Umbria Road Bike Tour

Italy Road Bike Tour

This tour is the same as the Umbria tour except it covers longer distances and is only 8 days long.

Through the green heart of Italy...
This tour runs through the green heart of Italy (or il cuor verde d'Italia), which is what Umbria is frequently called. It is perfect for those looking to personally experience the unique and unspoiled region of Umbria with its endless beauty, unparalleled hospitality and just the right combination of art, nature and culture. As one of Italy's smallest regions, Umbria has long been a well-kept secret. In the tranquil Umbrian landscape, you’ll find rolling hills covered with forests, vineyards and olive trees harmoniously mingling with the colorful fruit-bearing valleys, where small brooks and mountain rivers gently ripple. The quiet sounds of nature contrast nicely with the bustling townsfolk in the small, lively villages, where century-old traditions and the influence of the Middle Ages have been very well-preserved. The decorative palazzos, narrow streets and many impressive churches are reminiscent of times long gone.

One of the highlights of this tour is the capital of Umbria, Perugia, with its spectacular Renaissance palaces, museums, churches and tightly wound shopping streets. Perugia first appears in history as one of the twelve cities of Etruria. Sometimes referred to as Tyrrhenia, Etruria is an ancient country that was the center of the Etruscan civilization prior to the advent of the Romans. Highlights in Perugia include the beautiful square Palazzo dei Priori, the 15th century Cathedral of San Lorenzo with interesting pink and white stone decoration modeled after the cathedral of Arezzo in 1335, and the Basilica of San Domenico. Another highlight is the medieval Pilgrim town of Assisi. Many monuments have been erected to honor the famous St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in 1208. One of the buildings honoring him is a World Heritage Site, the Basilica of San Francesco completed in 1253. The Basilica consists of a Franciscan monastery and an upper and lower church. Both churches house an astonishing collection of frescos (including scenes from the life of St. Francis) by renowned late-medieval artists Cimabue, Giotto and Pietro Lorenzetti. Assisi is also the site of many pilgrimages.

Where You’ll Stay

Standard: Great 3 star to 4 star hotels; rooms with private facilities. Starting hotel is located in Viole (less than 2 miles from downtown Assisi).
DeLuxe: Great 3 star to 4 star hotels and B&Bs, rooms with private facilities. All hotels are slighly higher quality than the Standard hotels, including all hotels have a swimming pool except in Gubbio. Hotel in Assisi is close to downtown.

What’s Included

• 7 night hotel accommodations
• Breakfasts
• 7 dinners with Half Board Version
• Luggage transportation
• Tour information packet
• Route descriptions & maps
• Route briefing on arrival day
• 7 day emergency hotline

What’s Not Included

• Remaining meals
• Hybrid or road bike available to rent

Tour Dates

• Daily from April 1 to November 1, 2013.

Skill Level

Difficult, self-guided hotel tour with distances averaging 65 miles per day over hilly terrain with steep climbs.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Assisi - Spello - Foligno - Spoleto - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 67 mi. (108 km) or 41 mi. (65 km) 
Day 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
Day 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 62 mi. (100 km)
Day 5: Umbertide through Tuscany's Cortona, 67 mi. (107 km) or 30 mi. (47 km)
Day 6: Umbertide - Gubbio via Cagli in Marche, 60 mi. (95 km)
Day 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 56 mi. 
Day 8: Departure from Assisi (Viole)

DAY 1: Arrival in Assisi
The tour starts in the Pilgrimage city of Assisi, built against the Monte Subasio Mountain. The little city with the towering fort "La Rocca Maggiore" can already be explored on this very first day. At the end of the afternoon, you will receive the route descriptions, maps, and tourist information from a tour agent.

DAY 2: Today you have the choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Spello - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 41 mi. (65 km) Leaving your hotel you start your journey through the valley of Spoleto, passing Foligno, your route goes up to Montefalco, also called the "balcony of Umbria", because of it's fantastic panorama views.  The Franciscan church, now a museum, is decorated with magnificent frescoes from the 15th and 16th century by artists like Benozzo Gozzoli and Perugino.  The next town you will visit is Bevagna, whose characteristic medieval square is home to two Romanesque churches.  Your overnight stay is in Torgiano, which in medieval times was a fortified village and is situated on a hilltop above the confluence of the Chiascio and Tiber Rivers.  Interesting to visit are the wine museum and the 'osteria' of the Lungarotti family, where you can taste their excellent wines.   

Longer route: Spello, Foligno-Spoleto-Montefalco-Bevagna-Torgiano 63 mi. (104 km)
This longer route takes you through the same towns as the above shorter route but also brings you through the valley of Spoleto where you will pass through Foligno and Spoleto.

DAY 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
Today, you will cycle for a while through an uninhabited region of forests with a farmhouse here and there along the way. Going through this beautiful hilly terrain, you'll unexpectedly see a glorious view over Lake Trasimeno with its 3 small islands. This Lake is the 4th largest in all of Italy with a rich population of fish. You will pass small, typical Umbrian ‘borghi’ built on a hilltop such as Castiglion del Fosco, Pietrafitta and Panicale, which still has a fascinating, well-preserved 13th century Palazzo del Podestà.

DAY 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 62 mi. (100 km)
Trasimeno Lake, beautifully surrounded by hilly landscapes, attracted much favorable attention during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was then that the painter Perugino, teacher of Raphael, often used the Lake as a background for his paintings. Next, you will bike around the Lake, passing the cozy towns of Passignano and Tuoro Lago along the way. Then, you'll leave the Lake behind for a nice visit to the Etruscan city of Chiusi. This quaint city has changed very little over time. Lastly, you'll venture back to Umbria and maybe have time to visit one of the islands in the Lake.

DAY 5: Today you also have a choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Lake Trasimeno - Umbertide,  27 mi. (45 km)
This shorter ride brings you through unspoiled nature to your destination, the quiet little town of Umbertide.  But first, a steep climb brings you to Castel Rigone from where you will have a magnificent view over the lake.  From there, a pleasant undulating ride takes you to Umbertide, whose town center is dominated by a majestic tower, the remains of a castle dating back to 1385. 

Longer route: Lake Trasimeno - Umbertide (passing Cortona in Tuscany), 52 mi. (87 km)
A lovely ride through the valley of the Tesse brings you to Cortona. This beautiful, Tuscan town is built on a hilltop. Leaving it, you will cycle over a ridge through a mountainous terrain with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Your overnight stay will be just outside Umbertide.

DAY 6: Umbertide - Gubbio via Cagli in Marche, 60 mi. (95 km)
Leaving the Tiber River valley behind via the small villages of Montone and Pietralunga, you'll cycle closer and closer to the Apennijnen Mountains, of which you'll have a great view every now and again. Following the Serra di Burano (750 m), you'll next arrive in Marche and via Cagli, you'll ride back to Umbria and the elevated city of Gubbio. The city museum is definitely worth a visit with archeological findings, frescoes, and paintings. Also consider visiting the Roman theater and the San Ubaldo Monastery located on the Monte Ingino Mountain. It can be reached via a small chair lift. Your hotel is located near the historic center of town.

DAY 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 41 or 54 mi. (65 or 85 km)
Cycling through a hilly landscape with a quiet village here and there, you will finally reach the city walls of Assisi. You will pass some important monuments and cycle downhill out of town to your hotel in Viole.

DAY 8: Departure from Assisi (Viole).
Individual departure from Assisi following breakfast.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us

• Nederlands: Umbrië
• Deutsch: Umbrien - Rennradreise