TRIP DETAILS
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Dates: August 31st to September 7th, 2008
Start-Finish: Perugia
Accommodation: 3 Premium Hotels
Group Size: Maximum 20 people (3 Staff)
Deposit: USD* $938 - Secure your spot now.
Cost: AUD $
Trip Inclusions
Birthplace of saints, heart of Italy, and home to some of the country’s greatest artistic treasures, Umbria is at once ancient and timeless. The hills, olive groves, and terraced vineyards of this mystic province are often wrapped in a bluish haze that gives its landscape an ethereal painted look. Blessed with steep hills, deep valleys, and fast-flowing rivers, the region has not yet been swamped by tourism. No town in Umbria boasts the extravagant wealth of art and architecture of Florence, Rome, or Venice, but this works in your favour. This is not to suggest that the cultural cupboard is bare. Perugia, the capital of the region, and Assisi, Umbria’s most prominent city, are rich in art and architecture, as are Orvieto, Todi, and Spoleto.
Day 1 - Arrive in Torgiano
There will be someone to meet you at Perugia Airport or Train Station and assist you to your transport which will transfer you to our beautiful 4 star hotel in Torgiano, only 10 kilometres from Perugia.
Borgo Brufa is a wonderful resort set in a panoramic position on the crest of a hill, offering superb views of Perugia, Assisi, Spello, Foligno, Spoleto, and of the Umbrian countryside, with its fertile soil, luxuriant valleys and hills cloaked in olive groves and vineyards.
At Borgo Brufa Relais, our guests are in the perfect spot to enjoy the beneficial effects of nature. This unique property amidst the unspoilt Umbrian countryside, rich with scenic beauty, silence, amenities and all the modern comforts, offers the ideal location for holidays.
In the afternoon we will feature a warm-up ride around Torgiano, to make sure your equipment is working.
If you want you can visit Torgiano and the beautiful Wine and Oil Museum. It’s a good time to get to know your trip companions for the coming week.
Day 2 - Torgiano-Assisi (Oil Day)
Our route today goes through: Torgiano, Colle, Bettona, Passaggio di Bettona, Cannara, Castelnuovo, Rivotorto, Passaggio di Assisi, Le Viole, Via degli Ulivi, Le Viole, Assisi.
Distance: 45-55 km - 28-34 miles
Climbs: Bettona, Assisi
Coffee stop: Bettona
Visit: Frantoio Ragani and tasting of typical “bruschetta” with extra virgin olive oil.
Today the distance is not too much although there is the climb of Bettona along the way and to finish the ride there is another up to Assisi which is a little longer but not difficult. Today is a perfect day to familiarise yourself with the beautiful roads of the Umbria.
Highlights
- The little town of Torgiano, with its historic centre and wine and oil Museum.
- The Medieval centre of Bettona, one of the “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” with its fantastic views.
- The little town of Cannara, Rivotorto with its famous Basilica and the centre of Assisi.
- The wonderful olive groves in “Via degli Ulivi” between Spello and Assisi.
In terms of size and quality the Grand Hotel Assisi is one of the region’s leading hotels and enables guests to immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere that it is only possible to find in Assisi, from the splendid summit of its 500 metre-high location. The Grand Hotel Assisi offers comfort and wellbeing. The cuisine of the Grand Hotel Assisi has been based on a meticulous search for typical regional dishes, in order to rediscover the flavours of the past: ranging from homemade pasta and untainted olive oil to the delicious truffles that abound in the land of Saint Francis.
Dinner will be provided tonight in the restaurant.
Day 3 Assisi-Spoleto (Wine day)
Our route today goes through: Assisi, Via degli Ulivi, Spello, Cannara, Bevagna, Montepennino, Montefalco, Cannaiola, Fonti del Clitunno, Pista ciclabile, Spoleto.
Distance: 65-75 km - 40-46 miles
Climbs: Montefalco
Visit: one of the most famous Montefalco cellars, with winery tour and tasting of precious “Sagrantino di Montefalco” wine.
Today’s ride is a little longer than yesterday but with just one climb up to Montefalco but it’s not too hard with no large slopes. The last part of our ride today follows a bikeway that leads to the entrance of Spoleto.
Highlights
- The Roman-Medieval town of Spello.
- The natural park of Subasio Mount and the fantastic and precious olive groves of this area of Umbria.
- The ancient town of Bevagna.
- The green rolling hills covered by precious vineyards around Montefalco, called for its fascinating position “the terrace of Umbria”.
- The centre of Trevi and the Fonti del Clitunno River.
- Spoleto, one of the most beautiful towns of Umbria, where you can visit the “Duomo”, the “Rocca”, a lot of churches and many Roman ruins.
Your hotel tonight is the Hotel dei Duchi. The hotel, immersed in the green Ancajani park, faces the Roman Theatre, the former monastery of S. Agatha and the valley, breathing the air of history, culture and the arts.
It is centrally located, a step from the numerous testimonies of art that Spoleto has conserved and proclaimed throughout the centuries.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants. You may wonder why we don’t provide all the evening meals. We find that people prefer to be adventurous and try the local product! It is great to take a walk and find a restaurant to your liking and sample some of the local food that the area is renowned for.
