Prices
Discover the beauties of Umbria
Assisi-Spoleto-Montefalco-Perugia-Lake Trasimeno-Umbertide-Gubbio
The Discover Umbria cycle tour is perfect for those looking to personal experience the unique and unspoiled region of Umbria with its beauty and hospitality. Umbria is nestling between Tuscany, Marche and Lazio. It is maybe one of the smallest regions of Italy, but it has a wide range of different landscapes: from harsh gorges, to sweet green hills, wild woods to fertile plains transformed by varied cultivations; oases of fresh, crystal clear spring water and enchanting lakes. This cycle tour combines the beauty of nature with sightseeing in quiet little medieval towns.
This cycle tour is perfect for those looking to personally experience the unique and unspoiled region of Umbria with its beauty and hospitality. Umbria is nestling between Tuscany, Marche and Lazio. It is maybe one of the smallest regions of Italy, but it has a wide range of different landscapes: from harsh gorges, to sweet green hills, wild woods to fertile plains transformed by varied cultivations; oases of fresh, crystal clear spring water and enchanting lakes. This cycle tour combines the beauty of nature with sightseeing in quiet little medieval towns.
The trip starts and finishes in the fascinating town of Assisi, the pilgrims’ town built against the slopes of Mount Subasio. Many monuments have been erected in honour of the saints Francis and Clare. Nevertheless, Assisi is not the only highlight of this tour. You will pass many other interesting small towns like Spello, which has Roman origins, as several features including the Porta Venere and Porta Consolare town gates, Montefalco, famous for its delicious wines, remind us and Bevagna, which has a lovely medieval square with two Romanesque churches. Two nights you will spend in Torgiano allowing time to visit the county town of Perugia. Its magnificent old town centre is certainly worth visiting, with renaissance palaces, medieval churches, museums and galleries, but of course, it is also nice just to wander around the evocative alleys, the characteristic squares and the fashionable shopping street Corso Vannuci. During the second part of the tour, you bike through a beautiful unspoiled scenery. The biker-friendly roads, the lovely towns and the green hills with cypresses, vineyards and olive trees make this tour unforgettable.
The 8-day tour can be extended by 2 nights. An overnight stay in Spoleto, a town full of life and a second night in Passignano on lake Trasimeno
The daily program of the 8-day tour
The start of this cycle tour is in Assisi, part of the Unesco World Heritage, the popular pilgrimage town built on the slopes of Monte Subasio.
At the end of the afternoon drop off bicycles, if rented, bike fitting and route briefing. Overnight with breakfast in *** or **** star hotel near the old town centre.
This morning there will be time to explore Spello. After continuing your journey through the valley of Spoleto, passing Foligno, your route goes up to the wine-town Montefalco; also called ‘the balcony of Umbria’, because of its fantastic panorama. Artists like Benozzo Gozzoli and Perugino decorate the Franciscan church, now a museum, with magnificent frescoes. The next town you will visit is Bevagna, whose characteristic medieval square still hosts two Romanesque churches. Your overnight stay is in Torgiano, which in medieval times was a fortified village and is situated on a hilltop above the confluence of the rivers Chiascio and Tiber. Interesting to visit are the wine museum and next-door in the ‘osteria’ you can taste the excellent wines of Lungarotti or you can visit their winery (only on reservation). You stay in the town centre of Torgiano in a *** or ***** hotel
Overnight with breakfast in Torgiano
Distance: 65 km / 39,8 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 552m -718m
Today you visit the neighboring town of Perugia: the provincial capital and a lively, vibrant place. The medieval town centre with its little alleyways is at the highest point of the town. The renaissance palaces, churches, museums and many galleries make a lasting impression. After your visit, you will spend the night once more in the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano. You stay in the same hotel as yesterday.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Torgiano
Distance: 34 km / 21,1 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 503m -526m
On the fourth day you will cycle through a slight hilly landscape to be rewarded at the end with a magnificent view of Trasimeno lake and its islands. You pass the little fishing village of S. Feliciano from where the boats leave to the Polvese Island. Cycling along the gravel bike path, you reach Passignano, a town on the shore of the lake, made of history and nature, art and folklore, peace and vitality. Passignano has a beach close to its center or you could visit the only inhabited island ‘Isola Maggiore’. Overnight in *** or **** hotel
Overnight stay with breakfast in Passignano
Distance: 51 km / 31,7 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 472m -422m
Today’s route runs through an unspoiled scenery to the quiet little town of Umbertide, whose town centre is dominated by a majestic tower, the remains of a castle dating back to 1385. It is a hilly ride with gorgeous views. After a climb, you reach Castel Rigone, looking out over the lake. Then a nice ride follows along a ridge with nice views on both side. A well-deserved descent brings you into the Tiber Valley. Your hotel is a country hotel and is just outside Umbertide. It has a restaurant and nice swimming pool !
