A surprising Umbria

Your walking holiday in Umbria begins in Spello, one of Italy’s most enchanting medieval towns. Upon arrival, you’ll have a welcome briefing and the opportunity to go over the details of your walking tour.

Spello invites you to wander through its narrow cobbled streets, beautifully decorated with colourful flowers and plants. Don’t miss the Via Torre di Properzio, ending near the Roman Porta Venere, or the Roman mosaics in the local museum. The Santa Maria Maggiore Church, home to Pinturicchio’s magnificent frescoes, is also a highlight worth visiting. You’ll spend the night in a charming *** or **** hotel in the medieval town centre.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Spello.

Today’s walk takes you from Spello to Assisi, through the lush landscapes of the Monte Subasio Natural Park. The route offers several variants. The first part winds gently through olive groves on the slopes of Monte Subasio.

After about 8 km (475 m a.s.l.), you can choose to continue directly towards Assisi along a fairly level trail, or climb to the Eremo delle Carceri (830 m a.s.l.), a peaceful hermitage where Saint Francis and his companions once stayed. You can visit the cave where Francis used to meditate before descending through the forest to Porta Cappuccini, one of Assisi’s ancient gates.

Assisi’s medieval atmosphere is still beautifully preserved—its houses, churches, and towers are built from the pink-white stone of Monte Subasio. You’ll spend the night in a comfortable *** or **** hotel in or near the historic centre of Assisi.

Overnight with breakfast in Assisi.

Longer route:
Walking time: 6 hrs
Distance: 17,1 km / 10,6 miles)
Ascent & Descent: +879m -788m

Shorter route
Walking time: 3 hrs
Distance: 11 km (6,8 miles)
Ascent & Descent: +324m -239m

Today’s route offers one of the most beautiful walks of the entire tour, through the Monte Subasio Natural Park. You’ll follow the Franciscan Trail 351, surrounded by pristine forests and rolling olive groves.

Along the way, you’ll pass the Fosso del Marchetto, a picturesque mini canyon, and the Chapel of Satriano, which commemorates the final journey of Saint Francis.

Your walk continues through tranquil countryside until you reach your charming country hotel. Here you can relax with a refreshing swim in the pool and enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant, renowned for its exquisite truffle-based dishes.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Balciano
Walking time: 6 hrs 20 min
Distance: 19,9 km /12,3 mi
Ascent & Descent: + 919m -740m

Today’s walk again unfolds among olive groves and open hillsides, offering spectacular panoramic views over the Umbrian landscape.

From your hotel, you descend into the Topino River Valley, then climb toward the castle of Il Poggio. After descending to the village of Capodacqua, a final ascent rewards you with wide views of Monte Subasio and the surrounding hills before a gentle descent to Vescia.

Tonight, you’ll stay in a truly special place: a converted olive oil mill (frantoio), where high-quality Umbrian olive oil is still produced. Dinner will be served in a traditional local restaurant nearby.

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Vescia
Walking time: 6 hrs 15 min
Distance: 21,5 km / 13 mi
Ascent & Descent: +489m -753m

The route takes you along a beautiful trail surrounded by olive groves and Umbrian countryside. At 9:00 a.m. (or earlier on request) you’ll have a short transfer to Pale or to the Benedictine Abbey of Sassovivo, founded in the 11th century.

In the time of Saint Francis, this important abbey held vast influence and owned large estates across central Italy. Its most remarkable feature is the Romanesque cloister, with double rows of slender columns topped by lily-shaped capitals — a masterpiece of medieval architecture.

From the abbey, you’ll walk through woods and olive groves, gradually descending towards Trevi, beautifully set on the lower slopes of Monte Serano. Trevi is known as the “capital of olive oil” and boasts a charming medieval atmosphere. Worth visiting are the Duomo and the Church of St. Francis, which houses a small museum of sacred art.

Overnight with breakfast in Trevi

Walking time: 6,5 or 5,5 hrs

Distance: 18,9 km / 11,7 miles (from Pale) or 15,8 km / 9,8 mi (from Abbey of Sassovivo)

Ascent & Descent: +691m – 791m (Pale) or +455m -627m

Leaving Trevi, you’ll continue walking among olive groves, following a stretch of the Way of St. Francis, the famous pilgrimage route from La Verna to Rome. Your destination today is Campello Alto, a walled hilltop village offering beautiful panoramic views of the Umbrian valleys.

