Day 1

Arrival at Assisi

Arrival at your hotel in Assisi, nestled in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity among the olive groves of Assisi’s hills, is located only 900 meters from the historical centre of Assisi and near to the tourist sports complex. The hotel has 26 rooms with en-suite bathrooms, mini-bar, colour TV and air-conditioning. In 2011 there will be also available 3 suites. The hotel has a  restaurant offering fine gastronomic specialties from Umbria, a bar, swimming pool, car park and wellness centre. Bikes (if rented), maps and route descriptions for the option you have booked for –walking, cycling or mtb- are handed over during the briefing at the end of the afternoon. Dinner is in the restaurant of the hotel.

Day 2 and 3

WALKING

For the walking version there are the following routes available:

The town walk in Assisi will take you round the most important cultural monuments, which are mostly connected with the lives of the saints Francis and Clare, who were born in Assisi. From the hotel your walk goes up to the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you will walk through a tangle of little alleys and medieval squares. You will pass the remains of an amphitheatre, the medieval castle (506m a.s.l.), the basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva, the church ‘Chiesa Nuova’ and the basilica of St. Clare, finally walking down to the monastery of St. Damiano (310m a.s.l.). After your visit of this monastery you can choose to go back to your hotel or to continue your walk downhill to the village of S.Maria degli Angel (210m a.s.l.) to visit the impressive basilica. From here the local bus will bring you back to Assisi.

Walking time   3 – 4 ½  hours

or

The longer walk through the hills around Assisi starts from the Porta Cappuccini town gate (470m a.s.l.). From here you along the marked walking trail 51 on Monte Subasio. You then descend to the hamlets of Costa di Trex (570m a.s.l.) and Ponte Grande, where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest in one of the two restaurants or in the bar. Your route will then bring you back to Assisi through gentle, rolling countryside. You will enter the town through the Porta S.Giacomo town gate and pass through the old centre of Assisi to walk back to your hotel.

Walking time 5 ½  hours (about 18 km) Level: medium

or

A 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 to the spring ‘Fonte Maddalena’ (810m a.s.l.) on Monte Subasio. You then descend to the hamlet of Costa di Trex (570m a.s.l.) from where the marked trail no.51 brings you back to Assisi.

Distance: about 12 km; walking time : about 4 hrs; level: medium.

or

An excursion to the top of Mount Subasio

This is a more challenging walk on the top of Mount Subasio, but lovely and varied, starting from the hotel (on request a lift to the hermitage can be booked, to shorten the route). Following a signed walking trail you arrive at the Franciscan hermitage at 830m a.s.l. After your visit the route continues climbing towards the mountain top. On the way to the rocks of Sasso Piano you will have great views of the valley known as ‘Valle Umbra’. A downhill stretch leads you to the spring of Fonte Bregno, after which the route starts to climb to the Mortaro Grande, a basin-shaped karst depression. Soon you come to the highest point of today’s walk (1240m) and from here you will start the descent past the mountain hut Vallonica and the hermitage Eremo delle Carceri. A last downhill stretch will lead you back to your hotel.

Walking time 7 hrs or 5 hrs;  distance 16 or 12 km; level: medium to difficult.

or

A walk to the medieval town of Spello

This route follows the slopes of Mount Subasio and involves less climbing, but it is a beautiful walk through olive groves with astounding views.

Spello is built on the slopes of Mount Subasio. This little town has Roman origins, as we are reminded by several features including the porta Venere and porta Consolare town gates and the remains of a Roman theatre outside the town walls. Don’t forget to admire the colourful fresco’s by Pinturicchio in the church S.Maria Maggiore. On request along the route a visit to a winery can be included. After your visit you turn back to Assisi by train and bus or you can book for a transfer (visit winery and transfer are not included in the package)

Walking time: 3 hours (about 12 km) Level: easy  

Day 2 and 3

CYCLING

For the cycling version city bike there are the following cycle routes available:

A route passing Spello and S.Maria degli Angeli

Cycling among olive groves you come to Spello, a friendly town with Roman origins and a definite medieval character. Spello has a pleasant atmosphere and the inhabitants decorate their balconies, squares, streets and alleys with flowers. There are several monuments worth visiting, such as the frescoes of Pinturicchio and Perugino in the church of S.Maria Maggiore, Roman mosaics discovered not so long ago and the Roman Consolare and Venere town gates.  From Spello you descend to the valley and cycle along quiet country roads to S.Maria degli Angeli. Here the impressive Basilica encloses the Porziuncola chapel, where Saint Francis and his companions once lived. A short but steep climb will bring you back into Assisi.   

