Umbria - Culinary Walking Tour
Italy Hiking + Walking Tours
Explore Italy’s green heart & culinary delights on foot
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length5–7 days
- Prices from€680 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This walking tour is the essence of slow travel. Focused around the food and wine of the Umbria region, time to savor the cultural, natural, and gastronomic delights of the area is guaranteed.
Well-trodden paths will lead you to enchanting hilltop towns like Assisi, up and down rolling green hills, through olive groves and along cobbled streets to quaint town squares. Combine equal parts of walking with wine-tasting, eating local food sourced from surrounding farms, and unearthing the history that underpins ancient architecture.
Foodies will be in their element as gourmet delicacies typical of the local area grace the menus. Olive oil drizzled on wood-baked bread, cheese boards laced with local sheep’s milk cheese, platters of cold meats from Norcia, pasta wafting with the aroma of truffles, and freshly baked pizza paired with excellent red and white wines will delight. Sip on world-famous wines like Sagrantino di Montefalco and Grechetto di Assisi to round off eventful days.
Highlights
- Medieval towns of Spello and Spoleto
- Cooking class with a tour of a herb and vegetable garden of the Borgo
- Wine-tasting at an organic winery
- Basilica of St Francis
- Monte Subasio National Park
Interested in something else? Check out our entire listing of bicycle tours in Italy.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Discover Assisi, 5 or 8.7 mi. (8 or 14 km)
Day 3: Walk to Spello, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
Day 4: Circular walk from Spello, 7.5 mi. (12 km)
Day 5: Departure
*All distances are approximate.
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 your first day. Your hotel is located just 900m from the town center and has a small swimming pool and gourmet restaurant. Dinner will be included this evening.Preferred accommodation:
Borgo Antichi Orti
Day 2: Discover Assisi, 5 or 8.7 mi. (8 or 14 km)
Explore the beautiful hilltown of Assisi on foot. The town walk will take you around the most important cultural monuments of Assisi, which are mostly connected with the lives of the saints Francis and Clare, who were born in Assisi. From your hotel, your walk goes up to the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you will walk through a tangle of little alleys and medieval squares. You will pass the remains of an amphitheater, the medieval castle (506m a.s.l.), the St. Francis Basilica, the temple of Minerva, the church ‘Chiesa Nuova’ and the basilica of St. Clare, finally walking down to the monastery of St. Damiano (310m a.s.l.).Included culinary experiences:
This experience will take place at Hotel Borgo Antichi Orti and will include:- A lesson to discover the wild and cultivated herbs in the vegetable garden (2000m2) of the Borgo, an ex-Benedictine monastery at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis. Here the Monastic Hortuli are reborn and one of the largest bio-conservative parks in Europe has been created. You will accompany the gardener to collect fresh products from the vegetable and herb garden for your cookery course and he will explain the use of herbs in cooking.
- One drink mixed by the Bar Alchemists of the Spagirico Lab combined with a snack
- A 1.5-hour cooking class with the chef of the Locanda degli Orti, using vegetables and herbs from the vegetable garden
- Dinner tasting of the food cooked during the course
Walk details:
Walking time: approx. 3-4.5 hoursPreferred accommodation:
Borgo Antichi Orti
Day 3: Walk to Spello, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
Follow the slopes of Monte Subasio which will take you to Spello. It is a beautiful walk among olive groves, with great views of the Valle Umbra. Before you arrive at Spello, you will visit an organic winery called Tili Vini in the Assisi d.o.c. area. You will have a wine-tasting and lunch with an optional cooking experience.An optional Truffle cooking experience
The truffle cooking class is a great addition to your itinerary. It takes place in the winery and lasts 1.5-2 hours. The chef will give you insights into how to buy, prepare, and serve truffles in the best way.