Overnight stay in a comfortable hotel with swimming pool, or on request in a beautifully restored ex-monastery or a 4-star relais with spa facilities.

Overnight with breakfast and dinner in Campello Alto

Walking time: 4 hrs

Distance: 11,8 km / 9,3 miles

Ascent & Descent: +513m -275m

Today you’ll continue along the Olive Grove Trail and the Way of Saint Francis, walking through peaceful countryside towards the historic town of Spoleto. As the name suggests, much of today’s route winds through scenic olive groves on the gentle slopes of Umbrian hills and mountains. You’ll pass several picturesque hilltop villages, including Bazzano and Eggi, each offering lovely views and a glimpse of traditional rural life.

Your final destination, Spoleto, is one of Umbria’s cultural treasures. Highlights include the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta with frescoes by Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio, a Roman house, and a Roman theatre. Just outside the town, don’t miss the magnificent Church of San Pietro and the famous Ponte delle Torri, a spectacular medieval aqueduct bridge offering breathtaking views of the valley.

Spoleto is also a delightful town for a leisurely stroll — its charming streets, local shops, and inviting restaurants and cafés make it the perfect place to end your walking adventure.

Overnight with breakfast in Spoleto
Walking time: 6 hrs
Distance: 18,8 km / 11,6 miles
Ascent & Descent: + 466 -745m

Today after breakfast end this tour through a spectacular Umbrian nature!

Individual arrival at your hotel in Spello. On your first evening, you have a briefing and will have the opportunity to discuss your holiday.
Spello has lovely little streets to wander around, colourful decorated with plants and flowers. A very picturesque spot is the Via Torre di Properzio, which ends near the Roman ‘Porta Venere’, but also the Roman mosaics in the Museum and the S.Maria Maggiore church with the frescoes of Pinturicchio are worthwhile to visit. Your overnight stay is in a *** or **** hotel in the medieval town centre.

Spello is situated on the west edge of the Monte Subasio Natural Park and today you will be walking through this green Park. The route has different variants. The first stretch will lead you through the olive groves on the slopes of Monte Subasio. After about 8 km (475m a.s.l.) you can choose to go straight on to Assisi, remaining more or less on level, or to climb up to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri (830m a.s.l.) St. Francis and his companions often stayed here and you can visit the cave where Francis used to meditate. After your visit, you descend through the forest to the Porta Cappuccini town gate. Assisi’s medieval character is well preserved; the houses, gates, and churches are almost all built in the pink-white stone of Mt.Subasio. Overnight stay in *** or **** hotel.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Assisi

Longer route:
Walking time: 5 ½ hrs
Distance: 17,1 km (10,6 miles)
Ascent & Descent: +879m -788m

Shorter route
Walking time: 3 hrs
Distance: 11 km (6,8 miles)
Ascent & Descent: +324m -239m

Assisi Town Walk – Discover the Spirit of Saint Francis

This cultural walking route takes you past the most important monuments of Assisi, closely linked to the lives of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, both born here.

From your hotel, you walk up to the Porta Cappuccini (470 m a.s.l.), entering a maze of narrow medieval alleys and atmospheric squares. Along the way, you’ll see the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, the Rocca Maggiore fortress (506 m), the magnificent Basilica of Saint Francis, the Temple of Minerva, the Chiesa Nuova, and the Basilica of Saint Clare, before descending to the peaceful Monastery of San Damiano (310 m).

Walking time: 3 – 4½ hours

Distance: about 7 km

 or

Assisi Town Walk – Discover the Spirit of Saint Francis

This cultural walking route takes you past the most significant monuments of Assisi, closely linked to the lives of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, both of whom were born here.

From your hotel, you walk up to the Porta Cappuccini (470 m a.s.l.), entering a maze of narrow medieval alleys and atmospheric squares. Along the way, you’ll see the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, the Rocca Maggiore fortress (506 m), the magnificent Basilica of Saint Francis, the Temple of Minerva, the Chiesa Nuova, and the Basilica of Saint Clare, before descending to the peaceful Monastery of San Damiano (310 m).

