Umbria - Gastronomy Bike Tour
Italy Bike Tours
The Green Heart of Italy & its food & wine
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€990 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This bike tour in Italy runs through the il cuor verde d'Italia or the "green heart" of the country. The landscape consists of rolling hills, mountains, and valleys, thick with forests and lush farmland laced with olive groves and vineyards.
Though untouched by the sea, water is plentiful in the large lakes and numerous rivers. Umbrians claim (and with good reason) that this is the most beautiful region in Italy.
Though Italy's smallest region, Umbria is big in history, culture, and cuisine. This tour will showcase all three, with particular emphasis on gastronomy, which is based on locally-raised game meats, delicious wines, olive oils, and wild produce like truffles and wild asparagus. Also plentiful are a wide variety of local freshwater fish.
You will have the opportunity to taste the local wines, cheeses, and other tasty delicacies and even enjoy a cooking class!
Highlights
- Spello, a lovely medieval town
- Tasting dinner in an enoteca (a wine bar providing the opportunity to sample locally-produced wine)
- Spoleto, so much to see (and taste!)
- San Luca and accommodations in the Villa Zuccari
- Cooking class during which you will discover some secrets of the Umbrian and Italian cookery
Interested in something else? Check out our entire listing of bicycle tours in Italy.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Spello
Day 2: Spello - Spoleto, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 3: Spoleto
Day 4: Cycling to San Luca (Montefalco), 15 or 23 mi. (23 or 37 km)
Day 5: A short ride to Torgiano, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Visiting the towns of Perugia, 15 or 21 mi. (24 or 33 km) or cycling in the surroundings of Torgiano, 22 or 32 mi. (35 or 51 km)
Day 7: Cycling to Assisi, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 8: DepartureDue to organizational reasons, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen.
Day 1: Arrival in Spello
You arrive at your hotel, the 4-star, la Bastiglia in Spello. The hotel is situated in the historical center of the town and has a terrace offering a magnificent view over the Valle Umbra and the surrounding hills. In the late afternoon, there is an introductory tour briefing and bike set-up. In the evening, enjoy a tasting menu paired with a selection of fine wine in the restaurant.- Selection of Bruschette with 2 different olive oils and fresh tomatoes paired with the white wine, Fendi (or similar)
- Tagliatelle with your choice of truffle or fresh tomatoes paired with Brunello or Super Tuscan
- Meatballs of Chianina with salad paired with Sagrantino 25 anii Caprai
- Dessert, cafe, and grappa
Accommodations:
Standard: Hotel la Bastiglia ****
Superior: Upgraded room in Hotel la BastigliaDay 2: Spello to Spoleto, 26 mi. (42 km)
Today you will leave Spello and cycle through the valley across the center of Foligno, a town with not only interesting monuments, but also many good restaurants, bars, and shops. Spoleto is your final destination.Ascent/descent: +258 m/-217 m
Accommodations:
Standard: Hotel dei Duchi ****
Superior: Upgraded room in Hotel dei DuchiDay 3: Spoleto
Today is dedicated to the lovely town of Spoleto.In the morning you have time to explore or you can request the route descriptions for a hike of 11 km on Mount Luco. In Spoleto, you will not run out of things to see: the castle, the medieval aqueduct Ponte delle Torri, a Roman house, the Roman theatre with an archaeological museum, the cathedral, the modern art museum…
In the afternoon, you can enjoy a cooking class (1½ hr). You will learn to make a delicious ‘antipasto’ and ‘primo’ (pasta or risotto) or an antipasto and secondo. During dinner, of course, you will taste these dishes.*
*On some occasions, the class may be in the morning, followed by lunch.
