Umbria

Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Assisi - Spello, Montefalco, Bevagna - Torgiano, 65 km / 40, 4 miles starting Viole or 67 km / 41,6 miles starting Assisi
Day 3: Ride to Perugia, 20 mi. (32 km) or day of rest
Day 4: Torgiano - Passignano, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 5: Passignano -  Umbertide, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 6: From Umbertide to Gubbio, 35 to 36 miles (56 or 58 km)
Day 7: From Gubbio to Assisi, 36 to 38 miles (59 to 61 km)
Day 8: Departure from Assisi

Day 1: Arrival at the hotel near Assisi,  
The start of this cycle tour is close to Assisi, the popular pilgrimage town built on the slopes of Monte Subasio. Its impressive ramparts, towers and palace roofs of the town are visible from afar. Assisi has a strong unbreakable bond with the saints Francis and Clare. On the day of your arrival you might want to explore the town with its little alleys and squares. Worth seeing are the famous basilica of St. Francis and the Roman temple of Minerva in Piazza del Comune. Your overnight stay is in a hotel between Assisi and Spello, another beautiful fortified town with old town gates and an amphitheatre.

Day 2: Assisi - Spello, Montefalco, Bevagna - Torgiano, 65 km / 40.4 miles starting Viole or 67 km / 41.6 miles starting Assisi
This morning there will be time to wander about in Spello. After continuing your journey through the valley of Spoleto, passing Foligno, your route goes up to Montefalco; also called ‘the balcony of Umbria’, because of its fantastic panorama. 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 still hosts 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 rivers Chiascio and Tiber. Interesting to visit are the wine museum and the ‘osteria’ of the Lungarotti family, where you can taste their excellent wines.

Day 3 Visiting Perugia, 20 miles (32 km) 
Today you can visit the neighboring town of Perugia: the provincial capital and a lively, vibrant place. The medieval town centre with its little alleyways is at the highest point of the town. The renaissance palaces, churches, museums and many galleries make a lasting impression. You will spend the night once more in the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano.

Day 4: From Torgiano to lake Trasimeno, 34 miles (55 km)
On the fourth day you will bike through a hilly landscape to be rewarded with a magnificent view  of the lake and its islands. Your hotel is just in Passignano, a town made of history and nature, art and folklore, peace and vitality.

Day 5: From the lake to Umbertide, 29 miles (46 km)
Today’s bike is through unspoiled scenery to the quiet little town of Umbertide, whose town centre is dominated by a majestic tower, the remains of a castle dating back to 1385. First a steep climb brings you up to Magione with its Castel of the knight of Malta, then freewheeling downhill … and the climbing to Castel Rigone starts. From here, you have a beautiful view over the surrounding hills. You cycle over a ridge and then it goes downhill into the Valley of the Tiber

Day 6: From Umbertide to Gubbio, 35 to 36 miles (56 or 58 km)
Today you will reach the fortified hill town of Gubbio. You cycle through the valley of the Carpine river. You can decide to visit the characteristic Umbrian town Montone, which you reach after a climb. Then a nice downhill ride brings you back in the valley. Up- and downhill cycling through a green landscape you reach Pietralunga, which has Longobard origins.  In Gubbio worthwhile visiting are the palaces, the Roman theatre and the monastery of S. Ubaldo, which is built at 827m altitude and can be reached by cable car. Your overnight stay will be near the historical center.

Day 7: From Gubbio to Assisi, 36 to 38 miles (59 to 61 km)
At the beginning of this last leg of the tour you still have some hard climbing to do, through a rolling still-life landscape with magnificent, but after that you have a well-deserved easy descent to Assisi. Cycling through the centre of this little town you will pass its most important monuments, like the Basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva and the basilica of St. Clare. After your tour you return to your hotel in Assisi or in Viole.

Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Arrival in Assisi 
Day 2: Assisi - Spello - Foligno - Casco dell’Acqua or Bovara, 16 mi. (26 km)
Day 3: Round trip to Spoleto, 27 or 32 miles (44 or 51 km)
Day 4: Casco dell’Acqua or Bovara - Bevagna - Montefalco (optional) - Torgiano, 33 miles (53 km)
Day 5: Round trip of Perugia, 15 miles (24 km) or Torgiano, 20 or 29 miles (33 or 47 km)
Day 6: Torgiano - Assisi, 15 miles (26 km)
Day 7: Departure

Day 1: Individual arrival at your hotel in Assisi or Viole di Assisi
On arrival, there is a route briefing given by a tour representative at your first hotel. At this time, you will also receive your rental bike. The tour starts near the city of Assisi, the pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio. Many monuments have been erected here in honor of the saints Francis and Clare.

