Medieval Umbria

A 6, 8 or 9 day walking holiday
Walking tour
Walking Tour
Difficulty level 2
Individual tour
Self guided tour
code: W001UMB
Italy
Umbria

Prices

from 420€

A walking tour from Assisi to Spoleto

Assisi-Spello-Bevagna-Montefalco-Trevi-Spoleto

The Medieval Umbria walk is the perfect combination of visiting typical Umbrian medieval towns and walking through exciting colourful landscapes with unique views. Umbria has been praised for its pure beauty since Roman times, because of its greenness, many lakes, rivers, refreshing springs, mountain streams, and waterfalls. But art and the diversity of the landscapes are not the only treasures this trip offers… locals are very friendly and food and wine are to die for!

Medieval Umbria
Assisi

Your walk starts in the beautiful and fascinating town of Assisi, the pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio and it finishes in Spoleto, a very special town with many squares, lovely little streets, shops with local delicacies and handicrafts, restaurants and many sights to visit. Take your time to visit Assisi, impressively built overlooking the valley. The church of St. Francis is a real pearl with the frescoes of Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and many other artists.

Olive grove in the Valle Umbra

But not only Assisi is a highlight of this walking tour, because in the Valle Umbra there are many small medieval towns. The following days you will walk from one art treasure to the other: Spello, Bevagna, Montefalco, TREVI and Spoleto. The routes are not too long, so you have enough time to visit the lovely old town centres and enjoy a nice dish and good glass of local wine on the cozy medieval squares.

The tour has a 6 day, 8 day or 9 day version

The daily program of the 6-day tour

When you arrive by train or by car, you see Assisi already from afar. It is a proudly looking over the Valle Umbra and especially the convent and church of Saint Francis make an impressive impression. If you arrive early, you can already discover the old town centre and wandering through its alleys and streets. Cafés are inviting you to sit down and enjoy a ‘gelato’, cappuccino or a good glass of local wine. A must to see are of course are the Basilicas of St. Francis, St. Clare and the monastery of San Damiano. Overnight stay in a **** or *** star hotel

Today you say goodbye to Assisi and will walk to Spello. There are two routes to choose off, a longer one going uphill to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri or a shorter one through olive groves along the slopes of Monte Subasio.

 

Longer route

Distance: 17, 4 km / 10,8 miles;  Walking time: 6 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 788m -870m

Shorter route

Distance: 10,8 km / 6,7 miles;  Walking time: 3 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 270m – 359m

You will leave the hills for a while now and will descend into the valley ‘Valle Umbra’. Walking on quiet little country roads you will arrive in Bevagna, which unlike most Umbrian towns isn’t built on a hilltop, but rather at the confluence of the rivers Timia and Topino. During Roman times Bevagna was a prosperous town, as it was positioned along the busy trade road, the Via Flaminia, which connected Rome with the Adriatic coast. Particularly characteristic are the 2km of 13th to 14th century town walls, which are draped around Bevagnas historic centre. The heart of this town is the square, ‘Piazza Silvestri’, with its beautiful fountain and two Romanesque churches. Do not forget to visit the mosaic of the former Roman baths. Your hotel a ***, a B&B or **** star is in the historical centre or just outside town.

Distance: 16,5 km /10,3 miles;  Walking time: 4 ½ hours;  Ascent/descent: + 81m – 176 m

You will again be walking through a slightly hilly landscape, but the olive groves soon make way for vineyards. The hills surrounding Montefalco are famous for the production of excellent wines: Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c.g.. To reach the town you have to climb some, because Montefalco is –predictable- built on a hilltop. The town is also known as the balcony (‘ringhiera’) of Umbria, because of its beautiful panorama over the valley. The St. Francis church is now a fine museum housing, among other things, frescoes by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli. Do not leave Montefalco before tasting some of the delicious wines in one of the many wine bars.

 

Overnight stay with breakfast in Montefalco

Total ascent-descent: + 395m – 166m

Walking time: 4 hours 10 min

Distance: 12,5 km / 7,8 miles

On your way to Trevi  (420m a.s.l.), on the lower flank of Mt. Serano overlooking the wide plain of the Clitunno river, your route crosses the fertile valley with its various waterways. Trevi is also called the capital of olive oil and indeed, you will notice that the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with evergreen olive groves. Trevi has a dozen medieval churches: the most important are the Romanesque Duomo (S. Emiliano), the shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime notable for a fresco by Perugino and the former church of S. Francesco, now a museum. You will stay in a *** hotel in the historical centre.

