Literature and landscapeDante at the Waterfall
A research and public engagement project exploring possible connections between Dante’s imagery and the landscape of the Marmore Falls.
Visit the Dante at the Waterfall websiteCultural association · Umbria
One land.Many stories.
Discovering places, rediscovering memories, sharing culture. Together, in Umbria.
Meet the association Explore our activitiesROOTED IN OUR LAND.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
UMBRIA · HISTORY · COMMUNITY
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
UMBRIA · HISTORY · COMMUNITYTerni · Valnerina · UmbriaWhere history, culture and people meet.
01The association
A land of stories to share.
UMRU is a cultural association promoting knowledge of Umbria’s history, traditions and heritage, with a particular focus on Terni, the Valnerina and the Terni valley.
Through research, talks, exhibitions and cultural walks, we bring places, people and stories together. We believe in culture that can be experienced and shared: curious, accessible and rooted in the local area.
Get in touchResearch and memory
Local history, traditions and stories: we rediscover cultural heritage and make it accessible.
Talks and exhibitions
Talks, exhibitions and opportunities for discussion, giving space to ideas and knowledge.
Cultural walks
Routes through the local area to explore the landscape, discover places and listen to their stories.
The association’s research projects
Literature and landscape
Traditions and folk memoryWitches, Myths and Rituals
Beliefs, tales and memories from the Valnerina and the Terni valley: a heritage to collect and share.
02Taking part
Our activities.
All our past activities, from 2023 to 2026
Cultural and archaeological trekking
The Naharki Trail in the Valley of the Great Bear
A trail to see the area through different eyes: paths, archaeological remains and local memories become chapters in the story of the Terni valley.
Conceived by Pierluigi Bonifazi and already undertaken by UMRU, this cultural and archaeological trek combines an exploration of the landscape with a rediscovery of the area’s roots and the world of the Naharki.
The name “Valley of the Great Bear” captures the idea at the heart of the project: interpreting the arrangement of seven peaks as an echo of the constellation. Monte Il Cerchio, Monte Rotondo, Monte Comune, Monte Torre Maggiore, Monte Torricella, Monte Spergolate and Monte San Pancrazio form this cultural geography around the Terni basin.
Enlarge the map The Valley of the Great Bear
The seven peaks around the Terni basin: the project’s interpretation of the landscape evokes the Great Bear constellation.
Photographs: Alessio Marasca
Enlarge the map The trail route
The route shown on the association’s map, through peaks, villages and places of cultural and archaeological interest.
Photographs: Alessio Marasca
Walking, learning, sharing: an association initiative to rediscover history through the landscape.
Trail information03Our publications
Discover the land, page by page.
The association’s research and stories take shape in books. Discover Umbria from different perspectives.
Titles and descriptions are translated for reference. The linked editions are in Italian.
History and genetics
Ancient Umbria
History and genetics of a forgotten people
A journey into the origins of the ancient Umbrians, through history, archaeology and genetics, rediscovering peoples, migrations and cultural changes in the region.
View on AmazonLiterature and landscape
Terni and the Marmore Falls in the Divine Comedy
The lost memory
Research into possible links between the landscapes of Terni, the Marmore Falls and the opening cantos of the Inferno, bringing literature and place together.
View on AmazonPlaces and ancient beliefs
Torre Maggiore
The sacred mountain of the Naharki
The sanctuary of Monte Torre Maggiore and the mountain above Cesi: an exploration of local history, ancient beliefs and the memory of the Naharki.
View on AmazonHistory and archaeology
Carsulae unveiled
A historical interpretation of the monumental city of Carsulae
A historical interpretation of the monumental city of Carsulae, rediscovering one of ancient Umbria’s most fascinating places.
View on AmazonLandscape and culture
The Garden of Eden
An exploration of the beauty of the Terni valley and the Marmore Falls, seen through the evocative image of the Garden of Eden.
View on Amazon04Video
Our land on film.
Videos are presented in their original Italian audio.
TGR Umbria
A news report to watch together.
A video shared by the association, available to watch directly on this page.
UMRU Association
Voices from the local area
A video shared by the UMRU association.
Landscape and place
A story among the waters
Exploring the landscape on location, among water and nature.
Marmore Falls
The Marmore Falls
A video from the Marmore Falls trail.
UMRU Association
A talk by Pierluigi Bonifazi
A video of Pierluigi Bonifazi shared by the association.
UMRU Association
A new video from the association
The video shared by the UMRU association, presented in full with its original audio.
05Association life
Documents, made simple.
Our constitution, rules and meeting minutes: a place to consult documents made available by the association.
Documents will be available here once the association has uploaded them.
06Our story, together
Our past activities.
65activities in the archive
2023–2026
Talks on history, literature and current affairs, exhibitions involving many artists, book presentations and children’s stories: culture takes shape when people come together.
Alongside historical research in Umbria and beyond, we organise cultural and archaeological walks and treks, collaborate with other associations, and create opportunities for exchange open to people of all ages. We are committed to working together to help our community grow.
65 activities · Open a year to browse the list
202611 activities
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Palazzo Mauri, Spoleto
Book launch.
- Talks and conferences
Dante and Lord Byron at the Marmore Falls
UNITRE talk.
