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THE
VALLEY 'VALLE UMBRA', THE HEART OF UMBRIA
a
cycling tour for anyone
The
setting for this tour is the valley known as 'Valle Umbra', a fertile
valley with a backdrop of mountains and hills covered with olive groves
and vineyards. In this valley we find the the famous medieval towns
Assisi, Spello, Montefalco, Bevagna and Spoleto. The starting point of
this cycle tour is a country house, surrounded by agricultural fields
and with a splendid view of Assisi and Spello nestling on the slopes of
Mount Subasio (1260m a.s.l.). Originally it was an old 'borgo': a group
of houses with a bakery and a church. Now it is tastefully restored and
consists of apartments and rooms. It has a restaurant (only for the
guests of the country house) and a big fenced garden with a swimming
pool. The closest town to the country house is the little town of
Bevagna (3,5 kms).
This
holiday with short non strenuous circular routes, is designed for
families with children and for those wanting a very easy cycle
tour.
There
are different possibilities for an excellent holiday:
-
A
long weekend: 3 overnight stays with two cycle routes to visit Assisi, Cannara, Bevagna
and Foligno.
-
A
week: 5 overnight stays in the country house with 4 cycle tours,
during which you will visit towns such as Assisi, Cannara, Spello,
Bevagna and Foligno. On day 6 you will leave the country house and
will cycle to your hotel *** in Settecamini (Campello sul Clitunno)
where you will stay two nights. From here you will do a circular
tour to Spoleto.
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Programme:
a long weekend
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|
Day
1
|
Arrival
at the Country House
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|
Day
2
|
A
visit to S.Maria degli Angeli
and Assisi
(35 km)
Today’s
circular tour will take you first to Cannara, also named the
onion capital. Thanks to the fertile, well-irrigated soil, the
red onion (cipolla rossa) has been cultivated her since ages
past and every year
in the month of September the town hosts an onion festival,
during which people come from afar to eat the excellent onion
dishes and local specialities. Nowadays one tower remains as
witness to the medieval town walls of Cannara. Amongst the
salient features of the villages should be mentioned the Church
of the Buona Morte and the
church
of
St. John
the Baptist. After
Cannara you cycle to S.Maria degli Angeli. From a distance you
will see the dome of the impressive Franciscan basilica, which
was built in the 16th century to incorporate the
Porziuncola, a small church restored by St. Francis and his
companions.
Assisi
is built on a hilltop,
so those who don’t want to climb to reach it can catch the
local bus in front of the basilica of S.Maria degli Angeli.
Assisi
has retained its
medieval character with its tangle of alleyways and cosy
squares. There is a lot to see here, including the basilica’s
of St. Francis and St Clare, museums and the castle or ‘Rocca’.
Cycling along quiet country roads you return to Casa Cantone
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|
Day
3
|
Visiting
Bevagna and Foligno
(36 km)
On your way to Foligno you will first pass the small
town of
Bevagna
,
still encircled by its medieval town walls. Bevagna is situated on the bank of the river Teverone, near the
foothills of the Martani mountains. During Roman times the town
was called Mevania. This was a period of prosperity, because
Bevagna was situated next to a branch of the much-travelled
trade route the Via Flaminia. The town has a really romantic
medieval square with its palazzo dei Consoli and the Romanesque
churches S.Silvestro and S.Michel Arcangelo. Interesting is the
Roman mosaic floor with a design of marine animals in black and
white tesserae.
Cycling
along the many small country roads of the valley you will reach
Foligno, one of the bigger local towns, built in the valley
itself. It lies to the south of the Topino river. During Roman
times the city was known as Fulginia and was an important trade
centre, like Bevagna, due to its location close to the
much-travelled Via Flaminia. The following sights deserve
special attention: the cathedral of S.Feliciano with its
Romanesque facades and the palazzo Trinci (14th cent.), which
houses the Archaeological museum and the
Art
Gallery
.
A short route takes you back to Casa Cantone.
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|
Day
4
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Departure |
|
Price
2012 per
person
B&B
|
Low
18-03/21-04
13-10/17-03
|
Mid
22/04-16/06
01/09-12/10
|
High
16/06-31/08 and
holidays
|
|
Double/Twin |
158,00
|
165,00
|
173,00
|
|
Single |
180,00
|
195,00
|
210,00
|
|
3rd
person in Triple
|
133,00
|
138,00
|
143,00
|
|
3rd
and 4th person in 2
x 2 double/twin
|
125,00
|
147,00
|
159,00
|
|
per
dinner per person
children
3-10 years |
20,00
10,00 |
20,00
10,00 |
20,00
10,00 |
The
package includes:
-
3
overnight stays with breakfast
-
bike rentals (discount on request for bookings without bike hire, or for
children’s bikes or trailer bikes / child seats rather than adult
bikes).
-
2
routes and maps
-
back
up for emergencies
-
route
briefing evening of arrival
-
tour
information
-
insurance
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Programme:
a 5 days stay in Bevagna and 2 days in Settecamini
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|
Day
1
|
Arrival
at Country House near Bevagna
The
country house has a free car park. For those who arrive by train
at the station of Foligno a transfer will be provided to the
country house (included in the price). Route briefing and if
rented handing over of the bicycles.
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|
Day
2
|
Visiting
Bevagna
(19 km)
A small detour along country roads will take you to
Bevagna, situated on
the banks of the river Teverone, near the foothills of the
Martani mountains. During Roman times the town was called
Mevania. This was a period of prosperity, because Bevagna was
situated next to a branch of the much-travelled trade route the
Via Flaminia. The town has a very romantic medieval square, a
real meeting point for the inhabitants, with its palazzo dei
Consoli and the Romanesque churches S.Silvestro and S.Michel
Arcangelo. Interesting is the Roman mosaic floor with a design
of marine animals in black and white tesserae. Bevagna is
situated in a famous wine area which is home to the Sagrantino
d.o.c.g. and Montafalco Rosso d.o.c. You can taste these
excellent wines in one of the wine bars in the centre. After
your visit you return back to Casa Cantone passing the
‘borgo’ (walled-in village) of Torre del Colle.