Distance 13,4 km / 8,4 miles;  Walking time: 4 hours;  Ascent-Descent: +250m -305m

After breakfast end of your tour through a wonderful valley. 

Cinque cento in Assisi
Assisi, cinque cento

The daily program of the 8-day tour

When you arrive by train or by car, you see Assisi already from afar. It is a proudly looking over the Valle Umbra and especially the convent and church of Saint Francis make an impressive impression. If you arrive early, you can already discover the old town centre and wandering through its alleys and streets. Cafés are inviting you to sit down and enjoy a ‘gelato’, cappuccino or a good glass of local wine. A must to see are of course are the Basilicas of St. Francis, St. Clare and the monastery of San Damiano. Overnight stay in a **** or *** star hotel

Today you say goodbye to Assisi and will walk to Spello. There are two routes to choose off, a longer one going uphill to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri or a shorter one through olive groves along the slopes of Monte Subasio.

 

Longer route

Distance: 17, 4 km / 10,8 miles;  Walking time: 6 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 788m -870m

Shorter route

Distance: 10,8 km / 6,7 miles;  Walking time: 3 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 270m – 359m

You will leave the hills for a while now and will descend into the valley ‘Valle Umbra’. Walking on quiet little country roads you will arrive in Bevagna, which unlike most Umbrian towns isn’t built on a hilltop, but rather at the confluence of the rivers Timia and Topino. During Roman times Bevagna was a prosperous town, as it was positioned along the busy trade road, the Via Flaminia, which connected Rome with the Adriatic coast. Particularly characteristic are the 2km of 13th to 14th century town walls, which are draped around Bevagnas historic centre. The heart of this town is the square, ‘Piazza Silvestri’, with its beautiful fountain and two Romanesque churches. Do not forget to visit the mosaic of the former Roman baths. Your hotel a *** or **** star is in the historical centre or just outside town.

Distance: 16,5 km /10,3 miles;  Walking time: 4 ½ hours;  Ascent/descent: + 81m – 176 m

You will again be walking through a slightly hilly landscape, but the olive groves soon make way for vineyards. The hills surrounding Montefalco are famous for the production of excellent wines: Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c.g.. To reach the town you have to climb some, because Montefalco is –predictable- built on a hilltop. The town is also known as the balcony (‘ringhiera’) of Umbria, because of its beautiful panorama over the valley. The St. Francis church is now a fine museum, housing, among other things, frescoes by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli. Do not leave Montefalco before tasting some of the delicious wines in one of the many wine bars.

Overnight stay with breakfast in Montefalco

Total ascent-descent: + 395m – 166m; Walking time: 4 hours 10 min; Distance: 12,5 km / 7,8 miles

On your way to Trevi  (420m a.s.l.), on the lower flank of Mt. Serano overlooking the wide plain of the Clitunno river, your route crosses the fertile valley with its various waterways. Trevi is also called the capital of olive oil and indeed, you will notice that the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with evergreen olive groves. Trevi has a dozen medieval churches: the most important are the Romanesque Duomo (S. Emiliano), the shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime notable for a fresco by Perugino and the former church of S. Francesco, now a museum. You will stay in a *** hotel in the historical centre.

Distance 13,4 km / 8,4 miles;  Walking time: 4 hours;  Ascent-Descent: +250m -305m

From Trevi you will pick up the pilgrimage route the Way of Saint Francis, which runs from La Verna in Tuscany, crosses Umbria and finishes in Rome. The route will lead you through olive groves and you will have astonishing views of the Valle Umbra. You come to one of the nicest ‘Borghi’ of Umbria, the walled in Campello Alto

The overnight stay is in a hotel ** with swimming pool near Campello Alto or inside Borgo Campello in a former convent or Relais (upgrading).

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner.

 

Ascent/Descent: + 432m – 358m (Relais Borgo Campello Alto) or + 593m – 359m (Hotel le Fontanelle Campello Alto)

Walking time: 4 hours (Borgo Campello); 4 hours 30 mins (Fontanelle)

Distance: 10.3 km /6,4 mi (Relais Borgo Campello) or 12.3 km / 7,6 mi (Hotel le Fontanelle)

Today you walk again along the Way of Saint Francis. Also today, the olive groves will accompany you. You cross Eggi, a typical medieval ‘Borgo’ and you will reach Spoleto, a pretty hill-town filled with beautiful architecture. It is famous for the Spoleto Festival, which takes place every summer (end of June beginning of July). In Spoleto worthwhile to visit are the cathedral, the castle, a Roman house, Roman theatre and many museums. Spoleto is not only art and culture, but also food & wine ! The town has some nice shops with fantastic local products, many cosy bars with terraces and excellent restaurants. Overnight stay in a *** or **** hotel

Ascent / Descent: + 541m – 664m (Campello alto) or + 487m – 771m (Le Fontanelle)

Walking time: 5 hours 10 min (Campello Alto) or 5 hours 50 min (Le Fontanelle)

Distance: 17.5 km /10,8 mi (Campello Alto) or 19 km / 11,8 mi (Le Fontanelle)

After breakfast end of your walking tour through a wonderful valley. 

The daily program of the 9-day tour

When you arrive by train or by car, you see Assisi already from afar. It is a proudly looking over the Valle Umbra and especially the convent and church of Saint Francis make an impressive impression. If you arrive early, you can already discover the old town centre and wandering through its alleys and streets. Cafés are inviting you to sit down and enjoy a ‘gelato’, cappuccino or a good glass of local wine. A must to see are of course are the Basilicas of St. Francis, St. Clare and the monastery of San Damiano. Overnight stay in a **** or *** star hotel

The program of this tour is the same as the 8-day/7-night tour. The only difference is an extra night in Assisi with the possibility to make a cultural walk in Assisi or a walk in the hilly surroundings.

You can choose of 2 following routes:

The cultural town walk will take you round the most important cultural monuments of Assisi, which are mostly connected with the lives of the saints Francis and Clare, who were born and died in Assisi. You will walk through a tangle of little alleys and crossing medieval squares passing the medieval castle, the basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva, the church ‘Chiesa Nuova’ and the basilica of St. Clare. Arrived at the monastery of St. Damiano, you can choose to go back to your hotel or to continue your walk downhill to the village of S.Maria degli Angeli to visit the impressive basilica. From here, you take the local bus to go back to Assisi.

 

The shorter walk through the national park of Mount Subasio:

This is a beautiful walk in the shade of the woods of Mount Subasio. From the Porta Cappuccini town gates, you walk up the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri (830m a.s.l.) on Monte Subasio, a holy place where St Francis retreated himself. Then you descend along trails and quiet country roads back to Assisi. 

Distance: 12 km / 7,5 miles; Walking time: 4 ore;  Ascent / descent: + 544m -544m

Today you say goodbye to Assisi and will walk to Spello. There are two routes to choose off, a longer one going uphill to the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri or a shorter one through olive groves along the slopes of Monte Subasio.

 

Longer route

Distance: 17, 4 km / 10,8 miles;  Walking time: 6 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 788m -870m

Shorter route

Distance: 10,8 km / 6,7 miles;  Walking time: 3 hours;  Ascent-descent: + 270m – 359m

You will leave the hills for a while now and will descend into the valley ‘Valle Umbra’. Walking on quiet little country roads you will arrive in Bevagna, which unlike most Umbrian towns isn’t built on a hilltop, but rather at the confluence of the rivers Timia and Topino. During Roman times Bevagna was a prosperous town, as it was positioned along the busy trade road, the Via Flaminia, which connected Rome with the Adriatic coast. Particularly characteristic are the 2km of 13th to 14th century town walls, which are draped around Bevagnas historic centre. The heart of this town is the square, ‘Piazza Silvestri’, with its beautiful fountain and two Romanesque churches. Do not forget to visit the mosaic of the former Roman baths. Your hotel a *** or **** star is in the historical centre or just outside town.