Day 2: Cycle mainly through the valley, passing Spello and Foligno to arrive at your hotel Casco dell’Acqua, 16 mi. (26 km)
You leave your hotel and cycle along the slopes of Mount Subasio to Spello. There is enough time this morning to wander around this charming ancient town, pleasantly situated on the southern slopes of Mount Subasio. In urban, architectural, and artistic terms, Spello is an extremely interesting town, containing many features dating back to the Roman and medieval times. Spello is also called the town of flowers, because of its many colorful little alleys embellished with plants and flowers. The town is well known for its special flower festival (‘infiorata’) for Corpus Domini. After Spello you descend to Foligno, which is in the valley. You pass along the main square with its beautiful ‘duomo’ which still has a Romanesque façade. Continuing along the lively main shopping street you will leave the town to cycle the last kms of your route, across the fertile valley with its colourful fields and various waterways. Your country house is situated in the village Casco dell’Acqua.

Day 3: Round trip to Spoleto from Casco dell’Acqua, 27 or 32 mi. (44 or 51 km)
This morning, a short tour among olive groves will take you to Spoleto. You can see Spoleto from afar, with its castle dominating the hilltop on which the medieval part of the town is built. The center is still largely inside the medieval town walls. Spoleto is very famous for its music festival ‘dei due mondi’, held in the first weeks of July. There is a lot to see in Spoleto, including the cathedral with its famous frescoes by the Florentine painter Filippo Lippi, the Roman house and the Roman theatre with an annexed archaeological museum. Leaving Spoleto you cycle among the fields back to Casco dell’Acqua.

Day 4: Cycling to Torgiano passing Bevagna and (optionally) Montefalco, 33 mi. (53 km)
Cycling through a slightly undulating landscape, you will see Montefalco from a distance. At the foot of this town you have the option to continue along the valley directly to Bevagna or to visit Montefalco but to reach this lovely town you first have to conquer a steep climb. Montefalco (472 m a.s.l.) is also known as the ‘balcony of Umbria’, because of the fantastic panorama. The Franciscan church, now a museum, is decorated with magnificent 15th and 16th century frescoes by artists such as Benozzo, Gozzoli, and Perugino. Montefalco is well-known for its excellent wines, Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c. and Sagrantino d.o.c.g , produced on the sunny slopes around the town, and of course it is almost impossible to leave the town without tasting them in one of the many wine bars.  

From Montefalco you go downhill to Bevagna. This town has a lovely medieval square with a fountain and two Romanesque churches. The square is a real meeting place for the friendly inhabitants of the town. After a last hill you will reach Torgiano, at the confluence of the rivers Chiascio and Tiber (Tevere). Your hotel is in the quiet town center or upon request, just outside the town walls with swimming pool. 

Day 5: Today you can choose between three circular routes:

Route 1: Visiting Perugia: cycling and train (24 km)
This trip takes you to the neighbouring town of Perugia, which 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 with its little alleys and picturesque town squares. The renaissance palaces, medieval churches, museums and many galleries will make a lasting impression. After your visit you return by train and bicycle to the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano

Route 2: Visiting Perugia: cycling to the old town center, (32 km)
This trip takes you to  Perugia, which is the capital of the province. Cycling along quiet country roads you reach Perugia. A climb will bring you to the old town centre, with its little alleys and characteristic town squares. There is a lot to see like renaissance palaces, medieval churches, museums and many galleries. After your visit you return by bicycle to the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano.

Route 3: A loop in the surroundings of Torgiano, (30 or 45 km)
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. 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, which has built after a miracle, which took place in the year 1657. 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. The route back to Torgiano is through the Tiber valley. Torgiano, like Montefalco, is famous for its excellent red and white wines and suggested is a visit to the interesting wine museum. Next to the museum you can taste the wines of the Lungarotti family in the ‘osteria’.

