FOUR WONDERFUL UMBRIAN TOWNS 

 An walking holiday choosing between your favourite towns

 

This tour is perfect for those looking to personally experience the unique and unspoiled region of Umbria with its beauty and hospitality. It offers the right combination of art and nature. In the Umbrian landscape you will find rolling hills covered with woodland, vineyards and silver- green olive groves alternated with colourful fertile valleys. This unique tour offers you the possibility to make your own combination of towns to stay in.

 

The four centres:   Città di Castello,   Assisi,   Spoleto   &   Norcia

 

 

ASSISI 

Assisi is a pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio. Many monuments have been erected here in honour of the saints Francis and Clare. In Assisi you will make a town walk and a walk through the hills around Assisi. On the fourth day you leave the town. This day you can choose between two routes to Spello and arrived in medieval town of Spello you take the train or have a transfer to the next centre you choose for.

 

 

Programme

Day 1 arrival at Assisi and if early you could make a cultural town walk

Day 2 excursion in the national park of Mount Subasio

Day 3 a nice walk to Spello and back by train to Assisi

Day 4 departure

 

Day 1

Arrival

Arrival ad Assisi. Your  *** hotel is in the modern part of Assisi at 900m from the historical centre. The hotel has a swimming pool, a car park, restaurant, bar and spa centre.

the town walk will take you round the most important cultural monuments of Assisi , which are mostly connected with the lives of the saints Francis and Clare, who were born in Assisi . From the hotel your walk goes up to the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you will walk through a tangle of little alleys and medieval squares. You will pass the remains of an amphitheatre, the medieval castle (506m a.s.l.), the basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva, the church ‘Chiesa Nuova’ and the basilica of St. Clare, finally walking down to the monastery of S. Damiano (310m a.s.l.). After your visit of this monastery you can choose to go back to your hotel or to continue your walk downhill to the village of S.Maria degli Angel (210m a.s.l.) to visit the impressive basilica. From here the local bus will bring you back to Assisi .

Walking time:  3 – 4 ½  hours

Day 2

Today you can choose between a longer and a shorter route:

The longer walk through the hills around Assisi starts from the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you walk along a walking trail to the hamlets of Costa di Trex (570m a.s.l.). From here you descend to the village of  Ponte Grande , where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest in one of the two restaurants or in the bar. Your route will then bring you back to Assisi through gentle, rolling countryside. You will enter the town through the Porta S.Giacomo town gate and pass through the old centre of Assisi to walk back to your hotel.

Walking time: 5 ½  hours (about 18 km)

Or

The shorter walk through the national park of Mount Subasio :

This is a beautiful walk in the shad of the woods of Mount Subasio . From the Porta Cappuccini town gates you walk up to the spring ‘Fonte Maddalena’ (810m a.s.l.) on Monte Subasio. You then descend to the hamlet of Costa di Trex (570m a.s.l.) and along the walking path 51 you will reach again Assisi .

Walking time about: 4 hours (12 km )

Day 3

 

 

Assisi-Spello:

There are two routes to go to Spello: a longer one going uphill to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri or a shorter one through olive groves along the slopes of Monte Subasio. From the porta Cappuccini a footpath will take you to the hermitage, which is situated at 830m a.s.l. Saint Francis and his companions used to retreat here to meditate in the woods. After St. Francis’s death a monastery was built on this spot. Passing the spring ‘Tre Fontane’ and the abbey of S. Benedetto you will descend to Spello, walking first through the woods and then through olive groves. 

Walking time: 6 hours (about 18 km)

Or

The lower route follows the slopes of Mount Subasio and involves less climbing, but it is also a beautiful walk through olive groves with astounding views.

Spello is built on the slopes of Mount Subasio .  This little town has Roman origins, as we are reminded by several features including the porta Venere and porta Consolare town gates and the remains of a Roman theatre outside the town walls. Don’t forget to admire the colourful fresco’s by Pinturicchio in the church S.Maria Maggiore.

Walking time: 3 ½  hours (about 13 km)

Back by train to Assisi

 

Day 4

Departure

 

The other town centres: Spoleto, Città di Castello and Norcia

 

 

SPOLETO

Spoleto is an exciting town, where you can visit a lot of monuments, including the cathedral, a Roman house and of course the famous aqueduct bridge Ponte delle Torri. It is also a excellent starting point to make some nice walks on Monteluco or in the surrounding hills. Your hotel is situated in the historical centre of Spoleto.

