Ref: It/w/1.1/VIA

8 days / 7 nights
Daily, except Sundays

PROGRAM

Day 1: Arrival in Chiusi where our representative will meet you. Drive to Acquaviva from where you begin your 3 hours walk to Montepulciano.

Day 2: Montepulciano - Pienza [6 hours]
After a visit to the Church of San Biagio, walk to Montichello, a lovely little village, and stop for a break maybe to enjoy a cappuccino. Continue to Pienza, one of the nicest medieval towns in Tuscany. Visit Pienza and a local farm where you can see how the pecorino cheese is made and learn about truffles hunting.

Day 3: Pienza - Bagno Vignoni [5 hours]
The walk will take you today through a beautiful area with rolling hills, oak woods and little villages. Arrival at Bagno Vignoni where you may be able to take a bath in the steaming hot mineral water spring.

Day 4: Bagno Vignoni - Montalcino [5 hours]
The walk today will take you through a rather wild environment with dry river beds and thick vegetation. Stop in St. Antimo where a fascinating medieval Abbey can be visited and then continue by minibus to Montalcino.

Day 5: Montalcino - Buonconvento [4 hours]
After breakfast walk through the vineyards where the Brunello, one of the best Italian red wines, is produced. After entering again the "Crete" area, you will reach Buonconvento.

Day 6: Buonconvento [3 hours]
Only a short day today because of ups and downs of the road. Visit Monte Uliveto Maggiore, one of the most impressive medieval Abbeys in Italy with its red bricks in y contrast with the rugged landscape. Accommodation and dinner in the same Country Inn as yesterday.

Day 7: Buoncovento - Siena [5 hours]
On a nice road winding amongst hills and oak woods, you walk past Murlo , a little town of Etruscan origins with a lovely museum, and Radi where a comfort stop can be made in a local Country Inn. Continue to Monteroni d'Arbia from where a short train ride will take you to Siena. Overnight in a centrally located Hotel.

Day 8: Day at leisure to spend in Siena. Departure.

INCLUDED

• 6 nights accommodation in country inns / 3-star hotels on half board basis
• 1 night on B & B basis
• Needed transfers
• Luggage transfer
• Detailed maps

RATES

Contact info@bikeandhike.co.za for rates and specials.

Ref: It/w/1.2/Mum

Unguided walking tour
8 days / 7 nights

Departures: Every Saturday, Monday and Tuesday from 1 April until 30 October

Difficulty level 3: Routes through middle-high landscapes, mostly quiet walking paths. Day distances between 15 and 20 km. An average of 4 - 3 km an hour.

PROGRAM

Day 1 Arrival in surroundings of Assisi
The tour starts in the quiet hilly country-side near Assisi. Your overnight stay is in a quiet little hotel.

Day 2 Through Park Monte Subasio to Poggio Parrano (km 21, near Gualdo Tadino)
Today your first stretch of walking is through the natural park of Mt. Subasio; in the valley of the Potenza you pass Nocera. Poggio Parrano is the place where you overnight. The hotel is situated in the middle of nature and has a swimming pool.

Day 3 Walk to Gualdo (km 12 or 20) and by train to Spoleto
Today's route will be partially walking going over the European track El. You can enjoy beautiful panorama's on this high track on the Monte Nero (1400 m.). An alternative route is going lower, at the feet of this mountain-ridge. In Gualdo Tadino you take the train to Spoleto. This town has a long history and is now a tourist centre with its ancient late-medieval and Renaissance monuments. Your hotel is in the little village Nori, about half an hour from the station (km 3).

Day 4 Walk in the surroundings of Spoleto (km 11 or 18)
The next two days you can visit Spoleto and make a walk on the Monteluco [Mount Luco]. The name "Lucu" [lucus] means 'bosco sacro', and signifies that in pagan times the mountain was considered a holy place. Since the 5th century hermits were living under Benedictine rule on the mountain. During your walk you will pass some of the little hermitages. Also the Franciscans built here a monastery. The evergreen oak-wood was always very important and it was already a protected area in the Middle Ages. Some of the animals living here are porcupines, wild cats, badgers and squirrels

Day 5 Walk of 10 km and then by train to Spello
Today after your walk, you take the train to Spello (280m.)