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to San Benedetto in Fundus
San Benedetto in Fundus
- Talks and conferences
Women travellers on the Grand Tour
UNITRE talk.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Vetralla
Book launch.
- Talks and conferences
The roots of pre-Roman Italy
Cornelia Municipal Library, Rome
- Walks and treks
In the footsteps of Saint Francis
Greccio
Cultural walk.
- Talks and conferences
The “Magnetised Woman” of Collescipoli
- Talks and conferences
Terni and the Ghibelline Eagle
Terni Municipal Library
Talk as part of the Medieval Days programme.
- Talks and conferences
A journey through the archaeogenetics of ancient central Italy
Terni Municipal Library
Science and Technology Festival.
- Talks and conferences
Traditions and magic in the Valnerina
Talk as part of Hidden Umbria.
202524 activities
- Books and launches
The Mithraeum of San Valentino
Terni Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria. History and genetics of a people
Libreria Grande bookshop, Ponte San Giovanni (PG)
Book launch.
- Performances and gatherings
The San Valentino train
Cultural event in collaboration with Associazione San Valentino, Terni Falls Festival and Teatro Acciaio.
- Books and launches
The Mithraeum of San Valentino
University of Perugia, Department of Economics, Terni campus
Book launch.
- Talks and conferences
Mindful eating
Terni Municipal Library
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Hermitage of San Michele
Hermitage of San Michele
- Talks and conferences
Dining with the gods: ancient Umbrian cuisine
Terni Municipal Library
- Exhibitions
Dante at the Waterfall
HYDRA Museum, Marmore
Opening of the art and literature exhibition.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Gubbio Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Foligno Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Talks and conferences
The power of water
Participation in the conference organised by the association Io sono una persona per bene.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Assisi Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Romita di Cesi
Romita di Cesi
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Spoleto Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Talks and conferences
Terni as a university city
Participation in the conference curated by the association Io sono una persona per bene.
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Terni Municipal Library
Book launch.
- Association life
Dining with the gods. Ancient Umbrian cuisine
Themed association dinner.
- Walks and treks
Archaeological trek on Monte Sibilla
Monte Sibilla
- Talks and conferences
The Slow Line
Participation in the conference with the associations Io sono una persona per bene and Pala Sì.
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Monastery of San Simeone
Monastery of San Simeone
- Talks and conferences
Evolution and mindful eating
- Books and launches
Ancient Umbria
Viterbo
Book launch.
- Exhibitions
The Garden of Eden
Art and literature exhibition.
- Talks and conferences
Women travellers on the Grand Tour
Terni Municipal Library
202416 activities
- Exhibitions
Art exhibition by Luciana Caporicci
- Books and launches
Filippo, Prince Atepu and the Dragon
Terni Municipal Library
Children’s book launch.
- Talks and conferences
Ancient Umbria
Terni Municipal Library
- Talks and conferences
Terni in the Divine Comedy
Casagrande-Cesi Institute
- Exhibitions
San Valentino contemporary art exhibition
- Walks and treks
Up the Acheron
Cultural walk.
- Talks and conferences
Terni in the Divine Comedy
Palace of the Province of Terni
- Talks and conferences
The San Valentino hypogeum and underground Terni
Terni Municipal Library
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Albornoz Fortress
Piediluco
- Walks and treks
Cultural trek to Monte Torre Maggiore
Monte Torre Maggiore
- Performances and gatherings
The Marmore Falls as told by Virgil and Dante
Performance and talk.
- Talks and conferences
A hell of waters, Dante and Lord Byron
Montesi Hall, Marmore
- Exhibitions
Ancient Interamna and the Marmore Falls in the Divine Comedy
Terni Municipal Library
Art and literature exhibition.
- Talks and conferences
A hell of waters, Dante and Lord Byron
Terni Municipal Library
Talk for secondary schools in Terni.
- Association life
The Sublime
Themed association dinner.
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Hermitage of Madonna dello Scoglio
Hermitage of Madonna dello Scoglio
202314 activities
- Talks and conferences
The Indo-European Umbrians
Terni Municipal Library
- Talks and conferences
The identity of Terni
Sbrolli Foundation, Terni
- Talks and conferences
Umbrians and Etruscans
Perugia Foundation, Palazzo Graziani
- Talks and conferences
The birth of the Terni steelworks
Terni Municipal Library
- Talks and conferences
Umbrians and Etruscans – A journey through ethnogenetics
Sant’Anna Hall, Perugia
Talk with the UNESCO Club.
- Walks and treks
Cultural trek to Torre Maggiore
Monte Torre Maggiore
- Talks and conferences
Carsulae unveiled
Sbrolli Foundation
- Talks and conferences
Terni and Stroncone, from protohistory to the steelworks
Stroncone
- Association life
Dinner with UMRU
Association dinner.
- Walks and treks
Cultural walk to the Hermitage of San Michele
Hermitage of San Michele
- Talks and conferences
The Umbrians, ancestors of Europe
Foligno
International conference organised by the Municipality of Foligno.
- Books and launches
Filippo, Prince Atepu and the Dragon
Sbrolli Foundation, Terni
Children’s book launch.
- Talks and conferences
Terni in the Divine Comedy, Dante in Terni
Terni Municipal Library
- Association life
Dante in Terni
Themed association dinner.