Walking in Umbria, an eno-gastronomic surprise

Individual arrival at your hotel in the medieval town centre of Assisi. In the evening you have a welcome dinner in the restaurant il Frantoio, where you will tastes some recipes of chef Lorenzo Cantoni, The Miglior Chef dell’Olio AIRO 2021 (best Olive Oil chef AIRO).

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Assisi.

Explore the rich history of Assisi on this cultural walking tour that leads you past the town’s most important monuments linked to Saint Francis and Saint Clare, both born and buried in this sacred hilltop town. Your walk begins at the hotel and ascends to the medieval Porta Cappuccini gate (470 m a.s.l.), where you enter a charming maze of narrow alleyways and lively stone squares.

From here, the route takes you past Assisi’s key landmarks: the Rocca Maggiore castle (506 m a.s.l.), the world-famous Basilica of St. Francis, the Temple of Minerva, the Chiesa Nuova, and the Basilica of St. Clare. As you cross the historic centre, you enjoy sweeping views, winding medieval lanes, and centuries of Franciscan heritage. Your Assisi walking tour concludes peacefully at the Monastery of San Damiano (310 m a.s.l.), an essential site in the life of Saint Francis.

At 17.15, you are picked up at the hotel by taxi and brought to the winery Saio. You have a short walk through the vineyards and a wine-tasting of 4 Saio wines combined with bruschetta to taste the Saio extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, caciotta with truffle, cold cuts and torta al testo. After the tasting, you are brought back to your hotel.

Walking time 3 – 4 ½ hours
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles

Today’s scenic route leads you along the gentle slopes of Monte Subasio, guiding you through one of the most picturesque sections of the Umbrian countryside on your way to Spello. This peaceful walk winds through endless olive groves, medieval stone terraces, and fragrant Mediterranean vegetation, offering wide-open views over the Valle Umbra, one of the most beautiful valleys in central Italy. The landscape changes subtly as you approach Spello, revealing vineyards, cypress-lined paths, and stretches of silvery olive trees that have shaped this region for centuries.

Perched on a rocky spur of Monte Subasio, Spello is considered one of the most enchanting hill towns in Umbria. Its remarkably well-preserved Roman and medieval walls embrace a historical centre filled with pink limestone houses, flower-decorated alleys, and elegant stone archways. As you explore its winding streets, you’ll encounter impressive reminders of its Roman past, including ancient gates, inscriptions, and architectural fragments embedded in the town’s fabric.

Spello is also home to one of Umbria’s greatest artistic treasures: the Pinturicchio frescoes in the Cappella Baglioni of the church Santa Maria Maggiore. These extraordinary Renaissance works, renowned for their vibrant colours and exquisite detail, attract art lovers from around the world.

You will spend the night in a charming hotel located in Spello’s historical centre—perfect for an evening stroll through this atmospheric town.

Walking time: 3 ½ hrs
Distance: 12,1 km / 7,5 miles
Ascent – Descent: + 258m  – 339m.
Paved: 5,5 km / 3,4 mi  (45%)
Unpaved: 6,6 km /4,1 mi

Today you will enjoy a beautiful circular walk in the peaceful countryside surrounding Spello. The route begins by leading you through silvery olive groves and patches of fragrant woodland, before joining the ancient Roman aqueduct path—one of the most scenic walking trails in Umbria. Following this gently curving stone channel, you make your way toward Collepino, a tiny fortified mountain village perched on the slopes of Monte Subasio.

After exploring Collepino’s quiet lanes and medieval atmosphere, a short climb brings you to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the valley. From here, you continue along tranquil footpaths and dirt roads that cross the natural terraces of Monte Subasio, eventually looping back to Spello.

The vegetation on the Subasio slopes is remarkably diverse: olive trees, broom, turkey oak, downy oak, hornbeam, flowering ash, maple, beech, and holm oak create a constantly changing landscape. The aqueduct trail winds through a harmonious blend of cultivated fields, Mediterranean woodland, and ancient stone terraces.

Throughout the walk, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Spello, the Valle Umbra, and the rolling Umbrian hills—making this one of the most memorable stages of your journey.

