From Florence to Rome, crossing the Tuscan countryside and Umbria, fascinating and tasty itineraries in the green heart of Italy.
Also available for departure and return to Florence or Rome.
An itinerary in the green heart of Italy, in search of the author's villages, places of worship, ancient medieval traditions, flavors and colors of places that speak the language of beauty along the ancient Roman roads, the wonderful Tuscan countryside, the rolling Umbrian hills and the Tiber valley to the capital.
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What will we do:
First day – Florence
Arrival in Florence where we will welcome you to accompany you to your hotel accommodation. We leave your luggage in your room and let yourself be accompanied through the streets of one of the most fascinating cities in the world, which is often called an "open-air museum" and actually it is just like that, rich in art, history and beauty, which can be seen and admired even just walking through its neighborhoods, squares, bridges, The hidden corners, the Lungarno.
In the afternoon guided tour of the city. Overnight stay
Second day – From Florence to Arezzo and Perugia
Today we leave Tuscany, but not before visiting the fascinating city of Arezzo, birthplace of brilliant masters such as Piero della Francesca and Giorgio Vasari. Arezzo is a beautiful city. Among the richest in the region, it stands proudly on a hill at the intersection of four valleys. Located along the Via Cassia, it has always played an important and important role in Tuscan history.
Wherever you start, you always arrive in the magnificent Piazza Grande, bordered on one side by Vasari's Loggia and the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici with the Madonna della Misericordia by Bernardo Rossellino in a lunette of the façade. The square is famous for being the film set of "Life is beautiful" by Roberto Benigni.
In the upper part of the city stands the majestic Cathedral of Arezzo, dedicated to San Donato. Built on an ancient early Christian church, the cathedral is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows. The seven windows, a masterpiece of glass art, were executed in the '500 by the master French Guillaume de Marcillat.
Walking under the arcades of the center it is not uncommon to come across women who prepare lunch outdoors, leaving us a small and almost imperceptible desire to participate in that party and then taste those dishes with an ancient flavor.
In the afternoon we continue the journey down to Umbria meeting the small hill town of Cortona, the city described in the book and in the film adaptation "Under the Tuscan Sun", symbol of "the good life" in Tuscany. Its origins date back to the Etruscans and the heart of the city is the Piazza della Repubblica, with the Palazzo Comunale at the foot of the square.
Along the Trasimeno, the largest lake in central Italy, we enter Umbria, the green heart of the country and soon arrive in Perugia, the largest city in the region. Overnight stay.
Third day – Perugia
It is the largest city in Umbria, dominated by small medieval villages. Etruscan walls and a delightful medieval old town for a city of gourmands and artists.
Perugia is also a place of culture par excellence, as it is home to two universities: the University of Studies, and the University for Foreigners, the largest in Italy. Then there is the ancient Perugia, the best known, the one surrounded by two city walls: the external one, from the Middle Ages, along its path there are several doors, such as the Cassero di Porta Sant'Angelo.
Further inside, there is, instead, the Etruscan walls characterized by the large boulders with which it was built. However, there are not many monuments dating back to the oldest city, as the remaining urban nucleus is largely in medieval style. The historic center, in fact, is a real village dating back to 300 AD, one of the most beautiful in Italy.
In the Middle Ages the historic center of Perugia was divided into five districts that unfold between alleys, ups and downs, underground passages and romantic views. Each district is characterized by the presence of a relative Door: Porta Eburneo, Sant'Angelo, Santa Susanna and Porta Sole. The museums, churches, palaces and ancient monuments that make Perugia special are sown throughout the village, and along its narrow streets we will discover endless wonders.
On the other hand, another of the peculiarities of this capital is that despite being well known it still remains on a human scale and can be visited in a day. The only moments in which you will find the city overflowing with tourists will be the Umbria Jazz music festival, well known and appreciated internationally and the Eurococholate chocolate fair that take place in summer and autumn. Do not miss a visit to the Perugina Museum for chocolate lovers.
For the evening an idea is to dine in Torciano, a beautiful village on the hills around Perugia, rich in history and excellent restaurants, a wonderful wine cellar and a unique atmosphere. Overnight stay.
Fourth and fifth day – Villages of author in Umbria 2 days of intense emotions
To visit the medieval villages of Umbria it is necessary to let yourself go in the atmospheres of other times, in the tones of color and flavors, follow the pleasure and not the time, let the eye of the room immortalize corners of pure magic and the eye of the soul enjoy everything else.
Let's go, we are on the Strada del Sagrantino, a red wine that has made Umbria famous all over the world for lovers of oenology. One of the most beautiful villages in Umbria, famous for the medieval festival "Mercato delle Gaite", a festival for the ancient crafts of the region, with the clothes and customs of the time.