 

 

 

Programme

Day 1 arrival at Spoleto and a short walk along the ex Spoleto–Norcia railway 

Day 2 Walk on Monteluco

Day 3 walk along the olive grove path and back by train to Spoleto

Day 4 departure 

 

Day 1

Arrival at Spoleto

Your hotel is situated in the medieval centre of Spoleto. If you arrive early you can make a short walk along the old abandoned railway, passing through tunnels and railway bridges. You arrive at Eggi and walking along quiet country roads you will reach again Spoleto.  Walking time: 3 hours (8 km)

 

Day 2

Monteluco  

The walk today takes you to Monteluco ( Mount Luco ). The name ‘Lucu’ (lucus) means 'sacred woods', and signifies that in ancient times the mountain was considered a holy place. From the 5th  century hermits lived under Benedictine rule on the mountain. Later the Franciscans also built a monastery here. The evergreen oak wood was always very important for the town and was therefore already a protected area in the Middle Ages. The animals living here include porcupines, wild cats, badgers and squirrels

Walking time: 3 ½  hours (10 km)

 

Day 3

Olive Grove Path

Today’s walk is along the Olive Trail –'sentiero degli olivi'-, a walking route from Spoleto to Assisi . As the name indicates you will mostly walk through olive groves on the slopes of the mountains. You pass several little villages, mostly built on hills, like Eggi and Bazzano. In Poreta you leave the Olive Trail to go to the station in Campello sul Clitunno. From here you take the train to Spoleto (not possible on Sundays).

Walking time: 6 hours (18 km)

 

Day 4

Olive Grove Path

Today’s walk is along the Olive Trail –'sentiero degli olivi'-, a walking route from Spoleto to Assisi . As the name indicates you will mostly walk through olive groves on the slopes of the mountains. You pass several little villages, mostly built on hills, like Eggi and Bazzano. In Poreta you leave the Olive Trail to go to the station in Campello sul Clitunno. From here you take the train to Spoleto (not possible on Sundays).

Walking time: 6 hours (18 km)  

 

The other town centres: Città di Castello, Assisi and Norcia

 

CITTÀ DI CASTELLO

Città di Castello is situated in the Upper Tiber Valley surrounded by the varying shades of green of the gentle hills. The Romans called this ancient Umbrian town Tifernum Tiberinum. It  was a prominent Roman municipality and was  mentioned by Pliny the Younger, who erected a temple here. Città di Castello has always been an important economic and cultural centre. The old town with its cluster of towers and bell towers  invites you to wander  its narrow streets,  through courtyards and porticos of aristocratic houses and around the charming cloisters of monasteries. There is a lot to see, including the palazzo del Comune, the Burri collection, the cathedral, many other churches and  the ‘pinacoteca comunale’ art gallery with  works by Raphael, Luca Signorelli, Pomerancio, Ghiberti.

 

Programme

Day 1 arrival at Città di Castello

Day 2 Walk to hermitage of Buon Riposo

Day 3 walk to Fontecchio

Day 4 departure

 

Day 1

Arrival at Città di Castello

Your **** hotel is in the centre of the old town and if you arrive early you good make a town walk to visit the most important monuments and museums.

Day 2

a ring walk to Montesca and the hermitage Buon Riposo

Leaving Città di Castello you will walk uphill through woodland and fields towards the hamlet of Uppiano. Some more climbing will bring you to the top of Monte Cedrone, from where you will have a 360° view over the Upper Tiber Valley . Descending you will come to the path of the Franciscan walking route ‘Via di San Francesco’ which starts in La Verna and ends in Rome . You pass the Buon Riposo hermitage, where St.Francis stayed during his journey to La Verna and where he ‘ben riposava’ (slept well). The last stretch of descent will take you past Villa Montesca, where Maria Montessori taught teachers her education method, across the bridge over the Tiber and into the centre of Città di Castello. 

Distance 15 km (4hr 30 min)

 

Day 3

The ring walk of Fontecchio  

This walk has a theme: ‘water’, source  of live, present  in small streams and  placid springs. You walk through the fertile hills just outside Città di Castello to reach Fontecchio, a spa centre dating back to 1860, and continue uphill towards Monte Pozio. You then descend along a quiet dirt road untill you come to the walking trail of the Via di San Francesco, which you follow to Città di Castello.

Distance 17 km; duration 5 hrs 15 min

 

Day 4

departure

 

 

The other town centres: Spoleto, Assisi and Norcia

 

 

 

NORCIA

 

Norcia lies in a unique spot at 600m a.s.l. with the  Sibylline mountains as its backdrop. This is a    part of Umbria still to be discovered and which offers an unforgettable holiday with  its perfect combination of nature, spirituality, tranquillity and excellent food.  Norcia is well-known as the birth town of St. Benedict, but it is also renowned for  its black truffle, excellent cheeses and “norcineria” (salami’s, cured hams and much more). In this part of Umbria you can enjoy excellent walks. On your arrival day you can explore the town and go for a short walk in the surrounding area. Over the following days there are two walks in the itinerary: for one, you will be taken by vehicle  to the Great Plain (Pian Grande, at 1260m a.s.l.) from where you will walk back down to Norcia; the other is a lovely walk to the meadows of Ospedaletto. Your overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in the centre of Norcia. After your walks you can relax in the sport centre with a swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and fitness room, which is just 350m from your hotel.

 

 

 

programma

Day 1  arrival at Norcia if early you could explore the town and make a short walk in the surroundings.