Overnight stay with breakfast in Umbertide
Distance: 47 km / 29,2 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 837m -855m
Today you first pass the centre of Umbertide and then it goes uphill to Montone, a typical Umbrian small walled-in town, where for centuries time stood still. After you cross another small hilltop town, Pietralunga, and you will reach the fortified town of GUBBIO. Worthwhile visiting are the impressive palaces, the Roman theatre and the monastery of S. Ubaldo, which is built at 827m altitude and can be reached by cable car. Your overnight stay will be in the historical centre in a *** or **** hotel
Overnight stay with breakfast in Gubbio
Distance: 58 km / 36 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 904m -667m
At the beginning of this last leg of the tour, you still have some hard climbing to do through a rolling still-life landscape, but after that, you have a well-deserved easy descent. It is a day full of stunning views of hills, mountains and small villages. Another last climb to reach Assisi. Cycling through the centre of this little town you will pass its most important monuments, like the Basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva and the basilica of St. Clare. You stay in the same hotels as you started this tour.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Assisi
Distance: 59 km / 36,7 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 807m – 908m
After breakfast ends your discovery tour through Umbria
The daily program of the 10-day tour
The start of this cycle tour is in Assisi, part of the Unesco World Heritage, the popular pilgrimage town built on the slopes of Monte Subasio. Its impressive ramparts, towers and palace roofs of the town are visible from afar. Assisi has a strong unbreakable bond with the saints Francis and Clare. On the day of your arrival, you might want to explore the town with its little alleys and cozy squares. Worth seeing are the famous basilica of St. Francis, The basilica of Saint Clare, museums and the Roman temple of Minerva in Piazza del Comune. End of afternoon drop off bicycles, bike fitting and route briefing. Overnight in *** or **** hotel near Assisi old town centre
Overnight stay with breakfast in Assisi
Cycling along the slopes of Mount Subasio along a panoramic road amongst olive groves you reach Spello. There is enough time to wander around in in this lovely ancient town pleasantly situated on the southern slopes of Mount Subasio. In urban, architectural and artistic terms, Spello is an extremely interesting town, containing many features dating back to the Roman age. After continuing your ride through the valley, passing the centre of Foligno, it goes up to the charming Spoleto, an important and lively historical town. Your *** or **** hotel is situated in the historical centre of Spoleto.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Spoleto
Distance: 52 km / 32,3 mi; Ascent / Descent: +326m -338m
Cycling through a undulating landscape you will already see Montefalco from a distance… to reach this town you first have to conquer a steep climb. Montefalco is well-known as the ‘balcony of Umbria’, because of its fantastic panorama over the Valle Umbra. Artists like Benozzo Gozzoli and Perugino decorate the Franciscan church, now a museum. Montefalco is also famous for its excellent wines, Rosso di Montefalco d.o.c. and Sagrantino d.o.c.g, and of course it is almost impossible to leave the town without tasting them in one of the many wine bars.
From Montefalco you go downhill to Bevagna, which has a picturesque medieval square, a real meeting place for the friendly inhabitants of the village. After a last hill you will reach wine town of Torgiano, positioned at the confluence of the rivers Chiascio and Tiber (Tevere). Your hotel is in the quiet town centre. Interesting to visit is the wine museum and the ‘osteria’ of the Lungarotti family, where you can taste their excellent wines.
