FOOD & WINE TOUR MARCHE & UMBRIA 8 DAYS
FOOD & WINE TOUR
MARCHE & UMBRIA 8 DAYS
Day 1: ROME – ORVIETO – PERUGIA:
Arrival in Rome and departure towards the Umbria region, renowned worldwide as a pilgrimage destination, but also celebrated for its excellent wines, olive oil, and the famous Perugina chocolate.
Enroute to Perugia, stop in Orvieto to explore its fascinating underground city, followed by a tasting of local products accompanied by a glass of the renowned Orvieto red wine. After the visit, continue to Perugia. Accommodation at Hotel Meridiana. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 2: PERUGIA-ASSISI
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a visit to the Perugina Factory, one of Italy’s most iconic establishments specialising in chocolate and confectionery. Enjoy a guided tour of the Chocolate House, the historical museum, and the modern production facilities—naturally concluding with a delicious tasting.
For those wishing to deepen the experience, there is the option to participate in a hands-on chocolate workshop, such as preparing the legendary Bacio Perugina with a personalised message, or choosing from themed experiences including Nero-Therapy, Chocolate Artistic Creations, Chocolate Symphonies for Two, or a Master in Chocology course—all entirely chocolate-based.
Following the visit, transfer to Perugia city centre for a guided walking tour combined with a tasting of typical street food. Two tasting stops are included: the first features local products such as cheeses, cured meats, bread, and a glass of wine; the second offers the famous porchetta served in traditional bread.
In the afternoon, depart for Assisi, one of the world’s most important pilgrimage destinations and a town rich in art and history. Visit the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, together with the Upper and Lower Churches, was begun shortly after St Francis’s canonisation in 1228 and completed in 1253. The Lower Church houses frescoes by renowned late-medieval artists including Cimabue and Giotto, while the Upper Church features fresco cycles depicting the life of St Francis, now attributed to artists from the circle of Pietro Cavallini of Rome.
Day 3: PERUGIA-ASCOLI PICENO
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure along the Sagrantino Wine Road, driving through picturesque hamlets and colourful Umbrian landscapes. Arrival in Torgiano, recognised as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” and known as a “Wine City”. Visit the prestigious Wine Museum, created by the Lungarotti family and considered one of the most comprehensive wine museums in the world. The experience continues with a visit to the Museum of Olive Oil and the Olive Tree, followed by a tasting of Lungarotti wines and olive oil.
In the afternoon, depart towards the Marche region, with stops in Montefalco and Trevi—both renowned for their olive oil production—and in Norcia, where you will enjoy a tasting in a traditional norcineria, sampling local cured meats and truffle-based products. Continue onwards to Ascoli Piceno. Accommodation at the selected hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: ASCOLI PICENO-MACERATA
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a guided visit of Ascoli Piceno and its fascinating historic centre, entirely built from the ivory-white local travertine stone. From aristocratic palaces to churches, squares, streets, and private residences, the city showcases extraordinary architectural harmony. Although travertine is a challenging material to work with, skilled artisans have created refined decorative elements such as ornate portals, rosettes, and mullioned windows.
Lunch will be served at a winery/agriturismo selected by Gambero Rosso, featuring a Bio Menu prepared exclusively with products cultivated on the estate, including freshly baked bread from the farm.
In the afternoon, depart for Pollenza to visit one of Italy’s most important wineries. Housed in a magnificent 16th-century estate designed by Sangallo and set amid the rolling hills of the Macerata countryside, the Il Pollenza estate covers approximately 200 hectares, 50 of which are dedicated to vineyards. Enjoy a guided tour of the wine cellar, the Barchesse, and the Baroque cellar, gaining insight into the estate’s deep-rooted passion for the land, advanced cultivation techniques, and high standards of wine production. The visit concludes with a tasting of three selected wines paired with typical local products.
Continue to Macerata. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 5: MACERATA – RECANATI – LORETO – ANCONA:
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided visit of Macerata, an elegant, human-scale city often referred to as the “City of Lyric and Culture” thanks to its remarkable artistic and architectural heritage. The symbol of the city is the Sferisterio, a striking neoclassical structure originally built as an arena for bullfighting, once popular in the Papal States. Over time, the Sferisterio lost its original function and was transformed into one of Italy’s most atmospheric open-air opera venues. Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida was the first opera staged here in 1921, and today the arena hosts an acclaimed summer opera season featuring works such as Aida, La Traviata, and Tosca.
Continue with a guided walking tour of the medieval town centre, visiting the Cathedral, the elegant Baroque Lauro Rossi Theatre, and Palazzo Buonaccorsi.
At the end of the visit, depart for Recanati, one of the most beloved towns in the Marche region and the birthplace of Giacomo Leopardi, one of Italy’s greatest poets. A walking tour of Recanati will immerse you in the landscapes, atmosphere, and traditions that inspired Leopardi’s poetry.
The journey continues to Loreto, one of the world’s most important pilgrimage destinations, home to Italy’s largest shrine. Visit the Basilica of the Holy House before continuing to Ancona. Accommodation at the Passetto Grand Hotel, a 4-star property overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Dinner at the hotel restaurant, where you will enjoy the local speciality Stoccafisso all’Anconetana (stockfish with Adriatic seafood).
Day 6: ANCONA – PARK OF CONERO MOUNT – PESARO:
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Regional Park of Monte Conero, a protected natural oasis covering approximately 5,800 hectares, where the deep blue of the sea blends harmoniously with the green and golden hues of the rolling hills. The Conero area is also renowned for the production of Rosso Conero, one of the most celebrated wines of the Marche region.
Visit a prestigious local winery, repeatedly awarded for excellence in wine production by leading authorities such as Gambero Rosso, Veronelli, and Slow Food. Enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards and wine cellars, gaining insight into the journey from grape to glass.
Lunch will be served at the winery’s agriturismo, featuring a km 0 menu prepared using predominantly seasonal, estate-grown products, thoughtfully paired with one or more wines to complement each course.
In the afternoon, depart for Pesaro, an elegant seaside town on the Adriatic coast. Accommodation at the Excelsior Hotel, the first 5-star boutique hotel in the Marche region. Dinner at a traditional osteria, where you will enjoy a gourmet menu inspired by the authentic food and wine traditions of the Marche.
Day 7: PESARO-URBINO–FURLO GORGE-ACQUALAGNA–PESARO: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Urbino, the cradle of the Renaissance and often described as the “Perfect City”. This extraordinary hilltop town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Renaissance masters Raffaello Sanzio and Piero della Francesca.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic centre, characterised by its narrow streets known as piole, which rise and fall through a city rich in architectural masterpieces. Highlights include the Ducal Palace, home to the National Gallery of the Marche, the iconic Torricini façade, the Fortress of Albornoz, and the Rampa of Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
Lunch will be served at a traditional restaurant in Piazza San Francesco, where you will sample local specialities such as crescia sfogliata, cappelletti, and Casciotta d’Urbino cheese.
In the early afternoon, depart for the Gola del Furlo (Furlo Gorge), a spectacular natural reserve carved by the River Candigliano. This unspoilt landscape combines dramatic scenery with remarkable biodiversity, home to unique species of flora and fauna. Continue to Acqualagna, a small village internationally renowned as the truffle capital of Italy, celebrated for its exceptional truffle production available throughout the year. Visit a truffle laboratory to learn about preservation methods, followed by a tasting of truffle-based products such as creams, cheeses, and oils.
Day 8: PESARO-ROME: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Rome. En route, we suggest a stop in the Abruzzo region, in the charming village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, to enjoy its timeless atmosphere and profound sense of tranquillity.
Often considered one of the most fascinating villages within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is built entirely of white limestone, softened by time, with houses topped by traditional clay tiles that create a harmonious and evocative panorama when viewed from the Medici Tower. A guided walking tour of the village allows you to fully appreciate its historic character.
There will be free time to purchase typical local products and regional specialities, including Pecorino d’Abruzzo cheese, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo wines, Verdicchio, Pecorino wines, and prized saffron.
Continue onwards to Rome. Arrivederci!
HOTELS OR SIMILAR
Standard Category:
Perugia: Hotel La Meridiana, 4 star
Ascoli Piceno: Villa Pigna, 4 star
Macerata: Hotel Claudiani, 4 star
Ancona: Hotel Europa, 3 star
Pesaro: Hotel Nautilus, 3 star
Superior Category:
Perugia: Hotel La Meridiana, 4 star
Ascoli Piceno: Palazzo Guideracchi, 4 star
Macerata: Hotel Claudiani, 4 star
Ancona: Grand Hotel Passetto, 4 star
Pesaro: Hotel Savoy, 4 star
PERUGIA