Distance: 16,5 km /10,3 miles;  Walking time: 4 ½ hours;  Ascent/descent: + 81m – 176 m

You will again be walking through a slightly hilly landscape, but the olive groves soon make way for vineyards. The hills surrounding Montefalco are famous for the production of excellent wines: Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c.g.. To reach the town you have to climb some, because Montefalco is –predictable- built on a hilltop. The town is also known as the balcony (‘ringhiera’) of Umbria, because of its beautiful panorama over the valley. The St. Francis church is now a fine museum, housing, among other things, frescoes by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli. Do not leave Montefalco before tasting some of the delicious wines in one of the many wine bars.

Distance: 12,5 km / 7,8 miles;  Walking time: 4 hours 10 min;  Ascent-descent: + 395m -166m

On your way to Trevi  (420m a.s.l.), on the lower flank of Mt. Serano overlooking the wide plain of the Clitunno river, your route crosses the fertile valley with its various waterways. Trevi is also called the capital of olive oil and indeed, you will notice that the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with evergreen olive groves. Trevi has a dozen medieval churches: the most important are the Romanesque Duomo (S. Emiliano), the shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime notable for a fresco by Perugino and the former church of S. Francesco, now a museum. You will stay in a *** hotel in the historical centre.

Distance 13,4 km / 8,4 miles;  Walking time: 4 hours;  Ascent-Descent: +250m -305m

From Trevi you will pick up the pilgrimage route the Way of Saint Francis, which runs from La Verna in Tuscany, crosses Umbria and finishes in Rome. The route will lead you through olive groves and you will have astonishing views of the Valle Umbra. You come to one of the nicest ‘Borghi’ of Umbria, the walled in Campello Alto. The overnight stay is in a hotel ** with swimming pool near Campello Alto or inside Borgo Campello in a former convent or Relais (upgrading).

 

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner.

Ascent/Descent: + 432m – 358m (Relais Borgo Campello Alto) or + 593m – 359m (Hotel le Fontanelle Campello Alto)

Walking time: 4 hours (Borgo Campello); 4 hours 30 mins (Fontanelle)

Distance: 10.3 km /6,4 mi (Relais Borgo Campello) or 12.3 km / 7,6 mi (Hotel le Fontanelle)

Today you walk again along the Way of Saint Francis. Also today, the olive groves will accompany you. You cross Eggi, a typical medieval ‘Borgo’ and you will reach Spoleto, a pretty hill-town filled with beautiful architecture. It is famous for the Spoleto Festival, which takes place every summer (end of June beginning of July). In Spoleto worthwhile to visit are the cathedral, the castle, a Roman house, Roman theatre and many museums. Spoleto is not only art and culture, but also food & wine ! The town has some nice shops with fantastic local products, many cosy bars with terraces and excellent restaurants. Overnight stay in a *** or **** hotel

 

Ascent / Descent: + 541m – 664m (Campello alto) or + 487m – 771m (Le Fontanelle)

Walking time: 5 hours 10 min (Campello Alto) or 5 hours 50 min (Le Fontanelle)

Distance: 17.5 km /10,8 mi (Campello Alto) or 19 km / 11,8 mi (Le Fontanelle)

After breakfast end of your extended walking tour through a wonderful valley. 

Impressions of a Medieval Umbria

Medieval Umbria
Self guided tour
Difficulty level 2
A 6, 8 or 9 day walking holiday

Assisi-Spello-Bevagna-Montefalco-Trevi-Spoleto

Code | W001UMB
LEVEL 2

Moderate with the possibility of making some more strenuous walks. You walk in the hilly countryside without not too much climbing and descending. There is time to visit the medieval towns along the route. The duration of the walks is between 4 and 6 hours a day; 12 to 20 km with an average walking time of 3-4 km an hour. There is a walking experience needed.

Average daily distances:
between 10,8 km / 7,3 mi and 19 km / 11,8 mi

Total km:

5-day tour: minimum 50 km / 31 miles and maximum 60 km / 37,5 miles.

8-day tour: minimum 78 km / 48,5 miles and maximum 89 km / 55,5 miles.

9-day tour: minimum 100 km / 62 miles and maximum 109 km / 68 miles.

 

DEPARTURES:

Daily from April till the end of October (Except 04/08-18/08/2024).

 

PARTICIPANTS:

1 or more people.

 

START / FINISH:

Assisi / Spoleto

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