UMBRIA – FOLLOW US INTO ITALY’S GREEN HEART
One of the smallest Italian regions and the only one that isn’t bordered by the sea or by a foreign country. Have you guessed which region we are talking? Umbria, what else?
A true green paradise, a region that offers a variety of different landscapes, rolling hills, medieval fortified villages, stunning waterfalls and lakes: a land devoted to beauty, where the sky is never too far away.
DAY 1: PERUGIA
Late afternoon arrival in Perugia, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: PERUGIA AND RASIGLIA
After breakfast, we will visit Umbria’s capital city, Perugia, a medium-sized town but very important
because of its stunning old city centre and its lively cultural atmosphere, due to the presence of its centuries-old University.
Guided tour of the centre and its walls pierced with gates. We will also visit the many religious and civil buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, starting from the main square and its Fontana Maggiore (Major Fountain), a masterpiece of medieval sculpture and continuing with the Palazzo dei Priori (Palace of the Priors) and the main Cathedral.
After lunch, we will head towards Rasiglia, a real hidden treasure in the Umbrian mountains!
Rasiglia is a small village in the woods where the thread of history merges with untouched nature and laborious past.
Mills, spinning mills, water sources, arts and faith are the elements that define this village, whose raison d’être is water.
The main spring that waters Rasiglia is Capovena, located on the highest part of the village, but actually, while you walk along Rasiglia’s charming alleys, you can’t resist the enchantment of the many watercourses that cross it and make it unique and fascinating.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: GUBBIO AND DERUTA
Breakfast in hotel and departure towards Gubbio, a stunning little town at the foot of Mount Igino, whose medieval characteristics have remained untouched.
We will discover the main monuments of this town, gathered around Piazza Grande (the Main Square), a large esplanade offering an exceptional panorama of the roofs and hills.
We will visit the Duomo and the Palazzo dei Consoli (Consuls ‘Palace), that hosts the important “Tavole Eugubine” (Iguvine Tablets), a series of seven bronze tablets describing religious ceremonies in the 3rd century BC.
Here’s a piece of trivia: the medieval “Bargello’s Fountain” is also known as “Fountain of the Madmen” because of a local legend that states that all the people that run around this fountain for at least three times, shouting “I’m crazy!”, get insane. Visitors can even achieve a certificate of « Matto di Gubbio” (literally, “Madman of Gubbio”).
On the way back to Perugia, we will make a small detour and stop in Deruta, where we will visit a ceramics factory: ceramics are a famous handicraft of this charming village.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4: BEVAGNA, MONTEFALCO AND SPELLO
After breakfast we will head towards Bevagna and enjoy a guided tour of its small historic centre and its Cathedral. This village has been listed among the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” (Italy’s most beautiful villages) and it will seduce you with its Roman heritage.
We will continue towards Montefalco, an enchanting small town, also known for its aromatic red wine, the Sagrantino, made exclusively from the local grapes Sagrantino.
After the visit of Montefalco, the road continues to Spello, a town on the slopes of Mount Subasio overlooking a fertile plain. We will walk through the historic centre to discover important Roman remains (the walls and the splendid gates dating back to the time of Augustus), as well as medieval buildings and monuments, mainly made of stones.
Here’s another piece of trivia: the “Infiorate” is an event that takes place every year in Spello. It consists of making carpets with flowers in occasion of the Catholic feast of Corpus Domini.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5: CASTELLUCCIO AND NORCIA
Breakfast in hotel and departure to Castelluccio, a small and unique village in the National Park of the Sibylline Mountains. In this area, they cultivate the traditional Castelluccio lentils and, in late spring or early summer, the Castelluccio Valley is covered with multi-coloured flowers (lentil-flowers, poppies, blueberries, daisies…) offering unique and natural scenery.
We will continue towards Norcia, located at the foot of the Sibylline Mountains, and we will stroll around the city centre, built around the elegant St. Benedict Square and surrounded by a church, dedicated to the same Saint and by the City Hall. Norcia is a pleasant village and very famous for its gastronomy: truffles, pasta and especially typical charcuterie: salami, ham, sausages… made of pork or boar meat.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 6: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, end of our services