Accommodations:
Standard: Hotel dei Duchi
Superior: Upgraded room in Hotel dei DuchiDay 4: Cycling to San Luca Montefalco, 15 mi (23 km) or 23 mi. (37 km)
Today's ride is not long but there are some hills to contend with. Climbing out of the valley you cycle through an undulating landscape full of olive groves. San Luca, is situated in a small village at the foot of Montefalco. To arrive, you will have to conquer the hill on which the town is built, followed by an easy downhill ride to your hotel. You can decide to make an extra loop to visit Montefalco or rest and relax in your overnight accommodation, the Villa Zuccari. Montefalco is charming. Stroll the cobbled streets and take in the medieval architecture preserved in beautiful churches and ancient walls. Agriculture here is based on vine cultivation dating back to pre-Roman times. Be sure to sample the famous red Sagrantino di Montefalco.Ascent/descent: +230 m/-341 m or +488 m/- 598 m
Accommodations:
Standard: Villa Santa Barbara ****
Superior: Upgraded room at Villa Santa BarbaraDay 5: San Luca - Torgiano, 26 mi. (42 km)
After breakfast, you cycle to Bevagna, which has a lovely medieval square with a fountain and two Romanesque churches. The square is the favorite gathering place for the friendly inhabitants of the town and would be the perfect place for your morning coffee break.After visiting Bevagna, a short ride will lead you to the small town of Torgiano. In medieval times it was a fortified village, situated on the confluence of the rivers Chiascio and Tiber (Tevere). The town is famous for its excellent wines. You have enough time to visit the wine museum with its rich collection of ceramics and art (subject winemaking) from Etruscan till modern times. In the afternoon, at the winery of the Lungarotti family, you will visit the winery and taste their excellent Torgiano wines. Your hotel is in the quiet town center.
Ascent/descent: -225 m / -235 m
Accommodations:
Standard: Al Grappolo d’Oro ***
Superior: Le Tre Vaselle*****Day 6: Visiting the towns of Perugia, 15 or 21 mi. (24 or 33 km) or cycling in the surroundings of Torgiano, 22 or 32 mi. (35 or 51 km)
Today there are two options with shorter and longer routes for each:
Option A: Cycling and train ride/Cycle to Perugia
Perugia is the capital of the province. A short cycle tour takes you to the station in Ponte S.Giovanni at the foot of Perugia. From here, a local train will take you into the historical center of Perugia. You can also choose to cycle the entire distance which only adds a few more kilometers. The center, with its little alleys and characteristic town squares, is a lively and vibrant place. The renaissance palaces, medieval churches, museums, and many galleries will make a lasting impression. After your visit, return by train and bike back to the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano.Bike + train:
Ascent/descent: +218 m / -212 m
Bike:
Ascent/descent: +400 m /-442 mor
Option B: A trip in the surroundings of Torgiano
Close to Torgiano (6 km) is the village of Deruta which has, in part, managed to retain the highly distinctive features of its medieval buildings. Deruta is universally famous for its ceramics and there are many ateliers to visit. The origins of this ancient art go back as far as the Etruscan times and nowadays many local workshops still make excellent quality ceramics. Numerous Italian and foreign museums have pieces of Deruta ceramics on show, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. The town hall hosts the art gallery and the ceramics museum. The next stop is the sanctuary of Madonna dei Bagni. Inside the church, there are more than 600 votive tiles, all testimony to the tradition of the Deruta ceramics. Cycling through a beautiful hilly landscape, you pass typical Umbrian hamlets like Casalalta. Cycle back to Torgiano through the Tiber valley.Tonight a very special dinner will await you in restaurant Si.Ro. You will taste some typical Umbrian dishes during a delicious three-course dinner followed by a coffee with a grappa or another after-dinner spirit. For the lover of black truffle, you can also enjoy some dishes prepared with the "Diamonds of the Kitchen."
Ascent/descent (longer): +604 m / -603 m
Ascent/descent (shorter): +209 m / -208 mAccommdations:
Standard: Al Grappolo d’Oro ***
Superior: Le Tre Vaselle *****Day 7: Cycling to Assisi, 16 mi. (25 km)
Today is a short ride in which you will cross the valley, cycling along quiet country roads. From afar, you will see Assisi, like many other Umbrian towns, built on a hilltop. Before reaching Assisi, however, you can stop for a moment to visit the Franciscan basilica in S.Maria degli Angeli. Under its impressive dome still lies the humble little chapel ‘Porziuncola’, where Saint Francis came to pray. You will have enough time to visit the main monuments of the town, like the basilica of Saint Francis with its beautiful frescoes by the painters Giotto, Simone Martini, Cimabue, and Pietro Lorenzetti.Ascent/descent: +251 m / -54 m
Accommodations:
Standard: Hotel la Terrazza ***
Superior: Hotel dal Moro Gallery ****Day 8: Departure
Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Hotels & Bikes
Please see each day’s detailed itinerary for the preferred accommodations for this tour. A final accommodation list will be based on availability. If preferred hotels are not available, a comparable alternative will be offered.
