ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO Umbria 2010
A Self Guided Walk Through the Italy of St. Francis
In the heart of beautiful green Umbria lies the medieval town of Assisi, where St. Francis was born. And on this walking holiday you will pass through the colourful landscapes and the many monuments and sites which preserve the memory of St Francis and his companions. This route largely follows two Franciscan walking trails: the ‘Sentiero Franciscano’, or 'Franciscan Path', which connects Nocera with Assisi, and the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ ('Path of Peace'), between Assisi and the town of Gubbio, with its handsome medieval centre.
PRICE
£620 per person based on two people sharing. Single supplement: £145
INCLUDED
8 nights accommodation in hotels or agriturismo with private bathrooms; breakfast each day; 5 dinners, 7 days walking with route instructions; luggage transportation; local back-up.
NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from the holiday, meals not mentioned in the programme, drinks with meals, insurance.
Departure dates
Daily according to accommodation availability from the 1st April until the beginning of November.
To book email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44)
(0)1242 254353
Day 1: You arrive at your hotel in Assisi, situated 900m. From the historical centre.
Day 2: A circular walk through Assisi and in its surroundings
This walk will take you among the best-known Franciscan monuments in and around Assisi. Walk up through the woods of Mount Subasio to the hermitage ‘Eremo delle Carceri’ (830m a.s.l.), where St. Francis and his companions retreated to meditate and pray in the silence of the woods. Return to Assisi where the town walk will take you round the Basilica of St. Francis, where he is buried, the Basilica of St. Clare, housing the cross which spoke to St. Francis, his birthplace and the monastery of San Damiano. Walking time: 6 hours (18 km)
Day 3: Assisi - Vescia
Today walk first to Spello and then to Vescia, following the slopes of Mount Subasio, passing through olive groves and enjoying astounding views. Spello has Roman origins, as we are reminded by the Porta Venereand Porta Consolare town gates and the remains of a Roman theatre. Don’t forget to admire the colourful fresco’s by Pinturicchio in the church S. Maria Maggiore. Overnight Vescia.
Walking time: 5 ½ hours (18 km)
Day 4: Vescia - Nocera Umbra
This walk through the valley of the river Topino takes you among villages like Capodacqua and past the ruins of castles and towers. Halfway you can choose to shorten your route by taking the train from the village of Valtopina (except Sundays) to Nocera Scalo, from where you can walk on to Nocera Umbra. In 1226 St. Francis became very ill and returned to Assisi. On the journey he stayed for the night in the Franciscan monastery of Nocera, outside the town gate, where the ‘Giardino delle Acque’ is now found. The second Franciscan monastery has been preserved and is now a small museum. Your overnight stay will be in a hotel in the town centre. Walking time: 5 hours (14,5 km) or 7 hours (20 km)
Day 5: Nocera Umbra – Costa di Trex
Today’s route follows the ‘Sentiero Franciscano’, which reminds us of the saint's last journey in 1226, accompanied by horsemen. Nowadays this last journey is still remembered with the ‘Cavalcata di Satriano’, when horsemen from all over Umbria, dressed in medieval clothes, ride the same trail as the horsemen of 1226. This route passes the remains of the castle Rocca di Postignano, the little chapel of Satriano, where St. Francis had an overnight stay on his last journey, and the medieval bridge, Ponte Marchetto, which crosses a mini-canyon. Your overnight stay will be in an agriturismo near Assisi (5 km).
Walking time: 6 hours (19 km)
Day 6: Costa di Trex - Valfabbrica
The Franciscan trail takes you back to Assisi. Enter through the Porta Cappuccini and leave through the Porta S. Francesco. Continue along the Franciscan route ‘Sentiero della Pace’, which connects Assisi with Gubbio and reminds us of the journeys of St. Francis between these two towns. This beautiful route, with splendid views of Assisi and marvellous panoramas of the surrounding valleys and mountains, takes you past the village of Pieve S. Niccolo and ends in the town of Valfabbrica, where you will find your hotel in the town centre.