Bevagna, one of the few cases of village located in the plain, is surrounded by perfectly preserved walls which leads to the village through 4 doors (Gaite) and all lead us to the main street, an ancient Roman road that divides the village in two, where we can find excellent restaurants and bars to taste the typical recipes of the place such as gnocchi al Sagrantino. The second village we meet is .....
Listed among the 100 most beautiful villages in Italy, Montefalco is located in an enchanting geographical position that has earned it the nickname of "Balcony of Umbria" for the numerous viewpoints from which it is possible to observe landscapes and panoramas of pure beauty.
Its defensive walls, which can still be visited, are interspersed with the gates of access to the village: the door of Frederick II, that of Sant'Agostino, the door of the Rocca, of Camiano and of San Leonardo, where the Church of Santa Chiara and the adjoining convent stand out. It was the Saint who wanted the construction of the church that bears her name, and her remains rest today in a silver urn between the classical and austere naves of the church.
But Montefalco is also wine and what a wine, Sagrantino di Montefalco is a very fine wine. Rich cuisine that accompanies this wine, from lamb meat to sliced Chianina, and first courses with wine, such as gnocchi, pappardelle or rice Montefalchese among whose ingredients there is obviously a glass of red. Montefalco is not just wine: its olive groves produce an extraordinary extra virgin olive oil really fine and intense taste, all to be savored and then this is the ideal place for our lunch and tasting stop, of course.
We continue our tour passing through Foligno, the city of the Quintana, the city where the first edition of the Divine Comedy was printed. A short walk to Piazza della Repubblica to see the Basilica of San Feliciano, patron saint of the city and the beautiful Palazzo Trinci and Palazzo Orfini, the palace where the first edition of the Divine Comedy was printed and finally the Campo dei Giochi where every June and September the famous Giostra della Quintana is held, a manifestation of dexterity, Historical re-enactment of the joust of February 10, 1613 to settle the doubt whether for a knight it was more honorable "to maintain the grace of the prince or continue to favor very kind and beautiful lady."
Last stop of our itinerary today among the Umbrian villages:
An enchanting village between alleys and unique views, its historic center is a surprising urban itinerary where you can admire panoramic views, artistic and monumental heritage, silent and romantic alleys whose walls, from the harmonious set of white and pink stones of Mount Subasio, exude centuries of history and flowers, you flowers, because Spello is famous for the most representative event of Spello, the Infiorata del Corpus Domini held between May and June.
Every year the streets of the medieval village are transformed into a wonderful, spectacular, immense carpet of flowers that exceeds 1.5 km. The streets of the center are decorated with paintings of sacred art composed with flower petals, a unique event for religious tourism that has transformed Spello into the "capital of flowers". A capital that does not lose its desire for color all year round.
In case you want to stay for dinner in this wonder, the dishes of the local cuisine are the red potato gnocchi of Colfiorito with goose sauce, the salad of raponzoli (radishes), and legumes, which in Spello are the masters, on bruschetta with the excellent Spello oil or in soups.
Return to nearby Perugia, in our accommodations. Overnight stay.
Fifth day – Our second day among the Umbrian villages starts from Spoleto
Probably the most romantic of the Umbrian cities, intimate and charming, with many real artistic treasures that have made it a small hilly jewel made even more beautiful by its "Festival of Two Worlds of Spoleto" one of the most important summer cultural events in Europe. Ancient capital of the Lombard dukes, Spoleto will leave you breathless thanks to the richness of the city's historical and artistic heritage, testimony of the most diverse historical periods that saw it as a protagonist.
Among many beauties we decide to start the visit from the majestic Rocca Albornoziana, which dominates the city. Illustrious testimony of the presence of popes and governors in Spoleto, the Rocca, bordered by a high system of perimeter walls alternating with six square towers, is in fact the symbol of the city and is divided into two distinct areas: the Courtyard of Honor, with the National Museum of the Duchy and a multipurpose space for exhibitions, concerts and conferences, and the Courtyard of Arms, with an open-air theater.
For those who do not suffer from vertigo, we will climb the Ponte delle Torri that joins the Rocca and Monteluco. This bridge is impressive and unique in its kind: 230 meters long and 82 meters high, it seems to have been erected between the thirteenth century and the following century, after the sack of Spoleto by Barbarossa.
We continue in the direction of the Apennines and the borders with the Marche Region to visit:
The birthplace of St. Benedict is a pearl set among the heights of the Sibillini Mountains. The city welcomes us in a setting of incomparable beauty thanks to the natural spectacle of its landscapes. Between May and July, the monochromatic green pastures of the Norcia areas are colored by beautiful shades capable of exciting anyone who attends this natural spectacle that sees the territory dyed ocher, red, purple, blue and white.
It is the result of the thousands of flowers that grow between the plains, in particular poppies, gentianelle, daffodils, violets, asphodels, clover, sorrels and lentils grown in Castelluccio, which are among the most appreciated typical products, together with Norcia ham, wild boar sausages and pecorino cheeses, in addition to the famous and precious black truffle with a unique and unmistakable taste known even by the ancient Greeks and Romans who considered it the food of the gods. In Norcia our stop in a farmhouse, for lunch-tasting of the best products of the area.
