Umbria · Perugia
Norcia
Birthplace of San Benedetto at 604 meters on a Sibillini plateau, leveled by the 2016 earthquake and rebuilt stone by stone.
- Best time
- Apr–Oct
- By car
- 1 h 44 min from Perugia
- Population
- 4,544
Known for
NORCINERIA
The Italian word for quality pork delicatessen comes from Norcia, after centuries of local butchers specializing in wild boar and pork curing.
SAN BENEDETTO
Born here in 480 with his twin sister Scholastica, founder of the Benedictine Order and the patron saint of Europe.
RECONSTRUCTION
Leveled by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake of 30 October 2016; the basilica reopened with original stones nine years to the day.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J9°
- F12°
- M12°
- A15°
- M20°
- J25°
- J30°
- A29°
- S24°
- O20°
- N14°
- D10°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Benedetto da Norcia, 21 March
Why come
Norcia sits at 604 meters on a high plateau on the Umbrian side of the Monti Sibillini, ancient Nursia of the Sabines, fortified in the 3rd century BC by Rome. Saints Benedict and his twin sister Scholastica were born here in 480; the Benedictine Order and the Ora et Labora motto that shaped Western monasticism began on this piazza. The Basilica di San Benedetto rises on the traditional birthplace, built between 1290 and 1338 over a pre-existing crypt.
On 30 October 2016 a magnitude 6. 5 earthquake destroyed the nave; only the façade was left standing. Reconstruction completed on 30 October 2025, nine years to the day, with the original stones and earthquake-resistant technology.
The town gave its name to norcineria, the Italian word for quality pork delicatessen, after centuries of Norcia butchers specializing in wild boar and pork. Black truffle from the Valnerina, lentils from Castelluccio, and ricotta from the high pastures complete the table.
The Sunday letter
Norcia is on our list. Its letter is still to come.
We are writing about all 1,000 of these towns, one at a time, in a free letter every Sunday: the photo, the food, the festa. That is our mission. Sign up and you will be there when Norcia comes up. By Peter & Sophia, from Pietrasanta.
Read on
Norcia in our articles
The 6 best hidden truffle towns in the province of Perugia6 towns, Norcia among them.
The 6 best small towns that eat well in the province of Perugia6 towns, Norcia among them.
The best towns worth staying overnight in the province of Perugia6 towns, Norcia among them.
The best hidden towns with a serious restaurant in the province of Perugia7 towns, Norcia among them.
How to get there
From Ancona / Pescara (AOI), about 2h 17m by car.
Rome (FCO) is about 3h 19m away.
By car from the centre of Perugia 1h 44m, Pescara 2h 10m or Ancona 2h 15m.
What to see
Basilica di San Benedetto
Built 1290-1338 over the traditional birthplace of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, rebuilt with original stones after 2016, reopened 30 October 2025.
Castellina
Fortified papal stronghold designed by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola in 1554, on Piazza San Benedetto, now the Museo Civico e Diocesano.
Piazza San Benedetto
Civic and religious heart of the centro storico, with the Palazzo Comunale, the basilica, the Castellina and the statue of Benedict at the center.
Concattedrale di Santa Maria Argentea
Sixteenth-century cathedral, severely damaged in 2016, set against the medieval city walls that still ring the centro storico.
Piana di Castelluccio
High plain at 1,452 meters in the Sibillini, frazione of Castelluccio, the lentil fields bloom red, yellow and blue from mid-June through mid-July.
Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini
Norcia is a gateway commune to the national park, with hiking, transumanza pastures and the Piano Grande just east of town.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Norcia fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
We recommend
Where to eat and stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Granaro del MonteRistorante
Granaro del Monte holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a place on Italy's historic-locali register.
VespasiaRistorante
Vespasia holds one Michelin star and two Gambero Rosso forks (84/100).
Casale nel ParcoAgriturismo
Casale nel Parco carries a Gambero Rosso listing.
Albergo Palazzo SenecaHotel
Albergo Palazzo Seneca holds a place on Italy's historic-locali register and a place in the Michelin hotel guide.
Signature product
Prosciutto di Norcia IGPIGP
Mountain ham cured at altitude in the Sibillini; Norcia is the namesake town and gave its name to the trade ('norcineria').
See the towns we cover in the zone of Prosciutto di Norcia IGP.
Living here
- Population 4,544
- Remotei
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Ancona / Pescara, 2 h 17 min drive
- Regional capital Perugia, 1 h 44 min drive
Common questions
- What is Norcia known for?
- Birthplace of San Benedetto at 604 meters on a Sibillini plateau, leveled by the 2016 earthquake and rebuilt stone by stone.
- Where is Norcia?
- Norcia is a comune in the province of Perugia, in Umbria.
- What is the nearest airport to Norcia?
- Ancona / Pescara (AOI), about 2h 17m by car.
- How long is the drive from Perugia to Norcia?
- About 1h 44m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Norcia?
- Best in Apr–Oct. July is the warmest month, averaging 30 degrees, and May the wettest, with about 15 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Norcia?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: Benedetto da Norcia, 21 March.
- Which other towns are like Norcia?
- Cingoli, Panicale and Amandola.
- How many people live in Norcia?
- 4,544 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 604 m
- Population: 4,544
- Surface area: 275.58 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Similar
Towns like Norcia
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Amandola
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