WALKING IN UMBRIA
A Hike Through History from Assisi to Todi
 Umbria is the landlocked heart of Italy, less well known but reminiscent of Tuscany
in years gone by. The Umbrian countryside is wonderfully spacious with a pleasing mix of farmland, woodland and rolling hills but with surprisingly few walkers considering the idyllic walking country and the appeal of the destinations on route. The famous city of Assisi just oozes with history and charm, as do the smaller medieval towns on our tour, some dating back to Etruscan times. Add to this the fine wines, olive oil, local cheeses, truffles and wild boar ham and you are sure of a real taste of rural Italy.
Assisi is the fitting start to our tour. You will certainly want to visit the famous Basilica of St.Francis, which is composed of two churches built one above the other and a crypt dug in 1818, which houses the Saint’s tomb. It was decorated by the greatest painters of the 13th and 14th centuries: Cimabue, Giotto, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini. But Assisi also has an interesting facade of a Roman temple now part of a church and the beautiful Romanesque cathedral of San. Rufino amongst many other medieval attractions. From here you cross the slopes of Monte Subasio that rise above the city, passing through holm oak forest and olive groves to the town of Spello. Enroute there is the attractive Eremo delle Carceri, a sancturay marking the place where St. Francis used to pray in the woods. Spello still retains its romanesque walls around its ancient centre where our hotel is located and there are a couple of interesting towered gate houses.
From Spello, there is time for a day trip to Spoleto including a circular walk. More Roman remains are seen at Bavagna on the way to Montefalco, another ancient walled town set among vineyards and olive groves. Our route then crosses the woods and pastures of the Monti Martani hills, before descending to the river Tevere ‘the young Tiber’ that flows through Umbria on its way to Rome.
The tour ends at Todi, a delightful small town with walls dating from Etruscan, Roman and medieval times. Of particular note is St. Maria della Consolazione which is an architectural jewel. The church was built between 1508 and 1607 upon the plan by the architect Bramante, it has the Greek cross layout with light from 56 windows playing strange protagonist tricks on the eye.
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Accommodation
5
nights/6 days - In Assisi our small family run 3* hotel is in a quiet back street just off the town’s main square. The view from its pretty terraced garden is wonderful. In
Spello we spend 2 nights in a 3* Albergo. It is an elegantly restored 18th century building near the Augustus Gate. In
Montefalco our 3* hotel shares its structure with the villages eldest church (features of the original church have only recently been discovered). All the rooms are now modernised and have well appointed facilities. At
Todi our 3* modern hotel, with a swimming pool, is just beyond the city wall.
Sherpa
Notes
Accommodation &
Meals
Bed and breakfast in 3* hotels. Evening meals are included on 2 nights.
Way Marks
There are some waymarked paths, but elsewhere it is necessary to follow the route descriptions together with the detailed maps provided.
Travel
Shuttle train from Rome, Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini station (half-hourly service, journey time 30 minutes) then train to Assisi. Change trains en route at Foligno. Journey time from Rome 2 to 3 hours (not included in price). On your return take the train from Todi
to Roma Termini (2 hours). Change trains en route at Terni. Then shuttle to
Rome.
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