Overnight in *** or ***** hotel
Overnight stay with breakfast in Torgiano
Distance: 63 km / 39,1 mi; Ascent / Descent: +553m -721m
Today a short ride brings you to the neighboring town of Perugia: the provincial capital and a lively, dynamic place. The medieval town centre with its little alleyways is at the highest point of the town. The museum ‘Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria‘, The money-changers guild Collegio del cambio, the cathedral and many other monuments deserve a visit. You will spend the night once more in the peaceful, hospitable town of Torgiano.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Torgiano
Distance: 34 km / 21,1 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 503m -526m
On the fourth day you will cycle through a green rolling landscape to be rewarded at the end with a magnificent view of Trasimeno lake and its islands. You pass the little fishing village of S. Feliciano from where the boats go to the Polvese Island. Cycling along the gravel bike path, you reach Passignano, a town on the shore of the lake, made of history and nature, art and folklore, peace and vitality. Passignano has a beach close to its town center or you could visit the only inhabited island ‘Isola Maggiore’. Overnight in *** or **** hotel
Overnight stay with breakfast in Passignano
Distance: 51 km / 31,7 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 472m -422m
A loop around Lake Trasimeno
Today you can have a rest day or cycle around the lake, passing little towns like Castiglione del Lago. For the biggest part you follow the cycle path around the lake, where gentle, green hills form the backdrop to the lake, along with corn fields, vineyards and olive groves. In addition, a worthwhile trip is to visit one of the islands by boat.
Distance: 57 km / 35,4 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 369 -373 m
or
A loop to the Etruscan town of Cortona
After breakfast in the saddle again with destination the Etruscan town of Cortona, situated in Tuscany. This lovely town is built on a hilltop and you have to climb some to reach it, but then you can enjoy a unique and amazing view of the Val di Chiana. The town is founded by the Etruscan’s (Original name was “Curtun”) and it still retains many of its original remains from the Etruscan period. But not only Cortona encloses also the works of great Renaissance artists, such as Luca Signorelli and Beato Angelico, as well as Pietro di Cortona from the Baroque period. After your visit, you descend again in the valley and along quiet country roads, you return to Passignano.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Passignano
Distance: 54 km / 33,6 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 533 -533m
Today’s route runs through an unspoiled scenery to the quiet little town of Umbertide, whose town centre is dominated by a majestic tower, the remains of a castle dating back to 1385. It is a hilly ride with gorgeous views. After a steep climb, you reach Castel Rigone, looking out over the lake. Then a nice ride follows along a ridge with spectacular views on both side. A well-deserved descend brings you into the Tiber Valley. Your hotel is a country hotel and is just outside Umbertide. It has a restaurant and nice swimming pool !
Overnight stay with breakfast in Umbertide
Distance: 47 km / 29,2 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 837m -855m
Today you first pass the old town centre of Umbertide and then it goes uphill to Montone, a typical small walled-in Umbrian town, where time stood still. After another small hilltop town, Pietralunga, you will reach the fortified hill town of Gubbio. Worthwhile visiting are the medieval palaces, the Roman theatre and the monastery of S. Ubaldo, which is built at 827m altitude and can be reached by cable car. Your overnight stay will be near the historical centre in a *** or **** hotel
Overnight stay with breakfast in Gubbio
Distance: 58 km / 36 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 904m -667m
At the beginning of this last leg of the tour you still have some hard climbing to do, through a rolling still-life landscape, but after that you have a well-deserved easy descent to Assisi. Cycling through the centre of this little town you will pass its most important monuments, like the Basilica of St. Francis, the temple of Minerva, the Castle and the basilica of St. Clare. You stay in the same hotel as you started this tour.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Assisi
Distance: 59 km / 36,7 mi; Ascent / Descent: + 807m – 908m
After breakfast ends this tour through a unique Umbria landscape.
Discover Umbria
Assisi-Spoleto-Montefalco-Perugia-Lake Trasimeno-Umbertide-Gubbio
LEVEL 3
For who like more challenging rides in a rolling hilly terrain. You have to be trained with a good physical condition. This tour is not suitable for children under 14 years. Cycling is an important part of the day, but there will be still time left to explore the towns you pass through. There are significant differences in height. Mostly quiet asphalted and now and some dirt roads.
Average daily distances:
8-day tour: between 35 – 65 km
10-day tour: between 35 – 65 km. Total
Total km:
Total 313 km / 194,5 mi (8 days) & 421 km / 261,6 mi (10 day)
DEPARTURES:
Daily from April until the end of October (except 04/08-18/08/2024)
PARTICIPANTS:
1 or more people.
START / FINISH:
Assisi / Assisi
Umbria & Tuscany: in the footsteps of the Etruscans and Romans
An evocative bicycle tour through the Etruscan and Roman heartlands of Umbria and Tuscany, land of art, nature, food & wine.