Umbria Sample Itinerary
Day
1: Spoleto
Pick up your rental car and drive to Spoleto in the heart of Umbria. Check in to your picturesque hotel and settle in. This afternoon your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to take you on a walking tour of the town. In Spoleto you will see ruins, artifacts and architecture dating from the earliest bronze age period through Roman times and into the Gothic, Renaissance and modern periods. You will climb its steep cobbled streets and sample from among its many treasures.
Day 2: Spoleto: Day trip to Assisi and Spello
Today, enjoy a day trip to Assisi and Spello. Meet your guide at the
city gate of Spello. You will walk its steep streets together and learn
its history. Then it's on to Assisi where you will enjoy a fine lunch
of seasonal and
local specialties. After lunch, Be ready for your spiritual pilgrimage
to Assisi, the immaculate medieval hill town that was home to Italy's
patron saint,
St. Francis. Always a vortex of beauty and spirituality, it also offers
some wonderful frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.
Anyone who takes the time to meander through the impressive Basilica,
its quaint chapels, and the narrow cobblestone streets of the town
will come away enchanted. Artisan shops abound.
Day 3: Explore Umbria
Today, drive to Torgiano, mecca for food and wine lovers, and visit the wine museum. You can expect a stunning lunch at the famous Le Melograne restaurant in the 5 star Le Tre Vaselle Hotel nearby. Then on to to shop for pottery in Deruta. At the end of the day make your way to Orvieto and your new hotel which will be your base for the next couple of days.
Day 4: Orvieto
This morning meet your guide to see the main sights of this vibrant hill town. You will visit what many believe to be Italy's most beautiful church. Its cornerstone was laid in 1290, and over the next two centuries countless artisans and masters added their exquisite touches to its marble facades, its intricate carvings and inlaid floors. Perhaps the crowning glory of this treasure trove is Luca Signorelli's unforgettable frescoes depicting the end of the world, the resurrection of the dead, heaven and hell. This lovely little hill town of Orvieto is also famous for its colorful ceramics and its crisp white wine. You will have ample time to experience both.
Day 5: Orvieto
Today, perhaps explore the precariously situated town of Civita di Bagnoregio - about 30 minute drive from Orvieto. Then go on to Bolsena on the beautiful lake of the same name for dinner and a walk along the lakeside. This evening enjoy a last dinner of Southern Umbrian delicacies in Orvieto.
Day 6: Perugia
Today make your way to Perugia. After checking in to your hotel, meet your guide for a walking tour of the city. Remnants of the Etruscan, Medieval, and Roman domination of the city are visible throughout the town. The heart of historical Perugia is encircled by the massive travertine city wall. The magnificent view from the southern hill stretches from the Apennines to the Tiber Valley and the mountains of Tuscany. The entire area was completely raised and converted into the most impressive and frightening symbol of the Pope’s power that was ever built. The remains of this papal fortress are one of the highlights of the city and today are used as a passageway for pedestrians served by a series of escalators. Walking along the main street you will see the Collegio del Cambio (the seat of the powerful guild of money – changers, which was frescoed by Perugino in 1500. Proceeding along the Cardo Maximus (the main street), you will pass the Old University, Palazzo dei Priori, the Fontana Maggiore and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. From there we will descend to the ‘Arco Etrusco’, the huge Etruscan city-gate of the north. Finally, we will return to the main street and enter the Palazzo dei Priori (the 13th century town hall) to visit the Umbrian National Gallery to see the collection of paintings and works of art which range from the 13th to 18th century. Included in this collection are a series of precious altarpieces from the 13th century as well as paintings by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, and many others.
This evening enjoy the lively scene as the cafes and restaurants fill up and the locals stroll the streets on their evening walk.
Day 7: Cortona
Today, make your way to your glorious hotel in the countryside near Cortona. This place will be a haven for relaxation, great food, and a base for visiting nearby wine country, Lake Trasimeno and the towns of Cortona and Arezzo. This evening relax by the pool and enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Day 8: Cortona:
In the morning head down to the town of Castiglione del Lago for a closer look at the famouse Lake Trasimeno which you can see from your hotel. After a look around drive to Cortona and explore the sights of the town. You will want to save plenty of time for its medieval lanes, Etruscan walls and Renaissance palaces, made famous in Frances Mayes Under the Tuscan Sun. Tonight we can arrange a special dinner at a nearby Relais and Chateux hotel that has excellent cuisine and a stunning view of the valley below.
Day 9: Wine Tasting
Today, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to taste some of the iconic wines of the area. You will visit Avignonesi, one of the most noted producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. They are also the only wine producers to experiment with a circular vineyard that is unique to Avignonesi. Enjoy tasting this noble wine that received it’s name from the ancient practice of noble families having the first pick of the best grapes to produce the wines that would grace their tables. Avignonesi’s 19th century farm estate, owned by the Falvo brothers reflects a full range of quality wines, as well as a superbly rich Vin Santo. The visit runs through spacious cellars for vinification, ageing and storing. Very interesting is the “Vinsantaia”, unique to Tuscany, where mature grapes are laid out until April, on straw and cane raft shelving to dry and sweeten. Afterward you'll continue on to Montepulciano for lunch. Your lunch will include local delicacies and of course good wine! Spend the afternoon exploring this picturesque hill town. There are many enotecas lining the streets and you can continue to taste some of the region's specialties.Day 10: Cortona: Day trip to Arezzo
Arezzo is one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany and it produces gold jewellery and clothing for shops all over the world. It is also the charming town seen in the award-winning movie “Life is Beautiful”, with Roberto Benigni. In Arezzo you will see Piero della Francesca's frescoes, the Duomo, Pieve di S. Maria, Vasaris House, and Santa Maria delle Grazie. A tour in Arezzo is a wonderful Italian esperience. There is an antique fair, the most important in Italy, in Piazza Grande every first Sunday of the month. If you're looking for something very old at a good price, don't miss it.