Standard accommodation: Very nice 3 and 4-star hotels with private facilities.
Superior accommodation: 4-star hotels and one 5-star in Torgiano with private facilities.Bicycles
Ebike
Frame: TRK 28" Aluminium
Fork: Suntour NEX -HLO disk
Weight: 26 kg
Motor: ETR 3 36V 250W (50 to 130 km)
Battery: Sanyo Panasonic LI-ION 36V 500Wh
Brakes: Shimano disk 200
Display: LCD ETR3 8 functions
Accessories: Rear pannier bags, tool kit, map holder (1 per room), pump, odometer (1 per room) and a spare inner tube.Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- Hybrid rental bike including rear pannier bag, tool kit, map holder (1 per party), pump, odometer (1 per party), and spare inner tube
- 1 tasting menu in an enoteca in Spello (incl wine)
- 1 dinner (excl. drinks) in San Luca and Torgiano
- 1 cooking class, dinner or lunch in Spoleto
- 1 wine-tasting in Torgiano
- Route descriptions & maps of the mentioned cycle tours
- Back-up service
- Tour briefing in your first hotel
- GPS tracks (must be requested at least 10 days prior to tour). (We suggest downloading maps.me).
What’s Not Included
- Individual arrival to Spello
- Remaining meals
- Helmet rental (see pricing)
- Tourist taxes (from €1.50 - €2.50 per person/per night)
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2023
Arrivals are possible daily from April 1 through to October 31, 2023
* Except Easter April 7-10 and August 7-20, 2023 (incl.)
* During Spoleto Festival (June 23-July 9, 2023) - on requestMinimum pax: 2 people required
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Standard accommodation: $ 1634 £ 869 $ 1,453 € 990 ₪ 4058 ¥ 151410 NZ$ 1784 NOK 11926 kr 11686 $ 1,082
Single room: $ 1987 £ 1057 $ 1,767 € 1204 ₪ 4935 ¥ 184140 NZ$ 2170 NOK 14504 kr 14211 $ 1,316
Superior accommodation: $ 1940 £ 1031 $ 1,724 € 1175 ₪ 4816 ¥ 179704 NZ$ 2118 NOK 14155 kr 13869 $ 1,284
Single room: $ 2506 £ 1332 $ 2,227 € 1518 ₪ 6222 ¥ 232163 NZ$ 2736 NOK 18287 kr 17918 $ 1,659
Extra Options
Supplements
Electric bicycle rental: $ 173 £ 92 $ 154 € 105 ₪ 430 ¥ 16059 NZ$ 189 NOK 1265 kr 1239 $ 115
Helmet rental: €5
Van support (per day): On request
Extra nights are available upon request.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This bike tour in Umbria is classified as an easy to moderate self-guided cycling tour. Throughout the tour, there are some climbs that are short and other climbs that are more gradual, but longer. The daily distances are between 14 and 32 miles (23 - 51 km). Cycling takes place on 80% quiet, rural, country roads and a few bike paths. You’ll encounter heavier traffic in larger towns, such as Perugia but it’s only for short distances.
Airport Info
Fly to Rome Airport Fiumicino, also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO), located approximately 32km from the center of Rome.
Local Travel
Rome Fiumicino Airport is well connected to the center of Rome. There are taxis, direct buses, the Leonardo Express Express Train, and the regional train that go into center city. If you are traveling from the airport to Spello, where your tour begins, you will want to access the regional train. (The train station for both the express train and the regional train is within the airport area, near Terminal 3.)
The Leonardo Express is direct and connects the airport to Roma Termini station (the main railway hub). The transfer takes about 32 minutes and costs € 14.
The FL1 regional line connects Fiumicino airport with Roma Tiburtina station (the newest railway hub in Rome) in about 45 minutes at a cost of €8. (This is not a direct connection). From here you can access onward train travel to Spello.
There are also direct buses from Fiumicino Airport to Rome. There are several companies that offer this route. The cost of the ticket is around €6. Though it is the cheapest option, congested traffic can make it not as appealing.
From Roma Tiburtina train station, train travel to Spello is approx. 1 hr 45 mins.Climate
Always check local conditions prior to departing for your tour. See below for average monthly temperatures and precipitation.
Day of Rest
There is no cycling on Day 3 and very little cycling on Day 6.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Please check on the status of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Extra nights are available on request.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Ecologico Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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