Compare Walking in a surprising Umbria by Umbria Con Me Sas vs Italian Discovery by Eskapas
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 725 | $ 2,500 |
| Price Per Day | $ 91 | $ 250 |
| Highlights |
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- Most comprehensive itinerary of Northern and Southern Italy |
| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
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9 breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners (please inform us at the moment of the booking, in case of any food allergy or alimentary restriction) |
| Description |
This tour will bring you to green, hilly Umbria, also known as the green heart of Italy. Umbria is a region with many faces, where everyday life is mixed with the traditions and spirituality of its past.
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The ten-day fully escorted “Italian Discovery” tour starts from and ends in Rome. All the iconic Italian cities – from the splendors of the Renaissance in Florence to the ruins of ancient Rome, to the sunny Amalfi coastline – are yours to discover during an epic 10 days in Italy. Get ready to discover the true essence of Italy on this outstanding travel experience with Eskapas. |
Day 1 You arrive in Spello and will stay in a *** hotel in the medieval centre.
You are met on your first evening and will have the opportunity to discuss your holiday.
Spello has lovely little streets to wander around, colourful decorated with plants and flowers. A very picturesque spot is the Via Torre di Properzio, which ends near the Roman ‘Porta Venere’, but also the Roman mosaics and the S.Maria Maggiore church are worthwhile to visit.
Day 2: Spello-Assisi
Spello is situated on the west edge of the Monte Subasio National Park and today you will be walking through this Park. The route has different variants. The first stretch will lead you through the olive groves on the slopes of Monte Subasio. After 8 km (475m a.s.l.) you can choose to go straight to Assisi, remaining on level, or to climb to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri (830m a.s.l.) St. Francis and his companions often stayed here and you can visit the cave where Francis used to meditate. After your visit you descend through the forest to the Porta Cappuccini town gate. Assisi’s medieval character is well preserved; the houses, gates and churches are almost all built in the pink-white stone of Mt.Subasio. Walking time:
Longer route 6 hours /17,5 km
shorter route 3 hours /12 km
Day 3: Assisi - Balciano
Today you walk through the Mount Subasio National Park along the Franciscan walking path 51. A highlight is the Fosso del Marchetto, a mini canyon. Walking through forest and olive groves you will reach your hotel, where you can enjoy a swim in the swimming pool.
Walking time: 6 hours (19 km)
Day 4: Balciano - Vescia
The route of today is varied. From the hotel you descend in the valley of the Topino river. You leave the valley climbing up to the castle il Poggio and the you descend to the village of Capodacqua. One last uphill climb with beautiful views on the surrounding hills and Monte Subasio and the it goes downhill to Vescia. Your overnight stay is in a real ancient olive oil mill (Frantoio), where excellent olive oils are produced. You will have diner in a local restaurant close by.
Walking time: 6 hrs (19 km)
Day 5:
This beautiful route amongst olive groves will take you first to the waterfalls of the Altolina and then to the 11th century Benedictine Abbey of Sassovivo. During the time of St. Francis this important abbey had vast powers of jurisdiction and a considerable patrimony spread out over the whole of central Italy. The finest architectural feature of the entire abbey is certainly the cloister with the double order columns, surmounted by lily-shaped capitols Walking through the woods you climb to the hamlet of Roviglieto (700m a.s.l.) and then will descend to the farmhouse B&B in the hamlet Manciano. Also here a nice pool to relax after your walk of today.
Walking time: 6 hrs (18 km)
Day 6: Manciano – Trevi – Campello alto
You leave Manciano and walk to Trevi on the lower flank of Monte Serano, known as the capital of olive oil. Trevi has a medieval aspect and worthwhile to visit are the Duomo and the S.Francis church, which houses a museum. You leave the town walking among the olive groves along the pilgrimage route ‘Way of St.Francis’, which runs from La Verna to Rome. You reach the walled village of Campello Alto and a last climb will bring you to your hotel 650m a.s.l. If you are tired the Giuseppe, the owner of the hotel, will pick you up in Campello Alto.
Walking time: 5 hrs (17 km)
Day 7: Campello Alto - Spoleto
If you would like to shorten your walk, after breakfast you will have a transfer by vehicle to Poreta. Your will walk along the olive grove path till Spoleto. As the name indicates you will mostly walk through olive groves on the slopes of the mountains. You pass several little villages, mostly built on hills, like Bazzano and Eggi. In Spoleto there is a lot to see, including the cathedral with the frescoes of Filippo Lippi and Pinturicchio, a Roman house and a Roman theatre. Also worth seeing are the façade of the church S.Pietro just outside town and, of course, the famous aqueduct bridge Ponte delle Torri. Spoleto is also a very pleasant place just to wander around the friendly little shopping streets with cosy restaurants and bars.
Walking time: 6 hrs (ca 18,5 km)
Day 8: Departure after breakfast
The 10 days tour:
The 8 days tour can be extended with two extra days. You will stay an extra night at your hotel in Assisi and make a nice walk through the hilly country side and the woods of Mount Subasio. (19 km / 5 ½ hours).
Another extra night you will have in Spoleto. The walk takes you to the Monteluco (Mount Luco). The name ‘Lucu’ (lucus) means ‘sacred woods’, and signifies that in ancient times the mountain was considered a holy place. From the 5th century hermits lived under Benedictine rule on the mountain. Later the Franciscans also built a monastery here. The evergreen oak wood was always very important for the town and was therefore already a protected area in the Middle Ages. The animals living here include porcupines, wild cats, badgers and squirrels
Walking time: 3 ½ hours (10 km)
Of course in every hotel can be booked extra nights (days of rest)
Day 1
Rome Arrival
Benvenuti a Roma!
Arrival to Rome , meet and greet with our private driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel.
Tread in the footsteps of emperors and slaves your first encounter with intoxicating Italy is the ‘Eternal City’ and its glorious past which you will have an opportunity to explore on your own before joining our Rome by Night Guided Walk starting at At 8:30 pm – reach the meeting point (on the corner of Via del Traforo (near street no. 148) and Largo del Tritone, on the wide sidewalk opposite the wedding-dress shop) to be ready for the departure of the Rome by night tour.
Our local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day – absolutely romantic by night. You enjoy the whole center of this magic city in the moonlight during this panoramic mix of bus and walking tour. The tour ends in Colosseum area. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own and overnight stay.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Not Available
Day 2
Rome > Assisi > Siena > Florence (B, D)
Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board on the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest.
Overnight: Florence Meals: Breakfast – Dinner
Day 3
Florence (B,L)
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on Etruscan-Roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi.
Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery.
Overnight: Florence. Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Day 4
Florence > Bologna > Padua > Venice (B, D)
After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos”, it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice (Mestre). Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight: Venice Mestre Meals: Breakfast – Dinner
Day 5
Venice (B)
After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight.
Overnight: Venice Mestre Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Venice > Tuscany Wine Region (Montepulciano) > Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included!!! After lunch, quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel.
Overniht: Rome Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Rome (B)
Between 7:45/8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. The tour couldn’t be complete without St. Peter’s Square, the open space which lies before the basilica, redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and being itself an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque age.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Rome > Naples > Pompeii > Sorrento (B, L, D)
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel at 7:00 am approximately. Departure by coach heading south crossing the regions of Lazio and Campania. Arrival in Naples and short panoramic tour climbing up to Vomero hill to enjoy beautiful views over the Gulf of Naples with the Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia and Procida and the city below; time to take some nice pictures. Descending towards the port of Mergellina, you will leave the city and travel south towards Mount Vesuvius and, once you reach the town of Pompeii, you will have lunch with the real Neapolitan pizza! After lunch, you will enter into one of the most important archaeological sites in the world: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Pompeii, with Skip the Line entrance and a guided tour.
Visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii, traveling back in time to the tragic days in 79 AD when the silent Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, covering the prosperous Roman city in deadly volcanic ashes and poisonous gases, leaving this prosperous city crystallized until our days. You’ll learn how people lived at that time, visiting houses and “bars” of the time, admiring frescoes and mosaics to imagine how rich and prosperous was the city before the dreadful day. After the visit, you will drive along the Sorrentine Coast, arriving in Sorrento for dinner (dress code: jacket for men) and an overnight in your new hotel.
Overnight: Sorrento Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9
Sorrento > Capri > Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, get ready for an exciting excursion to the island of Capri: one of the most exclusive summer destinations of the Mediterranean! Depending on weather and sea conditions, you will admire the dreamy Blue Grotto on a small rowboat. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then roam the island at your own pace. Once back on the mainland, return to Rome in the evening for your last overnight.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10
Rome Departure
After your breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for your onward flight. End of our services
Overnight: Not Available Meals: Breakfast
