Compare Walking in a surprising Umbria by Umbria Con Me Sas vs A Taste of Italy by Sarracini Travel

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

Welcome to Rome! After a meet and greet at the airport with your driver, you will be transferred to your hotel. At 8:30 pm reach the meeting point to be ready for the departure of the Rome by Night Tour. The local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day, absolutely romantic by night. The tour ends in the Colosseum area. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own and overnight stay.

Day 2: Rome > Assisi > Siena > Florence

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Early morning departure for Assisi. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis featuring masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. Continue to Siena, home of the Palio. End the day in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Florence

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

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. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional).

Day 4: Florence > Bologna > Padova > Venice

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Depart for Bologna after breakfast in Florence. Wander through some of the city’s many, elegant arcades (or porticos), for which Bologna is famous. In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with its original Sant’Antonio Basilica. In the early evening, we will arrive in Venice. Check-in to your hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Venice

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi 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”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 6: Venice > Montepulciano (Tuscany) > Rome

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, depart for Tuscany, known for its romantic churches, castles and beloved wines. Proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a Medieval town rich with history and art. That evening we will arrive in Rome.

Day 7: Rome

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast depart from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St.Peter’s Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access. The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Meals: B

Day 8: Rome

Meals: Breakfast

Final breakfast followed by check-out. Arrivederci!