Distance short walk: 12 or 16 km from Porta Capuccini
Walking time: 4 hrs or 5hrs
Ascent/descent: + 544m – 544m or +731 m -744 m
Unpaved 73% Paved 27%

Today a stunning walk through the Monte Subasio Natural Park. You follow the Franciscan walking path 51. A highlight is the Fosso del Marchetto, a mini canyon and chapel of Satriano, a place reminding us of Saint Francis. Walking through the forest and olive groves you will reach your ** hotel, where you can enjoy a swim in the swimming pool and a good dinner because the restaurant is specialized in truffle dishes.

Overnight with breakfast in Balciano
Walking time: 6 hrs 30 min
Distance: 19,9 km /12,3 mi
Ascent & Descent: + 919m -740m

Also today, a walk amongst olive groves and accompanied by amazing panoramas. From your hotel, you descend in the valley of the Topino river. Then you leave this valley climbing up to the castle il Poggio and descending again you reach the village of Capodacqua. One last uphill climb with beautiful views on the surrounding hills and Monte Subasio, followed by a downhill stretch to Vescia. Your overnight stay is in a real ancient olive oil mill (Frantoio), where excellent olive oils are produced. You will have dinner in a local restaurant close by.

Overnight with breakfast and dinner in Vescia
Walking time: 6 hrs 30 min
Distance: 21 km / 13 miles
Ascent & Descent: +489m -753m

Today a beautiful route amongst olive groves. This morning at 9.00 (or on request earlier) you have a transfer to Pale or the 11th-century Benedictine Abbey of Sassovivo. During the time of St. Francis, this important abbey had vast powers of jurisdiction and a considerable patrimony spread over central Italy. The finest architectural feature of the entire abbey is certainly the cloister with the double order columns, surmounted by lily-shaped capitols. Walking through the woods and olive groves you will reach Trevi, on the lower flank of Monte Serano, known as the capital of olive oil. Trevi has a medieval aspect and worthwhile to visit are the Duomo and the St. Francis church, which houses a museum.

Overnight with breakfast in Trevi

Walking time: 6,5 or 5,5 hrs

Distance: 18,9 km / 11,7 miles (from Pale) or 15,8 km / 9,8 mi (from Abbey of Sassovivo)

Ascent & Descent: +691m – 791m (Pale) or +455m -627m

You leave Trevi walking among olive groves and will follow the pilgrimage route ‘Way of St. Francis’, which runs from La Verna to Rome. You reach the walled village of Campello Alto.

Overnight stay in a ** hotel with a swimming pool or on request in an ex-monastery or a **** Relais with Spa

Overnight with breakfast and dinner in Campello Alto

Walking time: 4 hrs

Distance: 11,8 km / 9,3 miles

Ascent & Descent: +513m -275m

You will walk along the olive grove path and again the Way of Saint Francis till Spoleto. As the name indicates you will mostly walk through olive groves on the slopes of the mountains and hills. You pass several little villages, mostly built on hills, like Bazzano and Eggi. In Spoleto there is a lot to see, including the cathedral with the frescoes of Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio, a Roman house and a Roman theatre. Also worth seeing are the façade of the church S.Pietro just outside town and, of course, the famous aqueduct bridge Ponte delle Torri. Spoleto is also a very pleasant place just to wander around the friendly little shopping streets with cozy restaurants and bars. Overnight stay in a *** or **** hotel

Overnight with breakfast in Spoleto

From Fontanelle
Walking time: 6 hrs
Distance: 18,8 km / 11,6 miles
Ascent & Descent: + 466 -745m

With an extra overnight stay in Spoleto, you can make a loop walk on Monteluco (Mount Luco) — a place steeped in history and spirituality.

The name Lucu (lucus) means sacred woods, recalling the ancient times when this mountain was considered holy. From the 5th century onwards, hermits lived here under Benedictine rule, and later the Franciscans built a monastery in these peaceful surroundings.

The evergreen oak forest of Monteluco has been protected since the Middle Ages and remains a haven for wildlife, including porcupines, wild cats, badgers, and squirrels.

Overnight with breakfast in Spoleto
Walking time: 3 hrs 30 min
Distance: 10,5 km (6,5 miles)
Ascent & Descent: +510m -483m

After breakfast time to say goodbye of a lovely Umbria