendations.
Our travel consultations are the perfect solution for do-it-yourself travelers who want to plan on their own, but could use some expert local advice. Each consultation is personalized, and Marco is available to help in whatever way you need.
From working on your itinerary and advising on routes and transportation, to ideas for off the beaten path destinations and truly authentic experiences, he's got you covered.
For the best local advice, go ask a local!
Why plan with Marco
Spend 60 minutes tapping into Marco’s hyperlocal expertise to plan a better trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Consultations cost $125 USD.
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Consultations are held over Google Meet. Once you’ve scheduled your call, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link for your video call. On the scheduled day and time, just click that link to join.
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Each consultation is different, but here are some common things that our experts typically help with:
Itinerary planning
Transportation, driving routes, and tips for how to get around
Practical travel information; culture, safety, weather, language, money/tipping, etc.
Suggested hotels/accommodations and advice on where to base yourself
Local recommendations for restaurants, activities, and unique experiences
Advice on reputable tour guides, tour operators, and excursions
Pro tips on how to best visit popular sights and attractions
Ways to avoid overcrowded destinations and tourist traps
Insider ideas on off the beaten path places, authentic experiences, and ways to connect with locals
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What you can get done in an hour depends on your goals for the consultation and how organized you are coming into it.
In most cases, an hour is ample time to create a solid itinerary, answer your major travel questions, get practical advice on how to travel in your destination, and discuss lots of great local tips and recommendations.
To ensure that the hour is used efficiently, when you schedule your call, our pre-consultation questionnaire will ask you what your primary goals for the consultation are. Prior to the call, your Local Expert will review your questionnaire and prepare detailed information addressing those goals.
They’ll come into the call ready to share specific advice, recommendations, itinerary ideas/revisions, and useful links and resources for you to review together.
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Yes! Each consultation is guided by a comprehensive pre-consultation questionnaire that you fill out immediately upon booking.
We’ll ask you a series of 30+ detailed questions that really dig into you, your trip, your interests and travel style, and what you want to discuss with your Local Expert.
The questionnaire will cover things like: the dynamics of your group, the things you enjoy while traveling, your budget, how early you want to start your day and how late you want to end it, whether you want to hit the highlights or roam the back streets, and even what types of restaurants you want to eat at.
Your Local Expert will focus only on your interests and travel style.
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Our Local Experts are seasoned travel professionals who have spent decades working in their countries/regions. While their personal interests may be different from yours, they’ve worked with thousands of travelers and have recommendations and advice for every type of individual.
They know their destinations in-depth and can help plan a trip for every traveler and taste.
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No. Our service is geared toward independent, do-it-yourself travelers who intend to make bookings on their own.
Our goal is not to plan your trip for you, but rather to help you plan a better trip independently. To that end, our Local Experts will give you all of the information that you need to confidently put your trip together yourself.
When Local Experts recommend things like restaurants, hotels, excursions/activities, tours, drivers, etc., they’ll provide you with contact details and links so that you can make the final arrangements on your own.
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Almost every Go Ask A Local expert has at least 10 years of professional travel experience as a guide or trip planner in their country/region.
We work with a vetted team of seasoned professionals who know their destinations inside and out.
Unlike other companies, when you book a call, you’ll always be connected directly with your chosen Local Expert. We never pass anyone on to a junior sales associate or some anonymous back office team. With us, what you see is what you get.
Ready to plan with Marco?
Here’s how to schedule your consultation:
