Treasures of the green valley (Leisure)

Assisi is a pilgrimage town built on the slopes of Mount Subasio, overlooking the green Valle Umbra. It is a place in which history, traditions, and art are harmoniously combined. If you arrive early today, you could already discover this beautiful city wandering through its alleys, streets and stop at one of the cosy squares, where cafés are inviting you to sit down and enjoy a ‘gelato’. There are many monuments worth a visit, like the Basilicas of St. Francis and of St. Clare, the fortress, many museums, and the Roman Forum. Drop off bicycles, route briefing, and instruction. Overnight stay with breakfast in a *** or **** star hotel in Assisi.

You leave your hotel and cycle along the slopes of Mount Subasio to Spello. There is enough time this morning to wander around this charming ancient town, pleasantly situated on the southern slopes of Mount Subasio. In urban, architectural and artistic terms, Spello is an extremely interesting town, containing many features dating back to the Roman and medieval times.

Spello is also called the town of flowers, because of its many colourful little alleys embellished with plants and flowers. The town is well known for its special flower festival (‘infiorata’) for Corpus Domini. After Spello you descend to Foligno, which is in the valley. You pass along the main square with its beautiful ‘duomo’, which still has a Romanesque façade. Continuing along the lively main shopping street, you will leave the town to cycle the last km of your route, across the fertile valley with its colourful fields and various waterways. Your country house is situated just outside the village of Casco dell’Acqua.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Casco dell’Acqua

Distance: 24,1 km / 15 mi

Ascent/descent +166 – 329m

Paved; 23,2 km

Unpaved: 0,9 km

This morning, the route among olive groves 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 end of June, the beginning 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 along the cycle path back to Casco dell’Acqua.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Casco dell’Acqua

Long route

Distance: 51 km / 31,7 mi

Ascent/descent +292 – 292m

Paved; 47,8 km

Unpaved: 3,2 km

Short route

Distance: 44 km / 27,3 mi

Ascent/descent +146 – 146m

Paved; 42,9 km

Unpaved: 1 km

Today’s route winds through gentle hills lined with olive groves and vineyards on the way to Montefalco, one of Umbria’s most scenic hill towns. From afar, its medieval walls rise above the valley — a clear sign that the “Balcony of Umbria” is near.

At the base of the hill, you can either continue directly to Bevagna or take the short, steep climb up to Montefalco (472 m), rewarded by sweeping views of the Valle Umbra.

Montefalco is known for its art and wine: admire frescoes by Gozzoli and Perugino in the former Franciscan church, and sample the celebrated Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco wines in one of the town’s enoteche.

From there, enjoy a pleasant descent to Bevagna, a charming medieval town with a lively main square, Romanesque churches, and a timeless atmosphere — the ideal place to relax with a glass of wine as the sun sets over Umbria.

Higher route passing Montefalco

Distance: 24,7 km / 15,3 mi

Ascent/descent +311m – 300m

Paved: 23,6 km / 14,7 mi

Unpaved: 1,1 km /0,7 mi

Low route NOT passing Montefalco

Distance: 26,9 km / 16,7 mi

Ascent/descent +170m – 164m

Paved: 25,9 km / 16,1 mi

Unpaved: 1 km /0,6 mi

Take some time this morning to enjoy Bevagna’s historic centre, with its Roman and medieval charm, elegant Piazza Silvestri, and artisan workshops keeping old crafts alive.

Leaving town, a gentle climb brings you to Torre del Colle, a peaceful hilltop hamlet with lovely views — a perfect short stop before continuing through the fertile Valle Umbra.

The route then follows the valley floor toward Torgiano, a picturesque wine town at the meeting of the Chiascio and Tiber rivers. Visit the Wine and Olive Oil Museums, or simply relax in the quiet historic centre with a glass of Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG to end your day.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Torgiano

Distance: 28,1 km / 17,5 mi

Ascent/descent +197m – 206m

Paved: 28 km / 17,4 mi

Unpaved: 0,1 km /0,06 mi

Today there are different options:

1. Visiting Perugia: cycling to the old town centre
This trip takes you to Perugia, which is the capital of the province. Cycling along quiet country roads, you reach Perugia. A climb will bring you to the old town centre, with its little alleys and characteristic town squares. There is a lot to see like Renaissance palaces, medieval churches, museums, and many galleries. After your visit, you return cycling to the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano.

Distance: 34,5 km / 21,4 mi

Ascent/descent +492m – 494m

Paved; 30,1 km

Unpaved: 4,4 km

2. A loop in the surroundings of Torgiano
Close to Torgiano (6 km) is the village of Deruta, which has in part, managed to retain the highly distinctive features of its medieval buildings. Deruta is universally famous for its ceramics. The origins of this ancient art go back as far as the Etruscan times and nowadays many local workshops still make excellent quality ceramics. Numerous Italian and foreign museums have pieces of Deruta ceramics on show, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. The town hall hosts the art gallery and the ceramics museum.

The next stop is the sanctuary of Madonna dei Bagni, which was built after a miracle, which took place in the year 1657. Inside the church, there are more than 600 votive tiles, all testimony to the tradition of the Deruta ceramics. Cycling through a beautiful hilly landscape, you pass typical Umbrian hamlets like Casalalta. Your cycle back to Torgiano is through the Tiber Valley. Torgiano, like Montefalco, is famous for its excellent red and white wines. There is an interesting wine museum to visit and next door you can taste the wines of the Lungarotti family in the ‘Osteria’.

Long & higher route

Distance: 45 km / 28 mi

Ascent/descent +508m – 546m

Paved; 35km

Unpaved: 10 km

Short & lower route

Distance: 31,3 km / 19 mi

Ascent/descent +217m – 215m

Paved; 24,2 km

Unpaved: 7,1 km

Today you will cross the valley, cycling on quiet country roads. You will already see Assisi from afar as, like many other Umbrian towns, it is built on a hilltop. Before reaching Assisi, however, you can stop for a moment to visit the Franciscan basilica in S.Maria degli Angeli. Under its impressive dome still lies the humble little chapel ‘Porziuncola’ where Saint Francis came to pray.

To reach the beautiful historical centre of Assisi, you have to make a short, steep climb, but wandering through the town, you will agree that it was worth the effort. You will have enough time to visit the main monuments of the town, like the basilica of Saint Francis with its beautiful frescoes by the painters Giotto, Simone Martini, Cimabue, and Pietro Lorenzetti. Your overnight stay will be in the hotel where you started your tour.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Assisi

Distance: 25 km / 15,5 mi

Ascent/descent +301m – 209m

Paved; 25,9 km

Unpaved: 1,6 km

After breakfast, the tour is finished or can be extended with an extra night.