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Spello
Walking time: 4 hours
Distance: about 11,5 km / 7 miles
Ascent – Descent: + 479m  – 480m
Paved: 1,9 km /1,2 mi (16%)
Unpaved: 9,7 km /6 mi

At 18:15 you are expected in a restaurant/wine bar ‘Properzio’ for a tasting menu*:
– Bruschette with 2 different olive oils and fresh tomatoes / white wine Fendi*
– Tagliatelle with truffle (if you do not like truffle tagliatelle with fresh tomatoes)/wine Brunello
   or Super Tuscan*
– Meatballs of Chianina with salad/wine Sagrantino 25 anni Caprai*
– Dessert, caffè and grappa

* Menu or wines can changes slightly according to the season or availability.

End of this memorable tour in search of the flavours of Umbria.

Individual arrival at your hotel in the medieval town centre of Assisi. In the evening you have a welcome dinner in the restaurant il Frantoio, where you will tastes some recipes of chef Lorenzo Cantoni, The Miglior Chef dell’Olio AIRO 2021 (best Olive Oil chef AIRO).

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Assisi.

Explore the rich history of Assisi on this cultural walking tour that leads you past the town’s most important monuments linked to Saint Francis and Saint Clare, both born and buried in this sacred hilltop town. Your walk begins at the hotel and ascends to the medieval Porta Cappuccini gate (470 m a.s.l.), where you enter a charming maze of narrow alleyways and lively stone squares.

From here, the route takes you past Assisi’s key landmarks: the Rocca Maggiore castle (506 m a.s.l.), the world-famous Basilica of St. Francis, the Temple of Minerva, the Chiesa Nuova, and the Basilica of St. Clare. As you cross the historic centre, you enjoy sweeping views, winding medieval lanes, and centuries of Franciscan heritage. Your Assisi walking tour concludes peacefully at the Monastery of San Damiano (310 m a.s.l.), an essential site in the life of Saint Francis.

At 17.15, you are picked up at the hotel by taxi and brought to the winery Saio. You have a short walk through the vineyards and a wine-tasting of 4 Saio wines combined with bruschetta to taste the Saio extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, caciotta with truffle, cold cuts and torta al testo. After the tasting, you are brought back to your hotel.

Walking time 3 – 4 ½ hours
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles

Today’s scenic route leads you along the gentle slopes of Monte Subasio, guiding you through one of the most picturesque sections of the Umbrian countryside on your way to Spello. This peaceful walk winds through endless olive groves, medieval stone terraces, and fragrant Mediterranean vegetation, offering wide-open views over the Valle Umbra, one of the most beautiful valleys in central Italy. The landscape changes subtly as you approach Spello, revealing vineyards, cypress-lined paths, and stretches of silvery olive trees that have shaped this region for centuries.

Perched on a rocky spur of Monte Subasio, Spello is considered one of the most enchanting hill towns in Umbria. Its remarkably well-preserved Roman and medieval walls embrace a historical centre filled with pink limestone houses, flower-decorated alleys, and elegant stone archways. As you explore its winding streets, you’ll encounter impressive reminders of its Roman past, including ancient gates, inscriptions, and architectural fragments embedded in the town’s fabric.

Spello is also home to one of Umbria’s greatest artistic treasures: the Pinturicchio frescoes in the Cappella Baglioni of the church Santa Maria Maggiore. These extraordinary Renaissance works, renowned for their vibrant colours and exquisite detail, attract art lovers from around the world.

You will spend the night in a charming hotel located in Spello’s historical centre—perfect for an evening stroll through this atmospheric town.

Walking time: 3 ½ hrs
Distance: 12,1 km / 7,5 miles
Ascent – Descent: + 258m  – 339m.
Paved: 5,5 km / 3,4 mi  (45%)
Unpaved: 6,6 km /4,1 mi

Today you will enjoy a beautiful circular walk in the peaceful countryside surrounding Spello. The route begins by leading you through silvery olive groves and patches of fragrant woodland, before joining the ancient Roman aqueduct path—one of the most scenic walking trails in Umbria. Following this gently curving stone channel, you make your way toward Collepino, a tiny fortified mountain village perched on the slopes of Monte Subasio.

