WALKING IN THE UMBRA VALLEY FROM ASSISI TO SPOLETO (easy/middle hiking tour, 08 days / 07 nights; individual, self-guided tour) Description This tour offers the right combination of visiting typical Umbrian towns and walking through exciting colorful landscapes with unique views. Umbria has been praised for its pure beauty since Roman times, because of its greenness, many lakes, rivers, refreshing springs, mountain streams and waterfalls. The tour starts in the beautiful and fascinating town of Assisi, the pilgrims town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio and finishes in Spoleto, a very special town with many squares, lovely little streets, shops with local delicacies and handicrafts, restaurants and a lot of sights to visit. Characteristics of the route You walk in hilly countryside without too much climbing and descent. The duration of the walks is from 4 to 6 hours a day (12-20 km / day). Highlights and places of interest along the route Assisi with its countless absorbing buildings Monte Subasio Olive groves and vineyards Spello with town gates, theatre and church The Umbra Valley Bevagna, along formerly, busy trade road 1
Montefalco: the balcony of Umbria Trevi, the capital of olive oil Railway line of Spoleto-Norcia Spoleto A day by day account of the route Day 1: Arrival in Assisi Overnight in a hotel with swimming pool; situated 900 m away from the historic center of Assisi. Day 2: Assisi: cultural town walk or walk in the surrounding hills Today you can choose between two itineraries: a cultural tour, which leads you to the most important cultural monuments of Assisi, a longer or a shorter one, to the park of the Mount Subasio and to the surrounding hills. Variant 1 (town walk, approx 3 4,5 hours): 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 to the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470 m). 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 (506 m), 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 St. Damiano. 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 Angeli to visit the impressive basilica (210 m). From here the local bus will bring you back to Porta Nuova town gate in Assisi and you continue on foot to the hotel (900 m). Variant 2: The park of Mount Subasio and the hills around Assisi (approx. 19 km / approx. 5,5 hours) The walk through the hills around Assisi starts from the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470 m). From here you enter the National Park and follow track ( sentiero Francescano ), then descend to the hamlets of Costa di Trex (571 m) and Ponte Grande (360 m), 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 (400 m) and pass through the old centre of Assisi to walk back to your hotel. Day 3: Assisi Spello There are two variants to reach Spello: a longer one to the Eremo delle Carceri (830m) in ascent and a shorter, more flat one where you will pass through olive groves on the hillside of Monte Subasio. 2
Variant 1 (approx. 17 km / approx. 6 hours): From the Porta Cappuccini a footpath will take you to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri (830 m). 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 (300 m), walking first through the woods and then through olive groves. Variant 2 (approx. 12 km / approx. 3 hours) The easier 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 colorful fresco s by Pinturicchio in the church S. Maria Maggiore. Day 4: Spello Bevagna (approx. 14 km / approx. 3,5 hours) You will leave the hills for a while now and will descend into the valley Valle Umbra. Walking on quiet little country roads you will arrive in Bevagna, which unlike most Umbrian towns isn t built on a hilltop, but rather at the confluence of the river Timia. During Roman times Bevagna was a prosperous town, as it was situated along the busy trade road, the Via Flaminia, which connected Rome with the Adriatic coast. Particularly characteristic are the town walls which surround most of Bevagna. The heart of this town is the square, Piazza Silvestri, with its beautiful fountain and two Romanesque churches. Don t forget to visit the mosaic of a former Roman baths. Day 5: Bevagna Montefalco (approx. 14 km / approx. 4 hours) Here you will be walking through a slightly hilly landscape, but the olive groves soon make way for vineyards. The hills surrounding Montefalco are famous for the production of excellent wines: Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco. To reach the town you have to climb, because Montefalco is predictable- built on a hilltop (470 m). The town is also known as the balcony ( ringhiera ) of Umbria, because of its beautiful panorama. No less than eight saints were born in this city and therefore Montefalco is called "a piece of heaven which is fallen to the ground." The St. Francis church is now a fine museum which is housing, among other things, frescoes by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli. Don t forget to taste some of the delicious wine in one of the many wine bars. Day 6: Montefalco Trevi (approx. 12 km / approx. 4 hours) You descent from Montefalco into the valley of the river Clitunno (210 m). You are going to cross many bridges and under Trevi starts the ascent to reach the city. Trevi is located on a hill and it s also called the capital of olive oil and indeed you will notice that the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with evergreen olive groves. The 3
olives are growing well here, because they re protected from the cool, hibernal wind. You will sleep in a guesthouse in the historical centre. Day 7: Trevi - Campello and by train to Spoleto (approx. 12 km or 11 km / approx. 5 hours or 4 hours) Continue from Trevi through the olive groves to the station of Campello. You have the possibility to choose between two variants. The variant with more altidude difference leads along the street Via di San Francesco, a street for pilgrims which is crossing Umbria from the north to the south. The more flat variant leads along typical villages like Pigge and Pissignano. From Campello by train to Spoleto. Day 8: Individual departure or extension of your stay Starting dates 2016, individual, self guided-tour: Arrival every day during the whole year (the best period to make this tour is from April to June and from September to November) Inclusive services; individual, self guided tour Accommodation in hotels of the 3*** star category, at Assisi hotel of the 2**star category (there is an upgrad possible) Breakfast buffet or full breakfast If you have booked half board, minimum of 3 course evening meal Tour information Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel Well planned routes Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers) Train ticket Campello - Spoleto Telephone service hotline for the whole tour General information Classification of the hiking-tour: Individual, self guided tour Duration: 08 days / 07 nights Accommodation: Hotels of the 3*** star category, at Assisi hotel of the 2**star category Attention: Tourist tax if requested has to be paid on the spot. Starting point: Assisi Arrival: Arrival at the starting point of the tour is not included in the price and has to be organised by you. 4
Parking: Free parking facilities for the duration of the bicycle tour at the hotel of your arrival. Transfer: Return-transfer by shuttle-bus from Spoleto to Assisi at the price of 35,00 all in (1 4 people); to be paid on the spot. Or by train from Spoleto to Assisi (duration approx. 45 min.) Information material available in: English German - Italian - Dutch Hiking "Walking in the Valle Umbra" Prices 2016 Individual, self guided tour Package price for person, double room with breakfast 545,00 Single room surcharge for person and week 155,00 Surcharge per person during the Festival of Spoleto* 15,00 Package price for less than two participants 750,00 Price for the third person in a three bedded room 365,00 Surcharge halfboard 160,00 Surchage Upgrade at Assisi, Hotel 3***stars, double room B&B 13,00 Surchage Upgrade at Assisi, Hotel 3***stars, double room HB 19,00 Surchage Upgrade at Assisi, Hotel 3***stars, single room B&B 22,00 Surchage Upgrade at Assisi, Hotel 3***stars, single room HB 28,00 Additional nights in Assisi, Hotel 2**stars For day and person, double room with breakfast 37,00 Single room surcharge for day and person, with breakfast 9,00 Additional nights in Assisi, Hotel 3***stars For day and person, double room with breakfast 53,00 Single room surcharge for day and person, with breakfast 19,00 Additional nights in Spoleto, Hotel 3***stars For day and person, double room with breakfast 40,00 Single room surcharge for day and person, with breakfast 15,00 *Festival of Spoleto from 24/06 to 10/07/2016 5