Umbria - Gastronomy Bike Tour

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 20 mi. (24 or 32 km) or cycling in the surroundings of Torgiano, 21 or 29 mi. (33 or 47 km)
Day 7: Cycling to Assisi,  16 mi. (25 km)
Day 8: Departure

Due 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 fesh tomatoes paired with the white wine, Fendi (or similar)
• Tagliatelle with your choice of truffle or fresh tomatoes paired with Brunello or Super Tuscan
• Meat balls 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 Bastiglia

Day 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 Duchi

Day 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.

Standard: Hotel dei Duchi
Superior: Upgraded room in Hotel dei Duchi

Day 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 Zuccari ****
Superior: Upgraded room in Villa Zuccari

Day 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: -225m / -235m

Accommodations: 

Standard: Al Grappolo d’Oro ***
Superior: Le Tre Vaselle*****

Day 6: Visiting the towns of Perugia, 15 mi. (24 km) or cycling in the surroundings of Torgiano, 28 mi. (45 km)

Today there are two options:

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: +218m / -212m
Bike:
Ascent/descent: +400m /-442m

or

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 the 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 then 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: +508m / -546m
 

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: +251m / -54m

Accommodations: 

Standard: Hotel la Terrazza ***
Superior: Hotel dal Moro Gallery ****

Day 8: Departure

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Please see each day’s detailed itinerary for the preferred accommodations for this tour. Final accommodation list will be based on availability. If preferred hotels are not available, a comparable alternative will be offered. Accommodations are very nice 3 and 4-star hotels, with breakfast included. Upgraded rooms/hotels are possible.