Day 2 Walk to Ospedaletto

Day 3 transfer by vehicle to Casteluccio and walking back to Norcia

Day 4 departure

 

Day 1

Arrival at Norcia

If you arrive early at your hotel, which is in the centre of Norcia, you can explore the town and go for a short walk in the surrounding area. If you come from Assisi transferred by vehicle you can get off the car to walk the last piece along the ex- railway to Norcia (about 10 kms) The town walls of Norcia, dating from the XIV century, are still intact. Norcia is famous as the birthplace of S.Benedict and his twin sister Saint Scholastica. The Rule of Saint Benedict became one of the most influential religious Rules in Western Christianity. Worth visiting are the gothic basilica of St. Benedict, the renaissance cathedral, the church of St. Agostino and the "Castellina", a four-sided stronghold built by Vignola and nowadays housing the Municipal Diocesan Museum.

Day 2

Norcia-Ospedaletto-Norcia

Today’s walk passes the marshy fields around Norcia and it will lead you to meadows of  Ospedaletto (1027 a.s.l.). Walking along a shadowy dirt road you pass the 17th century church of  San Filippo Neri and are climbing your way up to the village of  Ospedaletto (1027m). Descending you will have spectacular views of Norcia and the mountains Monte Sibillini.                       

Distance: 13,5 km; Duration: 5 hours

 

Day 3

Castelluccio

After breakfast you will be taken by vehicle to Castelluccio, which at 1452m. the highest settlement in Umbria . It lies above the "Great Plain" (Pian Grande - 1270 m), in the Monti Sibillini National Park . Rain and melt water accumulate on the surface of the plain, which is made of largely impermeable sediments. The greenish ditches drain the water towards openings called ponors, which are part of the karst underground drainage system. The fields on the slopes below the village are cultivated and in the months of June and July the flora of the fields is in lavish colour. A beautiful downhill walk will bring you back to the ‘Piano di S.Scolastica’ plain.

Distance: about 18 km; Duration: 6 hours

 

Day 4

Departure after breakfast. From Norcia you can take the bus to Spoleto (train station) or you can ask for a transfer to the station in Spoleto (not included in the price)

 

The other town centres: Spoleto, Città di Castello and Assisi

 

 

 

Included in this walking holiday:

  • 6 overnight stays with breakfast

  • route notes and maps

  • luggage trasportation  

  • insurance

  • tour information

  • transfer by vehicle Assisi - Spoleto (A); transfer Assisi – Città di Castello (B); transfer Assisi – Norcia (C);   transfer Spoleto – Città di Castello  (D); transfer Spoleto – Norcia (E); transfer Città di Castello – Norcia (F)

 

Not included in the price:

  • transfer at the end of your stay in Norcia to the station of Spoleto or the regional airport of S.Egidio (to pay in loco)

  • train ticket from Spello to Assisi about 1,80 € p.p.

  • train ticket from Campello to  Spoleto about 1,40 € p.p.

  • everything not mentioned under included in this walking holiday

 

Discount p.p. for whom is coming with his own car and don’t need the luggage transportations and transfers to the next centre or who prefer to take the train or bus to the next centre                                                

Period

Assisi & Spoleto & Città di Castello all year; Norcia from 15 April till 30 October

Level 2 / 3

Not to heavy walks, but for walkers with some experience. Routes through middle/high level hilly landscapes with some steep climbs. Daily distances between 10 and 20 km. An average of  3 km-4km an hour. You will walk on footpaths, mountain tracks, forest trails and occasionally on quiet country roads. Some days you have the choice to make a shorter and lighter walk

Participants 

from 1 person

Prices p.p. 2012

7 days / 6 nights

A. Assisi-Spoleto

in double room     € 428,00

in single room      € 571,00

travelling alone     € 603,00

supplement half board      € 152,00

supplement Spoleto festival  (24/06-08/07)     € 45,00

B.Assisi-Città di Castello

in double room    € 517,00

in single room      € 548,00

travelling alone     € 704,00

C.Assisi-Norcia

in double room      € 427,00

in single room      € 558,00

travelling alone     € 607,00

supplement half board      € 150,00

Supplement stay at Saturday night at Norcia    € 10,00

transfer Norcia - to station of Spoleto on request

D.Spoleto-Città di Castello

in double room      € 482,00

in single room      € 589,00

travelling alone     € 651,00

E.Spoleto - Norcia

in double room      € 370,00

in single room      € 485,00

travelling alone     € 535,00

supplement half board     € 120,00

Supplement stay at Saturday night at Norcia    € 10,00

Supplement Spoleto Festival (24/06-08/07)     € 45,00    

F.Città di Castello-Norcia

in double room      € 482,00

in single room      € 589,00

travelling     € 689,00

Supplement stay Saturday night at Norcia    € 10,00

transfer Norcia - station of Spoleto on request

 

Please, contact us freely, if you would like to receive more information !