Day 6: Assisi, 15 mi. (26 km)
Today you will cross the valley, cycling on quiet country roads. You will see Assisi from afar as, like many other Umbrian towns, it is 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.

To reach the beautiful historical center of Assisi you have to make a short steep climb, but wandering through the town you will agree that it was worth the effort. 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. Your overnight stay will be in the hotel where you started your tour.

Day 7: Departure from Assisi

Day 1: Arrival in Assisi/Viole
Day 2: Assisi - Spello - Foligno - Spoleto, 32 or 33 mi. (51 or 53 km) 
Day 3: Spoleto - Bevagna, 22 to 25 mi. (35 to 40 km) 
Day 4: Bevagna - Torgiano - Assisi/Viole, 23 - 32 mi. (37 to 52 km)
Day 5: Departure from Assisi/Viole

Day 1: Arrival in your hotel in Assisi (900m from the old center of Assisi)
On arrival, there is a route briefing given by a tour representative at your first hotel. At this time, you will also receive your rental bike. The tour starts near the city of Assisi, the pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio. Many monuments have been erected here in honor of the saints Francis and Clare.

Day 2: Cycling to Spoleto, passing the small medieval towns Spello and Foligno, 32 mi. (51 km) or 33 mi. (53 km)
You leave your hotel and cycle along the slopes of Mount Subasio to Spello. There is enough time to wander about in Spello, a charming ancient town pleasantly situated on the southern slopes of Mount Subasio. In urban, architectural, and artistic terms, Spello is an extremely interesting town, containing many features dating back to the Roman age. Spello is also called the town of flowers, because of its many colorful alleys embellished with plants and flowers. The town is well-known for its Flower Festival (‘infiorata’) for Corpus Domini. After continuing your journey through the valley, passing Foligno, you go up to Spoleto. Your hotel is situated in the historical center of Spoleto, close to the Roman theater. 

Day 3: Spoleto - Bevagna,  23 mi. (38 km) passing Montefalco or 25 mi. (40 km) not going to Montefalco or 22 mi. (35 km) easy cycle path route without up and downhill cycling
This morning you have time to visit Spoleto, which is built on a hilltop and is surrounded by an evergreen woodland and a hilly countryside. The historical center is, for the most part, still inside the medieval town walls. Spoleto is very famous for its music festival ‘dei due mondi’ held in the month of July. Don’t forget to visit the cathedral with its beautiful frescoes by the Florentine painter Filippo Lippi. 

The route of today has different versions: the easy cycle path route without up and downhill cycling and which goes directly to Bevagna. Or the more strenuous route: biking on through a slightly undulating landscape you will already see Montefalco from a distance. At the foot of this town, you can choose to continue through the valley directly to Bevagna or to visit Montefalco, but to get to this town you first have to conquer a steep climb (470 m). Montefalco is also known as the ‘balcony of Umbria’, because of its fantastic panorama. The Franciscan church, now a museum, is decorated with magnificent 5th and 16th century frescoes by artists like Benozzo Gozzoli and Perugino. Montefalco is well-known for its excellent wines, Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c. and Sagrantino d.o.c.g , produced on the sunny slopes around the town, and of course its almost impossible to leave the town without tasting them in one of the many wine bars. From Montefalco, you go downhill to Bevagna, where the medieval square with the two Romanesque churches is a real meeting place for the friendly inhabitants. Tonight's accommodations are located in the center of town.

Day 4: Cycling to Assisi passing Torgiano, 23 mi. (37 km), Not passing Torgiano, 32 mi. (52 km) 
Today you bike mostly through the valley. You can choose to visit Torgiano, a fortified village in medieval times, situated on the confluence of  \the rivers Chiascio and Tiber (Tevere). It is certainly worth stopping off in this town, which like Montefalco, is famous for its excellent red and white wines. You could visit the wine museum with (next-door) the ‘osteria’ of the Lungarotti family, where you can taste the excellent Torgiano wines. After Torgiano you will cross the valley, cycling on quiet country roads. You can see Assisi from a distance because like many other Umbrian towns, it is 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 St. Francis once came to pray. To get to the beautiful historical center of Assisi, you have to make a short, steep climb, but wandering through the town you will agree that it was worth effort. After your visit of Assisi you return to your hotel in Viole (3 km from Assisi).

Day 5: Departure