UMBRIA BELLA

 

A discovery of Umbria’s romantic Hilltowns.

In a setting of unsurpassed beauty nestling at the heart of the Italian peninsula, the valley of Umbria is a dream landscape of serene valleys and fortified hill towns, vineyards and olive groves, The tour provides a complete experience of real Italian life while exploring a region rich in an extraordinary wealth of history, art and some of the oldest architecture in Europe.

 

 

DURATION:              8 days/7 nights

DEPARTURES:         January to October – Sundays

COMMENCES:         Foligno Railway Station at 11.00 am or Foligno hotel

FINISHES:                 Foligno Railway Station.       

 

Umbria Bella Detailed Itinerary

This is a preliminary itinerary and will be altered to accommodate seasonal activities, the weather, local festivals or the availability of guides or restaurants. However the essential content of the itinerary will remain the same. B L D means that breakfast, lunch and/or dinner will be included that day.

 

Day 1    Sunday:    Transfer to Montefalco                                            L D
You will be met outside the main entrance of Foligno railway station at 11.00 am and transferred to your accommodation near Montefalco . After lunch on the estate we walk up to the medieval town of Montefalco where you will be introduced to the art and history of the town. A wine tasting in the town's delightful piazza will be followed by dinner at the accommodation.

 

Day 2     Monday:    Montefalco markets &  Spoleto                         B D
Today is market day in Montefalco so there is a walk around the town to experience the atmosphere. Leaving from the markets we travel to Spoleto, a town rich in Roman and medieval history. We visit the church of San Pietro Fuori Le Mura which boasts one of the most outstanding Romanesque facades in Umbria before crossing the magnificent medieval aqueduct on our way into the city. We explore the ancient Roman centre of the town including the Roman house and visit the Duomo to see Filippo Lippi's final fresco cycle. 

 

Day 3     Tuesday:      Bevagna & Spello                                    B L D

Just a short distance from Montefalco, Bevagna is one of Umbria's most evocative towns. Originally Roman, it has a beautifully evocative piazza encircled by three churches and containing roman ruins. We visit a medieval house and roman mosaics as part of the exploration of this small gem. Return to the accommodation for lunch, then travel to the delightful small hilltown of Spello and include a guided visit to superb frescoes by the Umbrian Renaissance master Pinturicchio. Free time in the town to explore the ancient roman backstreets and modern art shops.

 

Day 4     Wednesday:   Perugia                                                     B D

We drive to Perugia, Umbria’s largest town. In the morning a guided tour including a walk through the medieval ghost town under Rocca Paolina, a stroke of genius by the architect who was ordered to destroy the quarter of the city and build a Palace. Instead it became a virtual underground city. Free time for lunch, followed by a visit to an Etruscan well and the extraordinary Etruscan gate from the 2nd century BC. 

 

 Day 5    Thursday:   Gubbio                                                           B D
Gubbio is an exceptionally well-preserved medieval hilltown nestling in a remote valley in northern Umbria. We visit the museum in the imposing Palazzo dei Consoli to see the extraordinary Eugubean Tablets, the most complete record of religious practices from anywhere in the ancient world. After free time we drive to the monastery of Sant' Ubaldo where the ancient 'Ceri' that form the focus of Gubbio's annual festival are kept.  

 

Day 6    Friday                         Assisi                                                             B D

Assisi is the home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. There is a guided visit of the town, the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva, and the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Giotto. Dinner at the accommodation is followed by a talk with slides on the apocalyptic fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli in Orvieto.

 

 Day 7     Saturday:  Orvieto                                                             B D

A guided tour of the town including the Duomo, among the greatest of all Italy’s cathedrals, containing the work of Luca Signorelli. There will be free time to visit the weekly markets and to explore the town centre with its fascinating array of shops, cafes and an award-winning gelateria. Cocktails and farewell dinner at the accommodation.

 

 Day 8     Sunday:   Montefalco to Foligno                                        B

On the last day of the tour you will be transferred to Foligno Station leaving the accommodation at 9am in time for the train to Rome Termini

 

Inclusions:

  • Foligno station or Foligno hotel transfers
  • All land travel by air-conditioned coach
  • Accommodation for seven nights (5 days halfboard, 2 days full board)
  • Dinner every night including fresh local produce and local wines
  • Guided visits in Montefalco, Spoleto, Bevagna, Spello, Pergusia, Gubbio, Assisi and Orvieto
  • Admission to all galleries, museums & historical sites included in the itinerary
  • The Services of a tour leader throughout the tour

 

Departures:  Jan 3;   Mar 14;   Apr 11;  May 9, 23;   Jun 13;   Jul 4,   Sep 5;   Oct 3.