After exploring Collepino’s quiet lanes and medieval atmosphere, a short climb brings you to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the valley. From here, you continue along tranquil footpaths and dirt roads that cross the natural terraces of Monte Subasio, eventually looping back to Spello.

The vegetation on the Subasio slopes is remarkably diverse: olive trees, broom, turkey oak, downy oak, hornbeam, flowering ash, maple, beech, and holm oak create a constantly changing landscape. The aqueduct trail winds through a harmonious blend of cultivated fields, Mediterranean woodland, and ancient stone terraces.

Throughout the walk, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Spello, the Valle Umbra, and the rolling Umbrian hills—making this one of the most memorable stages of your journey.

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Spello
Walking time: 4 hours
Distance: about 11,5 km / 7 miles
Ascent – Descent: + 479m  – 480m
Paved: 1,9 km /1,2 mi (16%)
Unpaved: 9,7 km /6 mi

At 18:15 you are expected in a restaurant/wine bar ‘Properzio’ for a tasting menu*:
– Bruschette with 2 different olive oils and fresh tomatoes / white wine Fendi*
– Tagliatelle with truffle (if you do not like truffle tagliatelle with fresh tomatoes)/wine Brunello
   or Super Tuscan*
– Meatballs of Chianina with salad/wine Sagrantino 25 anni Caprai*
– Dessert, caffè and grappa

* Menu or wines can changes slightly according to the season or availability.

After breakfast, you bid farewell to Spello and take the train to Spoleto. The morning is entirely yours to explore this elegant and historic hilltown at your own pace. Spoleto offers an exceptional concentration of art, architecture and atmospheric streets. One of the highlights is the Duomo, reached via a beautiful, gently descending stairway. Inside, you can admire remarkable fresco cycles by Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio.

There are many other fascinating sites to discover: the Roman House with its ancient mosaics, the early Christian San Salvatore church, the Romanesque church of San Ponziano, and the impressive Rocca Albornoziana, which sits high above Spoleto and offers panoramic views over the surrounding hills. Not to be missed are also the iconic Ponte delle Torri, the slender Torre dell’Olio, the Roman Theatre, and the well-curated Archaeological Museum.

In the afternoon, you join a delightful cookery lesson in your four-star hotel. Under the guidance of a local chef, you will prepare a traditional antipasto and a primo using fresh Umbrian ingredients. During dinner, you’ll enjoy the dishes you created—an authentic and memorable culinary experience.

Your final walking day begins at the iconic Ponte delle Torri, Spoleto’s dramatic bridge-aqueduct that marks the gateway to Monte Monteluco. The mountain’s name derives from lucus, meaning “sacred woods,” a reminder that this serene place has been considered holy since ancient times. As you ascend the wooded slopes, you follow paths once used by hermits, monks, and pilgrims seeking silence and contemplation.

By the 5th century, the hermit Isaac of Antioch had settled here, living according to the Benedictine rule. Centuries later ,the Franciscans arrived, establishing a monastery that still preserves the profound spiritual atmosphere of the site. Throughout history, Monteluco’s dense woodland—dominated by majestic evergreen oaks—has held great importance for the town of Spoleto. For this reason, the forest was protected as early as Roman times and again during the Middle Ages, making it one of the earliest known natural conservation areas in Italy.

As you continue your walk, enjoy the peaceful hush of the forest and its rich biodiversity. The slopes provide a habitat for porcupines, wildcats, badgers, squirrels, and many species of birds. Surrounded by ancient trees and panoramic views of the Umbrian valley, your route offers a contemplative and atmospheric end to your journey.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Spoleto
Walking time: 4 hours
Distance: 11,4 km / 7 miles
Ascent – Descent: + 531m – 543m
Paved: 3,6 km /2,2 mi (32%)
Unpaved: 7,8 km/ 4,8 mi (68%)

End of this memorable tour in search of the flavours of Umbria.