episode description
Umbria, the green heart of Italy, is the land that time and tourism forgot. Shaped by geography and politics, the region became a thriving model of creative self-sufficiency. Focusing on nature rather than commerce, Umbrians had to learn to grow their own food, make their own textiles, and create their own art. That spirit continues today. In this incubator for creativity, the old methods have become woven into the region’s identity. From fancy lace-makers in Orvieto to potters in Deruta; from a thousand-year-old gristmill to a Leonardo da Vinci-designed weaving loom; through olive groves and truffle forests, techniques and traditions get lovingly passed from generation to generation. In an age of industry and modernization, Umbria’s artisans remain steadfast and passionate about what they do. There’s a deceptive simplicity of life here that leads to surprisingly complex and beautiful results. Umbria – once isolated – is now ready for the world to take notice.