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|
Day
3
|
A
visit to
S.Maria degli Angeli
and Assisi
(35 km)
Today’s
circular tour will take you first to Cannara, also named the
onion capital. Thanks to the fertile, well-irrigated soil, the
red onion (cipolla rossa) has been cultivated her since ages
past and every year
in the month of September the town hosts an onion festival,
during which people come from afar to eat the excellent onion
dishes and local specialities. Nowadays one tower remains as
witness to the medieval town walls of Cannara. Amongst the
salient features of the villages should be mentioned the Church
of the Buona Morte and the
church
of
St. John
the Baptist. After
Cannara you cycle to S.Maria degli Angeli. From a distance you
will see the dome of the impressive Franciscan basilica, which
was built in the 16th century to incorporate the
Porziuncola, a small church restored by St. Francis and his
companions.
Assisi
is built on a hilltop,
so those who don’t want to climb to reach it can catch the
local bus in front of the basilica of S.Maria degli Angeli.
Assisi
has retained its
medieval character with its tangle of alleyways and cosy
squares. There is a lot to see here, including the basilica’s
of St. Francis and St Clare, museums and the castle or ‘Rocca’.
Cycling along quiet country roads you return to Casa Cantone
|
|
Day
4
|
Visiting
Spello
(35
km)
Today
you will visit another medieval town. Spello, like
Assisi
,
is built on the slopes of
Mount
Subasio
.
You can leave your bike in the lower part of Spello visit the
old centre on foot. Also Spello)
is an interesting historical town, containing many features
dating back to the Roman age and a medieval nucleus which
remains intact. Originating from Roman times are the Consular
Gate, the Porta Venere and the Roman Amphitheatre outside the
town walls. Important sights are the
church
of
S.Maria Maggiore
where you can admire the Baglioni Chapel,
containing frescoes painted in 1501 by the Umbrian painter
Pinturicchio, portraying the Annunciation, the Dispute in the
Temple
, the Nativity and the Sibyls.
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|
Day
5
|
Visiting
the town of Foligno
(36 km)
On
your way to Foligno, you cycle alongside the town walls of
Bevagna. Cycling along the many small country roads of the
valley you will reach Foligno, one of the bigger local centres,
built in the valley itself. It lies to the south of the Topino
river. During Roman times the city was known as Fulginia and was
an important trade centre, like Bevagna, due to its location
close to the much-travelled Via Flaminia. The following sights
deserve special attention: the cathedral of S.Feliciano with its
Romanesque facades and the palazzo Trinci (14th cent.), which
houses the Archaeological museum and the
Art
Gallery
.
A short cut takes you back to Casa Cantone.
|
|
Day
6
|
To
Settecamini
- Campello sul Clitunno
(35 km)
Today you leave Casa Cantone and will cycle among
vineyards, fields and the many waterways of the valley to
Campello sul Clitunno (Settecamini). At the foot of Montefalco
you have the choice of continuing along the valley directly to
Campello or visiting Montefalco… but to reach this lovely town
you first have to conquer a steep climb. Montefalco (472 m a.s.l.)
is also known as the ‘balcony of
Umbria
’,
because of the fantastic panorama. On the way to Campello you
will pass other villages such as Fabbri and Bruna.
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|
Day
7
|
A
circular route to Spoleto
(29 km)
This morning a short tour will take you to Spoleto. You
can already see Spoleto from afar, with its castle dominating
the hilltop on which the medieval part of the town is built. The
centre is still largely inside the medieval town walls. Spoleto
is very famous for its music festival ‘dei due mondi’, held
in the first weeks of July. There is a lot to see in Spoleto,
including the cathedral with its famous frescoes by the
Florentine painter Filippo Lippi, the Roman house and the Roman
theatre with an annexed archaeological museum. Leaving Spoleto
you cycle among the many olive groves back to Settecamini
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|
Day
8
|
Departure
|
The
package includes:
-
7
overnight stays with breakfast
-
7
dinners
-
route
instructions and maps
-
7
days backup service for emergencies
-
route
briefing on arrival day
-
if
by train a transfer from station Foligno to Bevagna or if by car
from Campello to Bevagna to pick up your car at the starting hotel.
-
luggage
transportation from Bevagna to Campello
-
tour
information
-
insurance
|
Price
2012
per person
|
Low
18-03/21-04
13-10/17-03
|
Mid
22/04-16/06
01/09-12/10
|
High
16/06-31/08;
Holidays
|
|
Double/twin
|
560,00 |
575,00
|
595,00
|
|
Single
|
625,00
|
650,00
|
675,00
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travelling alone
|
650,00
|
675,00
|
700,00
|
|
3rd
person in triple
|
360,00
|
360,00
|
360,00
|
|
3rd
and 4th person in 2 x 2
doubles/twins
|
363,00
|
428,00
|
455,00
|
|
Bike rental + transport from Campello per
bike
|
60,00 |
60,00 |
60,00 |
|
Bike rental children's bike or trailer bike
|
45,00 |
45,00 |
45,00 |
|
children's seat
|
20,00 |
20,00 |
20,00 |
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Period
|
every
day, throughout the year: apartment rental from Saturday to
Saturday
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Level
1
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short, gentle cycling trips through the valley. The
routes are mostly on flat terrain with only occasional slight
climbs, but with never more than 150 metres of difference
in altitude. Daily distances between 20 and 40 km
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