Walking time: 5 hours (15 km)
Day 7: Valfabbrica – Abbazia Vallingegno
The second stage of the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ leads to the abbey of Vallingegno. This section passes through the valley of the river Chiascio and passes the Benedictine church of Barcaccia, the ruins of the castle and the monastery of Coccorano, the castle of Biscina, the church of Caprignone and the hermitage of S. Pietro in Vigneto. Today’s walk ends at the abbey of Verecundus, known as Vallingegno, where, according to the tradition St. Francis took refuge after he renounced his worldly wealth. You will stay the night in an agriturismo 100 m.from the abbey. Walking time: 7 ½ hours (22 km)
Day 8: Vallingegno - Gubbio
The last stage of the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ takes you to Gubbio, a town built on the slopes of Monte Ingino. Gubbio is closely linked with the life of St. Francis, who came here as a beggar. In this town he found shelter thanks to his friend the textile merchant Spadalunga, who not only gave him a place to sleep but the clothes that became the prototype of the Franciscan tunic. The church and monastery of St. Francis is built on the site of Spadalunga’s house. You will stay in a hotel near the church of St. Francis.
Walking time: 4 hours (13 km)
Day 9: departure
Gubbio has a bus link with Perugia: a journey of a little more than an hour. From Perugia you can take the train to Assisi or one of the airports for you flight home.
DIFFICULTY OF WALK
For walkers with some experience. Routes through middle/high landscapeswith some steepish climbs. Day distances between 10-22 kms. An averageof 3 km an hour. Footpaths, hill tracks, forest trails, occasional road.
GROUP SIZE
This self-guided walking holiday can be operated for 1 or more people.
The various landscapes with their beautiful views of the valleys and hills and the towns Assisi, Spello and Spoleto, where you can still taste the medieval atmosphere.
ACCOMMODATION
Assisi: Hotel da Angelo ** is situated in the newpart of Assisi about 900 meters from the historical centre. The hotel has 32 rooms, all with bathroom, television and telephone. The hotel has a car park, swimming pool, restaurant and bar. www.hoteldaangelo.com
Vescia: Il Borgo del Fattore is a B&B in a restored ‘frantoio’ (olive oil mill) from the 16th century. There are 5 rooms, each with a bathroom. The dinner is served in the restaurant ‘Il Fichetto’ close by (50 m.). www.luigitega.it
Nocera: Hotel Europa *** (NoceraUmbra) This family-run hotel is situated in the centre of Nocera Umbra. It has a bar and restaurant. All rooms have a TV, phone and private bathroom. The town’s public swimming pool is 500 metres from the hotel. www.hotelristoranteeuropa.it
Costa di Trex: Il Castello is a comfortable family-run holiday farm, situated in the hamlet of Costa di Trex in the hills just outside Assisi (6 km). Excellent typical traditional cookery. All rooms with shower and WC. www.agriturismoilcastello.com
Valfabbrica: Hotel Villa Verde is a simple family-run hotel, totally restored in 2001. All rooms have a bathroom, TV and telephone. The dinner is served in a restaurant close to the hotel (50m.).
Vallingegno: Poggio Paradiso is located close to the abbey of Vallingegno (100m). There are 10 apartments spread throughout the three restored farmhouses. There is a swimming pool. Dinner is served either in Poggio Paradiso or in a restaurant close by.
Gubbio: Hotel San Marco *** is situated close to the old medieval centre. The hotel has a restaurant and private internal garden. All rooms have a private bathroom, air-conditioning, TV and telephone. www.hotelsanmarcogubbio.com
GETTING THERE
By plane: The nearest international airports are Rome (Roma) and Florence (Firenze).
Ryan Air operate flights from London Stansted to Perugia 3 days a week.
(8 km from Assisi).
By car: Motorway A1 ''del sole'' Florence-Rome. Exit Valdichiana. Follow the direction of Perugia and Assisi.
By railway: Assisi has a train station - train time from Rome approx. 2 hours and there are several trains each day.
www.trenitalia.itWHAT TO TAKE
Good walking boots and walking socks, a rucksack/day pack, a water bottle with 1 lt. capacity, sun glasses, sun hat, sun cream, light rainjacket, first-aid kit, compass and a little pocket-torch for the tunnels during this trip.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
To book, contact
worldwalks at:
email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44)
(0)1242 254353