During this class, you will get to prepare the following truffle dishes:- truffle focaccia
- ricotta and truffle ravioli
- pecorino sauce with truffle
- fried egg with truffle
- mixed truffles (dessert)
After your visit, you continue your walk to Spello, built up a spur of Monte Subasio. The intact town walls are draped around the historical center, which has a number of monuments testifying the Roman era. Spello also has one of Umbria’s major art attractions - the splendid frescoes by Pinturicchio in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. You will stay in a hotel in the historical center.
Walk details:
Elevation gain: 262m
Elevation loss: 364m
Walking time: approx. 3.5 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel la Bastiglia
Day 4: Circular walk from Spello, 7.5 mi. (12 km)
Walk the lovely ring route in surrounding Spello. Through olive groves and woods, you will walk along the Roman aqueduct to Collepino, a small walled-in mountain village. From here, you descend into the valley and walk along quiet country roads, back to Spello. The vegetation of the Subasio slopes are varied with olive groves, broom, Turkey oak, minor oak, hornbeam, flowering ash, maple, beech, and ilex. The aqueduct-path winds its way through charming scenery composed of the crop fields of the valley, olive groves, and Mediterranean woodland. You will have stunning views of Spello and the surrounding hills.Included culinary experience:
Taste authentic Italian cuisine at a local restaurant and bar*. The tasting menu will consist of:- Selection of bruschette with cherry tomatoes, black truffle and olive oil from Spello. Wine: Grecchetto dell’Umbria
- Scrambled eggs with black truffle. Wine: Trebbiano Spoletino
- Tagliatelle with Cacio cheese, pepper, and black truffle. Wine: Montefalco: Rosso
- Selection of cheeses and salami. Wine: Sagrantino di Montefalco
- Tozzetti biscuits. Wine: Sagrantino passito
* The local restaurant and bar is closed on Mondays. If this activity falls on a Monday during your tour, then it will be booked on day 3. The menu can change slightly according to the season.
Walk details:
Elevation gain: 320m
Elevation loss: 322m
Walking time: approx. 4 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel la Bastiglia
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, you say goodbye and your tour ends.
Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Discover Assisi, 5 or 8.7 mi. (8 or 14 km)
Day 3: Walk to Spello, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
Day 4: Circular walk from Spello, 7.5 mi. (12 km)
Day 5: Train ride to Spoleto, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 6: Walk on Monteluco, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
Day 7: Departure
* All distances are approximate.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. Your hotel is located 900m from the town center and has a small swimming pool and gourmet restaurant. Dinner will be included this evening.Preferred accommodation:
Borgo Antichi OrtiDay 2: Discover Assisi, 5 or 8.7 mi. (8 or 14 km)
Explore the beautiful hilltown of Assisi on foot. The town walk will take you around the most important cultural monuments of Assisi, which are mostly connected with the lives of the saints Francis and Clare, who were born in Assisi. From your hotel, your walk goes up to the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you will walk through a tangle of little alleys and medieval squares. You will pass the remains of an amphitheater, the medieval castle (506m a.s.l.), the St. Francis Basilica, the temple of Minerva, the church ‘Chiesa Nuova’ and the basilica of St. Clare, finally walking down to the monastery of St. Damiano (310m a.s.l.).Included culinary experiences:
This experience will take place at Hotel Borgo Antichi Orti and will include:- A lesson to discover the wild and cultivated herbs in the vegetable garden (2000m2) of the Borgo, an ex-Benedictine monastery at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis. Here the Monastic Hortuli are reborn and one of the largest bio-conservative parks in Europe has been created. You will accompany the gardener to collect fresh products from the vegetable and herb garden for your cookery course and he will explain the use of herbs in cooking.