Day 6 Walk in the surroundings of Spello
After your overnight stay your walk will lead you to highlights such as the Benedictine abbey Sassovivo and the hermitage Santa Maria in Giacobbe. The last piece is by bus and train back to your hotel. In the Medieval Spello you can saunter to the little streets. Very picturesque is the Via Torre di Properzio, a lane decorated by the inhabitants with flowers and plants, which ends near the Roman Porta Venere. In the church S.Maria Maggiore you can admire a fresco-cycle of the painter Pinturicchio.

Day 7 Walk to Assisi (km 17)
Spello is situated on the west edge of the natural park Monte Subasio and today you will be walking through this park: The route has different variants. Interesting sights in the park are the spring Fonte Bregno, Mortaro Grande, the Fosse del Marchetto (mini canyon) and the Franciscan cloister, the Eremo delle Carceri. Franciscus and his compagnons sojourn here many times and here you can visit the cave where Franciscus used to meditate. Many places (especially in Assisi) and monuments are strongly bounded with the saints Francis and Clare, who lived here in the 13th century. Through one of its eight gates you enter Assisi for a tour through the old centre. The medieval character is well preserved; the houses, gates, squares and churches are almost all built in the pink- white walking stone of Monte Subasio. The walking-tour finishes with an overnight stay in your first hotel outside Assisi.

Day 8 Departure

RATES

Contact info@bikeandhike.co.za for rates and specials.

Ref: It/w/1.3/Via

Self-guided walking tour
8 days / 7 nights

Departure
Daily, except Sundays

PROGRAM

Day 1: Arrival in Gualdo Tadino on the main railway from Rome to Ancona
Transfer to Gubbio. This is a very old town which has completely preserved its medieval character. The communal palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Umbria. The town is famous for its articrafts, but most of all because of a festival in May called "i ceri di Gubbio" during which the whole town seems to go crazy.

Day 2: Gubbio/Valfabbrica 15 km 5h30
The itinerary has mystical references as it retraces the trails followed by saint Francis on his trips to Assisi. The day starts with a short transfer to trail head. It is a remote part of Umbria, untouched, rugged and beautiful: barren hills of intense green that in June are lightened by the yellow of scotch brooms bushes, grazing herds, watch towers and remains of ancient castles. If you are too tired for the last uphill to the Agriturismo you can call and they will pick you up. Night and supper in a charming farmhouse. In summer you can take advantage of the swimming pool and in spring and autumn of the indoor hot pool.

Day 3: Valfabbrica - Assisi 5 hours
You can start right from your hotel. The beginning is a bit tough then it becomes easier. Rolling hills and thick woods and an amazing arrival with a breath taking view of Assisi. Supper in your hotel, which is just outside of town within walking distance of the basilica. Again a refreshing dip in the pool will be welcomed at the end of a tiring day.

Day 4: Assisi/Assisi 3 hours
A relaxing day. If you want to walk you can have a 3 hours loop. Have a brisk departure by climbing to the Eremo delle Carceri, S. Francis peaceful retreat. At the top of the trail 500 meters from the Eremo there is a nice picnic spot with tables and benches. Otherwise just visit Assisi, which has a lot more to offer than the St Francis Basilica, although the Giotto's frescos are superb… Relax, supper and overnight.

Day 5: Assisi/Spello/Trevi 6 hours
Possibly the longest day of the tour. Transfer to the beginning of the trail which cuts through the Subasio park to reach first the Madoonna della Spella shrine then the little lovely hamlet of Collepimo where you can have a picnic before continuing to Spello. If you find the day too long you can shorten it by organizing with your driver to pick up your lugguage in Collipino. You will be driven to Trevi. Supper and overnight in a nice hotel with a view of the whole valley.