Distance: 38 km  Level: easy-medium

or

The countryside between Mount Subasio and Torgiano

You descend in the valley and cycle towards Cannara, a small town well-known for its ‘Festa della Cipolla’ (onion feast). Torgiano was once a fortified town and the Baglioni tower remains as a silent witness to its history. The town is situated in a slightly hilly landscape at the confluence of the rivers Tiber and Chiascio. In the early middle ages the Benedictines planted olive groves and vineyards in these fertile hills, sowing the for what is now a listed d.o.c.g. area where the famous Torgiano Rosso Riserva is made. When you have time you may well wish to visit the wine museum. This museum is housed in the ‘palazzo Grazioni-Baglioni’. Here the visitor is provided with an insight into the various techniques associated with the viticulture and wine-making. Also interesting to visit is the olive-museum. On request can be booked a wine-tasting in the ‘Lungarotti  osteria’. After your visit you return to Assisi.

Distance: 42 km; level: easy

or

A tour to Bevagna

Also this tour crosses the valley. Bevagna is situated on the bank of the river Teverone, near the foothills of the Martani mountains. During Roman times the town was called Mevania. This was a period of prosperity, because Bevagna was situated next to a branch of the much-travelled trade route the Via Flaminia. The town has a really romantic medieval square with its palazzo dei Consoli (13^th  century) and the Romanesque churches S.Silvestro and S.Michel Arcangelo. Interesting is the Roman mosaic floor ( first half of the 2th AD) with a design of marine animals in black and white tesserae. You return back to Assisi passing Cantalupo and Cannara.

Distance: 46 km; level: easy

or

A tour around Mount Subasio

A nice tour though the National Park of Monte Subasio. You will follow the quiet road around the mountain passing Spello, Collepino, Armenzano and Costa di Trex. The differences in altitude are noteworthy.

Distance: 40 km; livel:medium-difficult

Day 2 and 3

MTB

For the MTB version there are the following routes available:

Mount Subasio

This is a demanding route for trained  bikers with a good level of fitness. The route is only 36 km long, but is characterised by a steep and difficult climb up the mountain: at some points the  gradient is more than 20 %. From the Cappuccini town gates you enter the National Park of Mount Subasio and start your climb towards the top. The first part of the climb is certainly the toughest because of the steepness and the loose terrain. Having arrived at the ‘Stazzi’ you are almost at the top and from here you follow a trail along the slope of the mountain. On the other side of the mountain a well-deserved descent to Collepino awaits you. In Collepino you join the asphalted road, which you follow to Spello. It’s worthwhile taking the time here to visit the lovely historical centre of Spello. The route continues uphill to the Gabbiano and among olive groves leading back towards Assisi. Before reaching Assisi the road becomes asphalted again. 

Distance: 36 km; climbing: 1100m; level: difficult. Roads: 70 % gravel tracks and trails - 30% asphalt.

or

A ring route behind Mount Subasio

This is also a demanding route, suitable for trained  bikers with a good level of fitness. From the Cappuccini town gates you enter the National Park of Mount Subasio and start climbing towards the Fonte Maddalena, cycling in the shade of the woods. From here you descend to the hamlet of Costa. You cross the ‘Ponte Marchetto’ bridge. The trail is challenging because of the loose terrain and the steep climbs and descents. Before the Rocca di Postignano you leave trail no. 51 and cycle along a dirt road to return towards Assisi. At Pian della Pieve you join the asphalted road. At Ponte Grande there is a last steep climb and then, cycling through an open and hilly landscape, you come back into Assisi.

Distance: 36 km; climbing: 500m; level: difficult  Roads: 60 % gravel tracks and trails - 40% asphalt  

Day 4

Departure after breakfast

Period

Daily all the year round (in winter some high routes maybe aren't practicable because of the snow)

Level

easy, moderate and difficult. This tour offers walking and cycling routes with different levels. The Mtb routes are difficult and are for trained bikers with a good level of fitness.      

Participants 

minimum 2 persons (for single persons only on request)

Price 2012

per persons in double room    € 357,00

in single room    € 465,00

On request

bike rental, upgrading to suite, wine-tasting and extra nights

Contact us if you like to receive more information !