- One drink mixed by the Bar Alchemists of the Spagirico Lab combined with a snack
- A 1.5-hour cooking class with the chef of the Locanda degli Orti, using vegetables and herbs from the vegetable garden
- Dinner tasting of the food cooked during the course
Walk details:
Elevation gain: 262m
Elevation loss: 364m
Walking time: approx. 3-4.5 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel la Bastiglia
Day 3: Walk to Spello, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
Follow the slopes of Monte Subasio which will take you to Spello. It is a beautiful walk among olive groves, with great views of the Valle Umbra. Before you arrive at Spello, you will visit an organic winery called Tili Vini in the Assisi d.o.c. area. You will have a wine-tasting and lunch with an optional cooking experience.An optional Truffle cooking experience
The truffle cooking class is a great addition to your itinerary. It takes place in the winery and lasts 1.5-2 hours. The chef will give you insights into how to buy, prepare, and serve truffles in the best way.
During this class, you will get to prepare the following truffle dishes:- truffle focaccia
- ricotta and truffle ravioli
- pecorino sauce with truffle
- fried egg with truffle
- mixed truffles (dessert)
After your visit, you continue your walk to Spello, built up a spur of Monte Subasio. The intact town walls are draped around the historical center, which has a number of monuments testifying the Roman era. Spello also has one of Umbria’s major art attractions - the splendid frescoes by Pinturicchio in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. You will stay in a hotel in the historical center.
Walk details:
Elevation gain: 262m
Elevation loss: 364m
Walking time: approx. 3.5 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel la Bastiglia
Day 4: Circular walk from Spello, 7.5 mi. (12 km)
Walk the lovely ring route in surrounding Spello. Through olive groves and woods, you will walk along the Roman aqueduct to Collepino, a small walled-in mountain village. From here, you descend into the valley and walk along quiet country roads, back to Spello. The vegetation of the Subasio slopes are varied with olive groves, broom, Turkey oak, minor oak, hornbeam, flowering ash, maple, beech, and ilex. The aqueduct-path winds its way through charming scenery composed of the crop fields of the valley, olive groves, and Mediterranean woodland. You will have stunning views of Spello and the surrounding hills.Included culinary experience:
Taste authentic Italian cuisine at a local restaurant and bar*. The tasting menu will consist of:- Selection of bruschette with cherry tomatoes, black truffle and olive oil from Spello. Wine: Grecchetto dell’Umbria
- Scrambled eggs with black truffle. Wine: Trebbiano Spoletino
- Tagliatelle with Cacio cheese, pepper, and black truffle. Wine: Montefalco: Rosso
- Selection of cheeses and salami. Wine: Sagrantino di Montefalco
- Tozzetti biscuits. Wine: Sagrantino passito
* The local restaurant and bar is closed on Mondays. If this activity falls on a Monday during your tour, then it will be booked on day 3. The menu can change slightly according to the season.
Walk details:
Elevation gain: 320m
Elevation loss: 322m
Walking time: approx. 4 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel la BastigliaDay 5: Train ride to Spoleto, 23 mi. (37 km)
After breakfast, you say goodbye to Spello and take the train to Spoleto. This morning you have time to visit Spoleto. There is a lot to see like the duomo, that can be reached by a scenic stairway. Inside are beautiful frescoes of Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio. Other sites worth visiting are the Roman house, the San Salvatore church, the Romanesque San Ponziano church, the Rocca Albornoziana fortress sitting on the hilltop above Spoleto, the bridge of the towers (Ponte delle Torri), the Tower dell’Olio, the roman theatre, and the archaeological museum.
Preferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel San LucaDay 6: Walk on Monteluco, 6.8 mi. (11 km)
You will start at the Ponte delle Torri bridge and make your way up Monteluco mountain. The name comes from lucus meaning ‘sacred woods’. It signifies that in ancient times the mountain was considered a holy place. In the 5th century, the hermit Isaac from Antioch lived under the Benedictine rule in the woods. Later, followed the Franciscans, who built a monastery. The evergreen oak wood was always very important for the town and was therefore already a protected area in Roman times and during the middle ages. The animals living here include porcupines, wild cats, badgers, and squirrels.In the evening, a farewell dinner will be held at the gourmet restaurant Ristorante Il Tempio del Gusto*.
