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Umbria Unveiled will introduce you to the best of Umbria: its soothing character, its harmonious landscapes, its little known and well known places and its distinctive food and wine.
We offer an eight day, seven night tour. We will stay just outside of Montefalco, a lovely, well-preserved medieval hill town in the heart of Umbria, at a family agriturismo, the Italian word for a farm that offers hospitality. Camiano Piccolo, an estate that has been in the Fabrizi family for generations, continues to produce its own olive oil and wine as well as food for our table. All rooms have private bathrooms. We will be dining ‘al fresco’ (when the weather permits) in the garden which has beautiful views across the valley.
You will be immersed into the Italian lifestyle, through a hands on cooking lesson, a private reception in a centuries old ceramics workshop and a wine tasting at a local family owned enoteca. We employ professional guides who involve you
in the history and culture of Italy through its art, architecture and people. |
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We meet at the airport and are transported by air conditioned mini-coach to Montefalco. After lunch and a short siesta, we walk into the town center
to the Museo di San Francesco, a deconsecrated 14th century church, where we view the exquisite frescoes by Gozzoli and Perugino, two renowned Italian painters. We continue our passeggiata (stroll through town), stopping at shops that sell beautiful, locally made textiles and the gelateria for a gelato, Italian ice cream.
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We stop at the viewpoint where we discover why Montefalco is known as “La Ringhiera dell’Umbria”, the balcony of Umbria. From there we can see Assisi, Spello and Foligno and on a clear day we might see Perugia. We return to Camiano Piccolo and, after a piccola pausa, gather for welcome drinks followed by dinner.
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On Monday we go to Spoleto. After walking across the Roman aqueduct, we explore the Rocca Albornoz which once hosted the infamous Lucrezia Borgia, governor of Spoleto. It started as a military fort, then became a prison and is now a museum. We continue to the spectacular duomo and its frescoes by Filippo Lippi. We leave you in the Piazza della Libertà to enjoy Spoleto and have lunch on your own. We rejoin our guide to visit the austere but interesting church of San Salvatore, just outside the walls.
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After a leisurely breakfast, we walk the short distance
to Montefalco for our entertaining hands-on cooking lesson in a 17th century villa that is now a 4 star hotel and restaurant. We prepare our own Umbrian lunch, accompanied by specially selected wines.
Free afternoon.
Dinner at Camiano Piccolo.
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Wednesday finds us in Assisi, the home of San Francesco (St. Francis), one of Italy’s most revered saints. First, we drive up mount Subasio to the Eremo (Hermitage) where San Francesco lived his contemplative life. This sanctuary is still home to the Franciscan monks, his followers. We are then taken to Piazza Matteotti, upper Assisi, and, with our guide, walk to Piazza Comune, visiting the church of Santa Chiara and the cathedral of San Rufino. We leave you in the Piazza Comune so that you have time to explore Assisi on your own. we rejoin our guide in front of the Temple of Minerva, in the piazza. From there we go to the Basilica di San Francesco where we view the famous Giotto frescoes on the life of Saint Francis. We return to the agriturismo and after a short break, we go into Montefalco for
wine tasting and dinner at a charming family owned enoteca in the
13th century Piazza del Comune.
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We visit one of the most well preserved Umbrian hill towns, Perugia, on Thursday, entering the city through the Rocca Paolina, the 16th century fortress created by Pope Paul III when he built over the houses of the ruling family as a symbol of papal dominance over Perugia. We’ll continue up the Corso Vanucci, where we stop
at a 15th century guild hall, the Collegio del Cambio, decorated with frescoes by Perugino. |
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On Friday, we have a guided tour of the small Roman town of Mevania, or Bevagna as it is now known. We walk through the small streets, visit the local museum and see the remains of Roman mosaics. We learn how paper was made in medieval times at the Bottega della Carta. After lunch in the galleria of the old Roman ampitheater, we visit Deruta, the town that has been producing ceramics for centuries. We visit a “fornace” that has been in the same family for generations for a private reception and learn how ceramics were produced hundreds of years ago.
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On Saturday, we begin our day touring ancient Orvieto. Starting with the Necropoli del Crocifisso del Tufo, Etruscan tombs, we continue travelling through history viewing Etruscan, Roman and Medieval ruins. After a leisurely al fresco lunch, we visit the cathedral and its Capella di San Brizio, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy with frescoes by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli. Then it’s back to Camiano Piccolo for our farewell dinner. |
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On Sunday we have our last breakfast together ... All of you will be going in different directions. We hope that you will take many good memories of the tour home with you and that you've enjoyed Umbria. We'll look forward to seeing you on another of our tours.
We provide transportation to the airport in the morning. |
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