For Hugues de Varine the main difference between ecomuseums from normal museums is that ecomuseum is "an action carried out by the community, starting from its heritage, for its development".
So, an ecomuseum is something that represents what a territory is and what its inhabitants are, starting from the living culture of people, from their environment, from what they have inherited from the past, from what they love and what they want to show to their guests and pass on to their children.
The ecomuseum is not a museum it is "everywhere" and it can die if people no longer need it.
Geographically located in the northern central part of Umbria, the vast area of the Ecomuseum of the Tiber River extends for about 300 km2, includes the part of the territories of the Municipalities of Perugia and Umbertide that embrace the Tiber, more precisely from Verna (Umbertide) up to San Martino in Campo (Perugia).
The city of Perugia, in its westernmost part from Porta Pesa to the district of Monteluce, is part of the ecomuseum territory.
The Tiber river runs through the territory from north to south, flows in the Ecomuseum area for about 60 km, receiving water from the hilly sides east and west, so the Ecomuseum borders run along the watershed line of the river basin.
From a geomorphological point of view, the sweet and harmonious landscape is set on several orders of fluvial terraces.
The rocky substratum consisting of sandstone and alternating rhythmic marl is covered in the valley floor by alluvial deposits consisting of sands, clays and conglomerates sedimented by the river over the millennia.
The territory is divided into a flat part, in the fluvial valley, and a hill. The largest shares exceed slightly the 600 m s.l.m. they are located in the eastern part of the territory, on the border with the municipalities of Gubbio, Pietralunga and Montone.
It is from these reliefs that the main tributaries of the Tiber arrive, the torrents Assino, Mussino and Resina; among the main peaks we point out Poggio di S. Agata 620 m asl at Umbertide and Monte Castellaccio 619 m asl in Perugia. The lowest altitude is in S. Martino in Campo, 170 m. above sea level.
The highest part of the territory is covered by broad-leaved woods, as you descend towards the valley the woods give way to olive groves and vineyards, until you get to intensive sunflower, corn or tobacco crops close to the Tiber boom.
The urban centers of greatest extension included in the Ecomuseum are, besides the city of Perugia, Umbertide and Ponte S. Giovanni, both located on the banks of the river. The territory is scattered with small villages of medieval origin, some with the presence of castles, towers or abbeys.
The Ecomuseum organizes different types of events, excursions and walks along the network of trails of its territory to be covered on foot or by bike.