Day 4 Spoleto-San Gemini
Our route today goes through: Spoleto, Beroide, La Bruna, Castel Ritaldi, Colle del Marchese, Giano dell’Umbria, Castagnola, Viepri, Massa Martana, Acquasparta, San Gemini.
Distance: 65-75 km - 40-45 miles
Climbs: Castel Ritaldi, Giano dell’Umbria, Viepri
Short Climbs: Fonti di San Gemini
Coffee stop and light lunch: Massa Martana
A little bit longer today without great climbs but with a few hills, including up to Massa Martana. The hardest rise is the one that leads to Giano dell’Umbria, the descent is winding and tricky until Viepri and then it is up and down to San Gemini.
Highlights
- The historic centre of Spoleto and the green hills of the centre of Umbria.
- The medieval town of Giano dell’Umbria and Martani Mountains.
- The old castles of Castagnola and Montecchio.
- Massa Martana, one of the “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” and the characteristic centre of San Gemini, with its famous source of mineral water.
Near the springs of the well-known Sangemini water and not far from the old town of San Gemini itself, the Locanda di Carsulae is close to the Carsulae archaeological site. Recently refurbished, the Locanda offers 9 rooms all furnished in traditional style. Great care has been taken to use traditional Umbrian materials in the interior design, from Deruta ceramic tiling to Castel Viscardo terracotta flooring.
Dinner will be provided tonight in the restaurant.
Day 5 San Gemini-Todi
Our route today goes through: San Gemini, Castel Todino, Montecastrilli, Avigliano Umbro, Dunarobba, Sismano, Montenero, Vasciano, Todi.
Distance: 35-40 km - 22-25 miles
Climbs: Castel Todino-Todi
A gentle ride today before tomorrow’s epic day. It is a short but rich route on roads nearly totally lacking in traffic. There is a beautiful landscape to see and it deserves a visit the fossil forest of Dunarobba. There will be an expected arrival for lunch, allowing more time to visit Todi, one of the most beautiful towns of Umbria.
Highlights
- The ruins of the old roman road “Via Flaminia” and of roman town “Carsulae”.
- The green hills of this part of Umbria, where there are the little towns of Montecastrilli and Avigliano Umbro.
- The fossil forest of Dunarobba and then the centre of Todi, rich of interesting buildings, like “Tempio di Santa Maria della Consolazione”, “Duomo”, “Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo” and “Palazzo dei Priori”.
We will stop at the Hotel-Restaurant-Villaluisa for the next 2 nights. Nature, culture and complete relaxation magnificently describe the hospitality offered at Hotel Villaluisa, where the Castrichini family awaits to warmly welcome you in the antique city of Todi. Once a private villa, the Hotel Villaluisa has been fully restored whilst still in large part maintaining its original internal structure, some furnishings and its surrounding park gardens.
Dinner will be provided tonight in the restaurant.
Day 6 Todi-Todi (Epic Ride)
Our route today goes through: Todi, Fiore, Izzalini, Civitella del Lago, Corbara, Orvieto, Colonnetta di Prodo, Prodo, Poggio Torrone, Bivio Todi, Todi.
Distance: 85-95 km - 55-60 miles
Climbs: Fiore, Civitella del Lago, Colonnetta di Prodo, Todi
Short Climbs: Poggio Torrone
Coffee stop and light lunch: Civitella del Lago
In effect today’s ride is a lap around the Lago of Corbara, riding through the hills that encircle it. It is a truly magnificent ride but quite difficult because nothing is flat. The first two climbs are those that lead to Fiore and Civitella del Lago, then returning along the opposite side of the lake climbing to Colonnetta (nearly 10 km, but without difficult slopes), then beginning the long descent to the entrance of Todi.
Highlights
- Todi historic centre and the fantastic landscapes around Corbara Lake and under Peglia Mountain.
- There are a lot of nice little villages, like Prodo, Montecchio, Baschi and especially Civitella del Lago, famous for its fantastic panoramic position above the lake.
- In Scoppieto is also possible to visit an old roman pottery built in the first century.
The evening is free to sample the delights of the local restaurants.
Day 7 Todi-Torgiano (Ceramic Day)
Our route today goes through: Todi, Ponte Rio, Monte Molino, Fratta Todina, Ammeto, Marsciano, Papiano Stazione, Fanciullata, Deruta, Ponte Nuovo, Torgiano.
Distance: 35-40 km - 22-25 miles
Short Climbs: Fratta Todina, Torgiano
Visit: one of the famous pottery artisans in Deruta.
An easy day today after yesterday’s hard ride. We will follow the River Tevere all the way to Torgiano and as we know, water does not flow uphill so it is looking good for an easy ride.
Highlights
- Hills and green fields in the valley between Todi and Marsciano.
- The Tevere River and the little town of Fratta Todina.
- The medieval centre of Deruta, famous for its precious ceramics, and the beautiful centre of Torgiano, where you can visit “Baglioni Tower”.
Tonight we return to Borgo Brufa where our journey began a week ago. We will dine at the hotel restaurant tonight and celebrate our fantastic week of riding in Umbria.
Day 8: Arrivederci
All good things must come to an end and it is time to say arrivederci. We will transfer you to Perugia for your departure.
