Norcia, a millenary city, rich in art and spirituality with a long history of the Umbrian city, then Roman, an independent municipality in the Middle Ages and an archiepiscopal seat until recent times. The center, surrounded by ancient walls, is a characteristic Umbrian village, but absolutely typical are the Norcinerie, the small shops where the salamis that made this town famous are sold. The oldest is Ansuini, who exhibits stuffed wild boar and local fruits at the entrance.
Norcia is considered the most evocative center of the Valnerina, rich in splendid scenery of uncontaminated nature, especially during the period of flowering. It also boasts of unforgettable aromas linked to gastronomy. Norcia is famous both for its cured meats and for the very precious black truffle.
The departure of the experience outside will begin in a forest near Norcia.
The truffle hunting time can be customized.
The black truffle from Norcia is the most prized truffle after the white one. Its name is Tuber melanosporum Vittadini. Be careful not to be misled by the name, in fact the truffle is not a tuber but a mushroom. These species of fungi are called hypogea, meaning they are born and grow underground near the roots of trees and shrubs, from which they draw nourishment to live and grow.
Norcia black truffle is considered prized for its perfume but above all for its rarity. During the truffle hunting, you will discover how difficult it is to find truffles.
Truffle hunting will begin with the encounter with the Trifolaio, as soon as you arrive at the Norcia forest.
When you put on rubber boots, you will enter the woods, you can start “hunting”. The dog will be your radar. In fact, he will be the one to smell the ground to find the black truffle.
The dog will show you the point where the truffle is found by wagging and digging. Then you will be digging in the earth to reach the hidden treasure. Once you find the truffle, you can remove the earth that surrounds it by extracting it intact.
The truffle hunting of Norcia will last about two hours, during which you will learn a lot of information about truffles. At the end of your outdoor activity you can continue your tour of Norcia and Umbria and, why not, try some truffles.
Abiamo spent a week in the beautiful Umbria and the last day of the tour we dedicated to truffle hunting and tasting of the prized Norcia black truffle. The experience was unique and we discovered a lot about truffles, how they look, how they eat and we understand why truffles are so expensive!
I recommend anyone to try this very fun and informative experience.