A few km from Norcia is Cascia, birthplace of Santa Rita and considered one of the main religious places in Umbria. Every year it welcomes pilgrims from all over the world. Then there are the Basilica Santuario and the Monastery of Santa Rita: a modern structure in contrast with the Gothic style of the church of San Francesco, with its wonderful rose window, and the church of Sant'Agostino, where beautiful examples of frescoes of the Umbrian school are kept. In the evening return to Perugia. Overnight stay
Sixth day – Assisi and Santa Maria degli Angeli
Last Umbrian day dedicated to Assisi. Perched on Mount Subasio is one of the most famous places in the world for being the birthplace of St. Francis but also of Santa Rita, his sister. Beautiful medieval village that our guide will show you, immediately after visiting the most important place in the city, the Basilica of San Francesco, absolute masterpiece of medieval art and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Basilica, consisting of two overlapping churches, a lower one in Romanesque style and an upper one in Gothic style, as well as being one of the most important medieval monuments that have come down to us, is also an important testimony of Italian art, preserves frescoes and works of the greatest painters of the '300 such as Giotto, Cimabue, the Lorenzetti. As promised, after the visit to the Basilica, we enter the heart of Assisi, in Piazza del Comune, the Temple of Minerva in Assisi will capture your attention.
It is a hymn to the ancient world; the monument built during the first century, is perfectly preserved and today houses the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. At the end of the visit we will leave Assisi to move outside the ancient walls, 4 kilometers from the center, reaching the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli which preserves inside the Porziuncola, the church that was granted in use by the Benedictines to St. Francis and his first companions. Not far from the Porziuncola is the Chapel of the Transit, where Francis died on October 3, 1226.
From the Basilica you can access the famous Rose Garden without thorns and the Chapel of the Roses. In the premises of the thirteenth-century convent is housed the Museum of the Porziuncola.
At the end of this day we return to Perugia to dedicate the last night in the city to a nice walk in the historic center of the city, savoring once again the famous and delicious chocolate of Perugia.
Option for an extra day to spend in the hills around Perugia: a short cooking class in the morning with final lunch and in the afternoon visit to a wine cellar with tastings, accompanied by local products. Overnight stay.
Seventh day – From Perugia to Todi, Orvieto and Rome (or Florence)
Departure from Perugia towards Rome, following the ancient Roman road Amerina. In less than an hour we will be in Todi, for some it is the pearl of Umbria, for others the best place to live on Earth. One thing is certain, Todi manages to conquer anyone who visits it. Its elevated position, on top of a perfect hill pyramid, makes it magical to our eyes, especially seen from afar. The main square is the main attraction, a perfect early medieval square as only you could hope to find, so perfect that it has appeared in many period films.
A coffee, some photos, free time and we leave for nearby Orvieto, one of the oldest cities in Italy. It owes its origins to the Etruscan civilization, the first settlements date back to the ninth century BC and were located inside the tuffaceous caves obtained in the massif on which the Umbrian town currently stands.
Reached the old town going up the hill with a short funicular ride, we take one of the buses that shuttle with the historic center and that stops us in Piazza del Duomo, the splendid Duomo a beautiful example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, rich in works of art. Begun in 1290 by order of Nicolo IV, the work was completed only in 1500.
Orvieto is important and the Duomo shows it because it was for a long time a refuge for the Popes who moved away from Rome during military and political turmoil. For this reason Pope Clement VII built a well, the Well of St. Patrick, an extraordinary work of civil engineering of the sixteenth century, was dug during the sack of Rome in 1527.
Its realization, wanted for reasons of survival in case of siege or natural disasters, was entrusted to Antonio da Sangallo, assisted by Giovanni Battista da Cortona. Its dimensions are impressive: 62 meters deep, it has a diameter of 13.5 meters. All around there are two spiral spiral staircases that never meet; The two staircases, composed of 248 steps each, receive light from 72 windows creating a surreal atmosphere.
But the subsoil of the city still reserves many surprises; a few steps from the Duomo the tunnels and cavities reveal another world to discover: it is that of Orvieto Underground, which allows you to take guided tours in a multipurpose underground complex excavated starting from the ninth century BC; Here too, wells, quarries, laboratories and olive mills have guaranteed the survival of the inhabitants on the surface for millennia.
But before leaving Orvieto you must first let yourself go in the streets of the center, bars, craftsmen, shops, restaurants, breathtaking views, Orvieto makes you want to stay. Arrival in Rome or Florence in the evening. Overnight stay.
Eighth day – return
Participation fee per person in standard double room starting from: 1.355,00 €
Single Room Supplement: 440,00 €
What's included:
What's not included:
