Self-guided Bike Tour Umbria - The Green Heart of Italy
Umbria is the birthplace of St. Francis, the heart of Roman Italy and home to some of Italy's best preserved medieval towns. Bicycle past vineyards, chestnut and oak forests, and across rolling hills to monasteries, castles, and hilltop villages unchanged since the Middle Ages. Enjoy Assisi, the home of Saint Francis, Deruta, famous for its pottery, Torgiano, known for its wines, and hilltop towns such as Spello, Montefalco, Todi and Orvieto.
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Day 1
Arrive in Assisi and fit bicycles
Highlights: Fit bikes and enjoy a test ride into the nearby hills
Welcome to the town of Saint Francis. Plan to arrive early afternoon in Assisi to start your tour. If your arrival time differs, please contact us and we will try to accommodate your travel schedule. We'll fit bikes this afternoon and suggest a hill ride for those who can't wait. You'll want to explore the church of Saint Francis, the second most important pilgrimage destination in Italy after St. Peter's in Rome. If you arrive early you might enjoy a ride to the hermitage just outside the village where Francis often retreated for meditation. Mileage: 13 km (8 miles)
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Day 2
Bicycle a loop ride to Deruta and Torgiano
Highlights: Ceramics in Deruta & Wine in Torgiano
Your ride today takes you to Deruta where you can enjoy scores of ceramic studios. Deruta is one of the most important ceramics towns in all of Italy. Your route continues on to Torgiano, a major wine producer. The famous Lungarotti winery has a wine museum in the centre of the town. The route back to Assisi takes you through the hamlet of Brufa. Distance: 60 km (37 miles).
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Day 3
Bicycle from Assisi to Bevagna
Highlights: Roman ruins in Spello, medieval wall and Renaissance buildings
You leave Assisi behind you this morning and head south to Spello, a puzzle made of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance pieces. 13th century town walls connect Roman gateways dating to the 1st century BC and AD. Take time to explore and you'll find the 13th century town hall dominating the Renaissance town square. From Spello you pedal to Foligno another Roman town but with fewer Roman ruins. Enjoy lunch in the square and then head across the Umbria valley to Bevagna. Bevagna is the picture of a well-preserved Medieval village. It, too, dates from Roman times and is centered on the 13th century square and town hall. Unlike most Medieval towns, Bevagna is located on the flat of the Umbrian Basin. Mileage: 35 km (22 miles)
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Day 4
Loop Ride from Bevagna to Montefalco
Highlights: The Roman Via Flaminia, Trevi, and Montefalco
Yesterday and today you will parallel the historic Via Flaminia, a Roman road, built in 220 BC by Consul Gaius Faminius. The road allowed Roman soldiers and their families access to the region around Rimini where they settled. With the road came all the Roman settlements and military garrisons in the area. Foligno and Spello were Roman towns while Trevi and Montefalco, our lunch destination, were Medieval towns that developed on nearby hills hundreds of years later. Take time to explore these hill towns as they capture the essence of Italy. A variety of routes allow access to the hills south of Montefalco. Plan on a picnic or restaurant lunch in the village, though as it affords a spectacular view across the entire Umbrian basin where you just spent two days cycling. (And plan to pick up a bottle of Sagrantino in Montefalco, one of Italy's most famous wines, for your dinner tonight.) Mileage: 45 km (28 miles) or more if you wish to venture into the hills south of Montefalco
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Day 5
Bicycle from Bevagna to Todi
Highlights: Off the beaten track to the medieval Todi
Your route today takes you away from the busy heartland of Umbria to the beautiful hilltop town of Todi. Todi's history is one of the region's oldest: three thousand years of continual inhabitance by Umbrians, Etruscans, and Romans. Today its main square "Piazza del Popolo" is often described as the most perfect medieval piazza in Italy. Discover why. Mileage: km 38 (24 miles)
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Day 6
Todi to Orvieto
Highlights: Orvieto and its Duomo
A quiet ride along the shoulders of the Tiber Valley takes you to the spectacular Renaissance city of Orvieto. Perched on the remnant of a volcanic plateau, Orvieto is one of the most beautiful cities in Umbria. Its cathedral, a transition style between Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is richly decorated with a variety of colored marble and bright mosaics. Orvieto is also famous for its white wine. Mileage: 47km (29 miles)
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Day 7
Loop ride to Civita and Bolsena
Highlights: "Ghost town" of Civita di Bagnoregio and Bolsena Volcanic Lake
We suggest a loop ride today to one of several volcanic lakes in this part of Italy, the Lago di Bolsena. Before getting to the lake the ride will take you to the "ghost town" of Civita di Bagnoregio. Take time to explore this tiny village also know as "the dying city", because of the eroding rock below it. Daily distance: 65 km (41 miles)
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Day 8
Tour ends in Orvieto
Highlights:
After breakfast your cycling experience in Umbria ends. We hope you have enjoyed cycling with us! Orvieto is conveniently located on the main rail line to Florence or to Rome. It is also beautiful enough to warrant a relaxing rest day if you are so inclined.
Includes | 7 nights accommodation in 3-4 star hotels; all breakfasts; use of a high quality racing or hybrid bicycle; bike delivery and collection; use of GPS with preloaded tracks; detailed route descriptions; map; suggestions for dinners; luggage transfers |
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Countries | Italy |
Begin/End | Assisi / Orvieto |
Arrive/Depart | Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) / Florence Airport (FLR) |
Total Distance | 263 - 307 km (163- 191 miles) |
Daily Distance | 0 - 80 km (0 - 50 miles); additional mileage is always available |
Rating | 301 |
Notes | Array |
Terms | Terms & Conditions |
Dates | Prices | Single Supplement | |||
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Dates | The tour departs every day of the week. City taxes not included. GROUP DISCOUNTS 5% (on groups of 4 or more) Electric bikes available for an extra charge |
Prices | €1410 | Single Supplement | 300 € (singles traveling with others pay a 250 € supplement) |
Next Step | Request space on this Bicycle Tour » |
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We had many favorite experiences: we loved visiting Spoleto, staying in Todi, having lunch in Foligno, bicycling along vineyards and small farms, and more. A big thank you to Stefania!
Beth D.
Pleasanton, CA
Oct 2016 -
Really enjoyed Bevagna. The hotel proprietor was terrific, many great restaurants for such a small town & some good loop rides from there. This was a surprise, we almost eliminated this town from the tour. Thanks for advising us to make it a stop. While in Bevagna, we re-visited a small cafe that we had been to a few years ago. We never could remember the town where we had that lunch & then we rode into Bevagna & recognized it immediately. What a wonderful surprise. Overall very good experience. Your staff does a great job. Would happily recommend this company. One of our favorite trips
Patricia C.NY, USASeptember 2012
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Thank you for a wonderful trip and the great service. I absolutely would recommend this self guided tour to a friend - I had a wonderful time
Patrick L.SingaporeMay 2011
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Thanks for organizing an amazing trip Everything was planned perfectly, and went very well.
Amir & Ronit F.USAJune 2011