Day 6: Trevi/Bevagna
After breakfast, you will start a walk through the area that produces the best olive oil of Umbria and, the say, of Italy. From Trevi, a village that has remained unchanged since the Middleages your walk continue through olive groves, bypassing clusters of old houses, watch towers and nice churches. The trails runs at mid height for most of the day. From Pissignano it descends toward the valley below to reach a charming spot called Le Fonti del Clitunno close to Spoleto, where your driver will fetch you as soon as you call him, to drive you back for supper in a nice hotel in town. There is a pleasant café where you can wait. Transfer to your hotel in Bevagna, the heart of the wine area. Free supper.

Day 7: Bevagna/Bevagna
A loop in the heart of the best wine area of Umbria. After visiting Bevagna which, is known for its medieval market during the month of June, walk from Bevagna to Montefalco, have lunch at the ecoteca on Montefalco main square, sample some wine at one of the best wineries of the area and come back to your starting point. Gourment supper at Orto degli angeli.

Day 8:
Departure.

INCLUDED

• 7 nights on B&B basis
• 5 Suppers, 1 wine tasting
• Transfers as per itinerary
• Luggage transfer at each change of Inn
• Detailed road book and maps
• Possible upgrade to historical mansions in Assisi and Bevagna EUR 260
  

RATES

Contact info@bikeandhike.co.za for rates and specials.

Ref: It/w/1.4/Mum

Self-guided walking tour
7 days / 6 nights

Departures:
Every Sunday during April - November. Excluded: Easter and 30 June - 18 July.

PROGRAM

Day 1: Your overnight stay is in Residence la Terrazza. I t is situated in a beautiful position in the medieval part of Spello. The quiet walled-in garden offers a magnificent view over the Valle Umbra. At the end of the afternoon you will be expected in the wine bar Properzio where you will make a profound acquaintance with the Umbrian wines and tidbits, like bruschette seasoned with a pâté of tomatoes, white and black truffles, different cheeses and raw ham, salami and capocollo. You will taste 2 white, 2 red and a dessert wine.

Day 2: Today you will make a walk over the slopes of Mount Subasio. First uphill through olive groves and forest and then a deserved descent till the local wine producer Tili in the Assisi D.o.c. area. You will visit his wine cellar and taste some of his wines. After this wine tasting there's only 45 min. walking to Spello left.
Walking time: 4 ½ hours

Day 3: Coming to Umbria and not visiting Assisi would be impossible. So today's walk will bring you to this remarkable town. After your visit you return to Spello by train.
Walking time: 3 hours

Day 4: Today you will say goodbye to Spello. First you will visit the center of Perugia with its renaissance palaces, many churches, museums and galleries. A city walk will bring you through suggestive alleys and over cozy squares along the most interesting monuments. But of course it is also nice to saunter through the shopping street Corso Vannuci. At the end of the afternoon you will be welcomed in the holiday farm Nestore situated outside the village Verna. In the evening you will have a typical Umbrian dinner combined with a locale wine.

Day 5: After breakfast stats the cooking course. You will learn to make nice antipasti, which you will taste during lunch. In the afternood the second part of the cooking course. This time the 'primi' (pasta and risotto) will be highlighted. During dinner you will tast of course these primi.

Day 6: Today you will visit an olive oil farm and a winery in the surroundings of Spoleto-Montefalco. You will have lunch in Montefalco. In the evening you are free to arrange a dinner in one of the many good restourants of Spoleto.

Day 7: departure

INCLUDED

• 6 overnight stays B&B
• 3 diners (1 including wine)
• 3 wine-tastings
• 2 cooking lessons
• description and maps of above mentioned walks.

RATES

Contact info@bikeandhike.co.za for rates and specials.