Tour Overview
This 8-night holiday combines gentle pedalling through olive groves, sunflower fields and vineyards with time in gorgeous historic towns and sun-drenched villages. Highlights include medieval Bevagna, Etruscan Perugia, picture-postcard Spello and ancient Assisi.
Itinerary
Arrive in picturesque Spello in time for dinner in your hotel's atmospheric restaurant.
Day 2: Spello to Spoleto 50km/31.5mi
Today is level cycling most of the way along the Teverone Valley with some of the best views of the week. We strongly recommend the short uphill detour to Trevi, a beautiful hilltop village dating back to Roman times and capital of the Umbrian olive oil industry. Finally, travel Into Spoleto where our hotel is situated in the centre of town.
Day 3: At Spoleto
The fascinating historic city of Spoleto, apart from being a great art city, Spoleto has buildings seemingly reflecting every major architectural style in history, including a Roman arch, a 10th century church, a 12th century Duomo and an 80m high, 14th century aqueduct. The castle here is a former prison and now houses an impressive art museum. For lunch, you'll find lots of lovely cobbled squares filled with traditional trattorie.
Day 4: Spoleto to Marcellano 44km/27.5mi
The wines of Montefalco are known throughout the world, in particular the fine red, Sagrantino. There is a climb up to the old village itself, 'the Balcony of Umbria', but you are well rewarded with wine-tasting, magnificent views and beautiful medieval streets. Continue from here past lush green fields, poppies and buttercups before your last climb up to the mediaeval village of Marcellano. Your 4 star hotel is set within its own lovely gardens, in a hilltop location, with fabulous panoramic views across the entire valley.
Day 5: At Marcellano
It's tempting to spend the day relaxing by the pool in the hotel's tranquil grounds, but it would be a shame to miss the Roman walled town of Bevagna (10 mins by taxi; or you can cycle) - Umbria's hidden gem. Visit the 13th century Gothic Palazzo dei Consoli, the golden medieval theatre, or the 2th century Roman temple and baths that include a spectacular lobster mosaic. Alternatively, you can opt for a circular cycle to Ceralto Castle.
Day 6: Marcellano to Torgiano 42km/26.5mi
It's picture-perfect views all the way this morning as you arrive at the impossibly photogenic, mediaeval village of Gualdo Cattaneo with its imposing 15th century castle and 13th century crypt. There's a downhill whizz before gentle, flat cycling across the plain and a final short ascent into the old wine town of Torgiano, famous for its Lungarotti cellars.
Day 7: At Torgiano
There is a dedicated wine and olive oil museum - with tastings - in Torgiano's pretty centro storico. Alternatively it's a short bus or taxi ride (approx 15 mins) to the university town of Perugia, famous for one of Italy's finest art collections and home to the renowned Baci chocolates. For the more energetic we provide route notes for an optional cycle ride to the local capital of painted ceramics, Deruta.
Day 8: Torgiano to Spello 43km/27mi
Your last day's cycling takes you along the 'Wine and Art Road' to Brufa (with lovely views of Perugia and Assisi) and on through the Chiascio Valley, along country lanes passing sunflower fields, ochre-coloured farmhouses and redolent meadows of wild apricots and figs. There's time to visit spectacular Assisi - the beautiful Piazza del Comune, the 13th century Giotto frescoes and of course, the UNESCO-recognised St Francis' Basilica - before cycling on along the lovely traffic-free Via degli Ulivi and through olive groves back to Spello.
Day 9: Leave Spello
Meals
All breakfasts and 6 evening meals
Single Supplement
Add 124 single supplement
Accommodation
Albergo La Bastiglia Hotel (4 star)
The La Bastiglia Hotel boasts a beautiful setting at the foot of Mount Subasio, the enchanted mountain of Saint Francis. Originally an ancient mill the hotel has been lovingly restored and transformed into an unforgettable place to stay. There are 33 rooms divided into three categories, many overlooking the typical Umbrian landscape of cypress trees and olive groves. The restaurant serves a mix of ancient recipes and modern creations using the freshest ingredients. On display inside the hotel there is a collection of ceramics, antique furniture and important paintings from the private collection of Schifano and Norberto.
Hotel Charleston (3 star)
Completely renovated in 2011, Hotel Charleston is set in a 17th century building in Spoleto's historical centre, next to the Modern and Contemporary Arts Museum. Its elegant, individually-decorated rooms feature a modern design. Wi-Fi is free in all public areas. Rooms are individually decorated, and come with exposed wooden beams on the ceilings. Each is equipped with a minibar, and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. A buffet breakfast is available each morning, and is served out on the terrace in warm weather.
Grand Relais Laurenti (4 star)
Just outside the walls of the pretty hilltop village of Marcellano lies the supremely welcoming Grand Relais Laurenti, where nothing seems to be too much trouble. A recently restored former convent (formerly known as the Palazzo Gradoli), parts of the hotel date to as far back as 1516. Opened in 2006, the owner Laurenti Torrello spent thirteen years restoring the premises in order to ensure that all work was done to a suitably high standard. The well put together rooms have a distinctly cosy feel to them and retain original features such as the wooden beams on the ceilings. In addition to the hotel, the Grand Relais Laurenti owns 90 hectares of the surrounding land which is used by their own farm to raise livestock such as cattle and lamb to supply the restaurant with meat. They also produce their own olive oil from their own olive groves and pride themselves on their ability to source only the finest ingredients (such as truffles and porcini mushrooms) from the surrounding area. The restaurant itself has two chefs who provide a mixture of traditional regional food and more elaborate international fare.
Hotel Al Grappolo dOro (3 star)
Situated in the centre of the medieval town of Torgiano is Al Grappolo d'Oro (The Golden Bunch of grapes), a recently restored 19th century residence. The hotel has 15 rooms, each individually decorated in a modern style with warm colours and furnished to a high standard, offering a cosy, welcoming stay. The art filled reception/lounge area gives the hotel character from the start but features such as the pool in the garden to the rear and the downstairs bar (along with the well-stocked breakfast buffet) mean that despite the B+B nature of the hotel, there is still the possibility to spend time relaxing here during the day. The owner Antonello Rossi also owns the wonderfully traditional Italian restaurant 'Siro', which lies around 300 metres away from the hotel and where evening meals will be taken.
Travel
oUT: British Airways Heathrow to Rome Fiumicino 08:30/12:00 then rail Rome Termini to Foligno 15:35/17:15 and transfer to hotel 15 minutes. Return: Transfer to Foligno station 15 minutes then rail Foligno to Rome Termini 10:41/12:35 then British Airways Rome Fiumicino to Heathrow 17:30/19:10.
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Headwater requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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