*If the dinner falls on a Thursday (the closing day of the restaurant) then it will be held on day 5 of your tour.Walk details:
Elevation gain: 510m
Elevation loss: 483m
Walking time: approx. 4 hoursPreferred accommodation:
4-star Hotel San LucaDay 7: Departure
After breakfast, your tour comes to end.
Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.Accommodation
You will stay in 4-star accommodations. 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.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 4 or 6 nights with breakfast
- Tour information meeting
- Dinner on day 1 (excl. drinks)
- Dinner at Spoleto (excl. drinks) (only for the 7-day tour)
- Cooking class, aperitif, & dinner in Assisi (excl. drinks)
- Herb and vegetable garden visit
- 1 lunch & wine-tasting at an organic winery
- 1 tasting menu in enoteca (wine cellar) a Spello (incl wine)
- Route descriptions & maps
- Luggage transfer
- Back-up service
- GPS tracks (must be requested at least 10 days prior to tour). We suggest downloading maps.me.
What’s Not Included
- Meals not mentioned
- Drinks
- Tourist taxes (from €1 - €4 per person/per night)
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2020 / 2021
Arrivals possible any day from April 1 to November 1, 2020 / 2021. On request only during holidays, winter months, and during the Spoleto Music Festival (end of June/July for two weeks).
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Double/twin room: $ 1084 £ 615 $ 1,061 € 680 NZ$ 1170 kr 7007 $ 840
Single supplement: $ 199 £ 113 $ 195 € 125 NZ$ 215 kr 1288 $ 154
Double/twin room: $ 1520 £ 863 $ 1,489 € 954 NZ$ 1641 kr 9831 $ 1,179
Single supplement: $ 167 £ 95 $ 164 € 105 NZ$ 181 kr 1082 $ 130
Extra Options
Supplements
Truffle cooking class at winery (5-day tour): $ 151 £ 86 $ 148 € 95 NZ$ 163 kr 979 $ 117
Truffle cooking class Assisi (7-day tour): $ 151 £ 86 $ 148 € 95 NZ$ 163 kr 979 $ 117
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This walking tour is classified as easy-moderate and is self-guided. It is suitable for those looking for relaxed walks, that have some walking experience. It is also suitable for families with children over the age of 8. You will walk along paths and quiet country lanes with a variety of surfaces (asphalt, gravel or dirt trails). Throughout the tour, there are walks in hilly countryside. Moderate ascents and descents of no more than +-520m can be expected. You will be walking 3-5 hours per day, with distances of between 16 and 24 miles (10 - 15 km). The total distance for the 5-day tour is 19.3 - 23 miles (31 - 27 km) and the 7-day tour is 26 - 30 miles (42 -48 km).
Airport Info
Fly to Rome’s Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) International Airport (FCO).
Local Travel
Take the train from Rome Airport to Assisi. The Leonardo Express is a Trenitalia train connecting Fiumicino airport with the main train station in Rome, Termini. It takes roughly 32 minutes and leaves the airport every half-hour, or every 15 minutes during peak hours. It’s a non-stop service from the airport to Termini. The cost of a one-way ticket starts at €8 per person.
There are at least 19 trains each day from Rome’s Termini station to Assisi train station. The train trip takes a minimum of 1 hour and 50 minutes with Trenitalia’s direct trains, either on the high-speed Alta Velocità (AV) Intercity or the slower Regionale Veloce train. The cost of train tickets starts at €10 per person.
For further information on timetables and prices, please visit: http://www.trenitalia.com
Recommended
The truffle cooking class is a great addition to your itinerary. It takes place in the winery on day 3 and lasts 1.5-2 hours. You will help the chef prepare a variety of dishes using delicious truffles, and of course, taste them too! You will learn how to buy, prepare and serve truffles in the best way.
We recommend you download maps.me onto your smartphone. This is a great tool to use for navigation with offline maps that can be preloaded onto your phone. You can download it from the Google Play store or using the following link: https://maps.me/
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status 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.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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