This self-guided walking tour is perfect for those looking to personally experience the unique and unspoiled region of Umbria with its beauty and hospitality.
Nestling between Tuscany, Marche and Lazio, it is maybe one of the smallest regions of Italy, but it has a wide range of different landscapes. Umbria has been praised for its pure beauty since Roman times, because of its greenness of fertile valleys, hills and mountains, many lakes and rivers, good food and excellent wines. This tour offers the right combination of visiting typical Umbrian towns and walking through exciting colourful landscapes with unique views.
Accommodation in Umbria
Hotels are mostly in the historic centres of small medieval towns. All rooms have private facilities, air-conditioning.
Most hotels have a buffet for breakfast. If booked for half board clients will be delighted to try typical local meals made with local products.
Walking in Umbria
The tour starts in the beautiful and fascinating town of Assisi, the pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio. Many monuments have been erected here in honour of the saints Francis and Clare. But Assisi isn’t the only highlight of this tour. You will pass many other interesting small towns such as Spello, which has Roman origins, as we are reminded by several features including the Porta Venere and Porta Consolare town gates, Montefalco, famous for its delicious wines and Bevagna, which has a lovely medieval square with two Romanesque churches. This lovely walking experience 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.
Walks start from the hotel. Only in the 9 day version there is a ring route in Assisi. All the other walks are from hotel to hotel. We provide route notes and maps. Some days you can choose between a longer / shorter or more easy walk. You walk through nature along trails and quiet country roads. Routes are in the hills and some in the valley. The routes end every day in a small town worthwhile to visit or just to relax with a good glass of Umbrian wine or gelato on a cosy terrace.
Medieval Umbria walking holiday itinerary
Day 1 arrival at Assisi
Your hotel is in the new part of town, at only 900 meters from the historical centre. The hotel has rooms with airconditioning and private facilities, a free car park, a bar, spa center, restaurant and swimming pool.
Day 2 Assisi-Spello:
There are two routes to go to Spello: a longer one going uphill to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri or a shorter one through olive groves along the slopes of Monte Subasio. From the porta Cappuccini a footpath will take you to the hermitage, which is situated at 830m a.s.l. 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, walking first through the woods and then through olive groves. Walking time: 6 hours (about 17 km)
The lower route follows the slopes of Mount Subasio and involves less climbing, but it is also a beautiful walk through olive groves with astounding views. Walking time: 3 hours (about 12 km)
Day 3 Spello-Bevagna:
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 rivers Timia and Topino. 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 2km of 13th to 14th century 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. Do not forget to visit the mosaic of a former Roman baths. Your hotel is in the historical centre of the village. Walking time: 3 ½ hours (about 14 km)
Day 4 Bevagna-Montefalco:
Here you will again be walking through a slightly hilly landscape, but the olive groves soon make 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. The town is also known as the balcony (‘ringhiera’) of Umbria, because of its beautiful panorama. The St. Francis church is now a fine museum which housing, among other things, frescoes by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli. Do not forget to taste some of the delicious wine in one of the many wine bars. Walking time: 4 hours (about 14 km)
Day 5 Montefalco-Trevi:
On the way to Trevi (420m a.s.l.), on the lower flank of Mt. Serano overlooking the wide plain of the Clitunno river, your route crosses the fertile valley with its various waterways. Trevi is 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. Trevi has a dozen medieval churches: the most important are the Romanesque Duomo (S. Emiliano), the shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime notable for a fresco by Perugino and the former church of S. Francesco, now a museum. You will stay in the historical centre of the town. Walking time: 4 hours (about 13 km)
Day 6 Trevi-Poreta:
From Trevi you will pick up the pilgrimage route the Way of Saint Francis, which runs from La Verna in Tuscany, crosses Umbria and finishes in Rome. The route will lead you through olive groves and you will have astonishing views of the Valle Umbra. Walking Time 4 hours 30 min (12,8 km)
Day 7 Poreta-Spoleto:
You leave Poreta and walk again along the Way of Saint Francis. Also today, the olive groves will accompany you. You cross Eggi, a typical medieval ‘Borgo’ and you will reach Spoleto, a pretty hill-town filled with beautiful architecture. It is famous for the Spoleto Festival, which takes place every summer (end of June beginning of July). In Spoleto worthwhile to visit are the cathedral, the castle, a Roman house, Roman theatre and many museums. But Spoleto is not only art and culture, but also food & wine ! The town has some nice shops with fantastic local products, many cosy bars with terraces and excellent restaurants. Walking Time 5 hours (15,5 km)
Day 8 departureTransfer from Spoleto to Assisi to pick up your car at the end of the tour 1-4 pax (€40.- to be paid in loco)
Day 9 optional
The 9 day tour has an extra day in Assisi with a choice of three walks. Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for details of the extra walks.
Dates and Availability
Sharing double room B&B – 6 days/5 nights – from € 420.- per person
Sharing double room B&B – 8 days/7 nights – from € 660.- per person
Sharing double room B&B – 9 days/8 nights – from € 717.- per person
Single room B&B – 6 days/5 nights – from € 567.- per person
Single room B&B – 8 days/7 nights – from € 857.- per person
Single room B&B – 9 days/8 nights – from € 935.- per person
Solo traveller B&B – 6 days/5 nights – from € 602.- per person
Solo traveller B&B – 8 days/7 nights – from € 897.- per person
Solo traveller B&B – 9 days/8 nights – from € 975.- per person
Half board supplement – 6 days/5 nights – from € 116.- per person
(4 dinners in Bevagna B&B)
Half board supplement – 8 days/7 nights – from € 140.- per person
(6 dinners in Bevagna B&B)
Half board supplement – 9 days/8 nights – from € 164.- per person
(7 dinners in Bevagna B&B)
Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information.
