DISCOVERING UMBRIA You - ( 8days/7 nights)

Courtesy of Umbria Time

Based on 2 persons

1- Upon your arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport, with a private transfer you will head to the reserved hotel in Assisi. Dinner will be served at the hotel tonight. If you are not too tired, have a walk and get touched by the beauty of Assisi’s historical centre by night.

2 - Assisi. Saint Francis was, in his own way, a revolutionary man: with his life brought everlasting changes. Assisi is, par excellence, the place where you can have a direct contact with the Saint, who was born and grew up here, at the beginning as a nobleman and then as charismatic faith man. Besides his famous Basilica di San Francis that welcomes you from the above and that contains a heap of great art celebrating Saint Francis, the town offers a charming path of 2 kilometres through the Chiesa di Santa Chiara (Saint Clare Church), the Cathedral and the beautiful Piazza del Comune (Town Square). Churches and buildings are the places where history combines with Saint Francis’s life and medieval art: San Rufino, Chiesa Nuova (New Church) built on the ruins of the Saint birthplace, Oratorio di San Francesco Piccolino (Oratory of Little Saint Francis), Palazzo Comunale (Civil Palace) and the square with its charming shapes. The visit of Assisi fascinates because of its beauty and mystic sense apart from the peaceful atmosphere. Before or after the visit you can’t miss a stop at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of the Angels) which contains the ‘Porziuncola’ (poor little man) which started Assisi's story. You will enjoy a light lunch based on cold cuts, cheese and good wine in a local wine bar.

In the afternoon, a visit to a farm practicing organic and biodynamic farming including horses and geese as their ‘special partners’. A nice carriage tour through the vineyards will complete this amazing experience before tasting a delicious wine!

3 – Deruta, ceramic course - Deruta is a world-famous town that is known for the high quality of its ceramic production and an important school of ceramics is located here. Thanks to its professional masters, the school offers innovative and accredited techniques for the creation of ceramics, ranging from basic techniques to the most sophisticated expressions that define ceramics as a fine art. The method combines an entertaining experience with a superior quality of work. Enjoy creating and painting a plate or a cup that you can take home. The course lasts for about six hours and includes a visit to the Regional Museum of Ceramics. Lunch in a restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will have plenty of time to stroll and visit some ceramic shops in Deruta where you can admire the incredible assortment of shapes and colours of Deruta’s beloved art form. The exquisite variety of colours often defines the town of origin for these collectible ceramic pieces. Not far from the small town, you can also find a precious religious site, the Church of Madonna dei Bagni. The walls of the 17th century structure are covered with multicolored majolica from the town of Deruta.

4 - Perugia - Perugia, the capital of the green region of Umbria, is located on an acropolis 450 metres above sea level at the very heart of Italy, surrounded by the gentle Umbrian hills. The city is rich in art and history, it boasts beautiful Medieval buildings and monuments, romantic narrow alleys, squares of ancient charm and some viewpoints with breath-taking views over the peaceful landscapes. Just outside the old center, we find the majestic Abbazia di San Pietro (St. Peter Abbey), an antique Benedictine complex which includes a priceless artistic patrimony and a treasure chest. Although deprived of many of its masterpieces by Napoleonic troops, it has a long list of masterpieces of some of the biggest artists of any times, such as Raffello, Caravaggio, Perugino and Vasari, just to name a few. Intriguing for its genre, it’s the view of adjacent Medieval Garden which represents a very interesting interpretation in a symbolic tone of a garden in a Benedictine complex, where the presence of water was a rule. A visit of Perugia must include its historical center with the its imposing palaces along the Corso Vannucci (Vannucci avenue), the very heart of Perugia, which ends in Piazza IV Novembre, the urban, political and monumental fulcrum of Perugia with its Fontana Maggiore that stands at the centre of the square and is considered one of the finest still in existence. The fountain was completed between 1275 and 1278, at the arrival point of the Monte Pacciano aqueduct. Fra Bevignate supervised construction, which was carried out by the Pisan sculptors Nicola (father) and Giovanni (son) Pisano - Lunch in restaurant.

The visit to the beauty of the city continues entering a workshop and museum founded in 1858 where stained glasses are created. Painting on glass means mixing colour and light to give life to a work that expresses itself through these elements alone. This involves an understanding of where the work will be placed, of how the sun’s path changes, of establishing the most suitable position, and only then of choosing the colours, mixing and applying them. Throughout the production process, it is the sunlight itself which is the test of whether the colours have been chosen and matched harmoniously while not forgetting that the soldered metal strips which hold the pieces of glass together must form an integral part of the composition. The best way of doing this is often to rely upon traditional techniques which have stood the test of time. The Studio has an historical collection of traditional machinery and tools still in working order, and although they are no longer used today, they bear witness to the Studio’s growth and development. Of particular interest is the wood-fired kiln, painstakingly designed to reach and maintain specific temperatures.

5 - Truffle hunting - In an amazing location, you will enjoy an authentic way to immerse yourself in traditional Umbrian culture and cuisine. You’ll experience the emotions of a traditional truffle hunt, with a local expert and his highly-trained dogs, as well as tasting the unforgettable flavours of Umbrian food.

6 – Torgiano, wine experience - The wine is a summary of passion, tradition and culture. The small town of Torgiano has a typical medieval aspect and ruins of ancient walls. The story of this antique village in the heart of Umbria is linked to the ancient Rome and a legend talks about a connection with the pagan god Giano, to which was dedicated the ancient tower denominated indeed, “Torre di Giano” (Tower of Giano). Today Torgiano is a synonym of wine culture, thanks to the presence of an important museum dedicated to this thousand-year-old product. The MUVIT - Museo del Vino di Torgiano (Torgiano Wine Museum) - collects many interesting historical bibliographical documentation. You can’t miss the opportunity to take a guided introductory tour for discovering the wine secrets: from wine-making installation to the step of maturation in casks and barrique and bottle refinement. And for completing the visit, there’s nothing better than a walk through the evocative vineyards sipping a good wine! The first thing one sees upon arriving in Torgiano is the vastness of vineyards that seem to reach as far as Assisi and Perugia: 230 hectares of vineyards that the owner proudly presents to all the visitors upon their arrival, because that is where everything begins. Walking along the rows, one can discover the operations carried out each day with great passion! A nice light lunch based on cold cuts, cheese and others typical products will be served during the wine tasting.

7 – Piediluco & Marmore Falls - Even if Umbria is not washed by the sea, this region is full of water and water has been celebrated in art, in the realization of wonderful aqueducts and fountains that decorate the cities; it fascinated Italian and foreign writers and will know how to thrill the most interested tourist who would catch its relaxing charm. Once arrived in Piediluco, you’ll have the impression of being surrounded by an alpine landscape! The small town extends through the edges of the homonym lake dominated by a beautiful Fortress of XI century. Few kilometres away there is Villalago, a historic dwelling of XIX century of extraordinary beauty, which offers a wonderful view of the lake from the top. Inside it we can find a 30 hectares’ park, open to the public, a wonderful place, very remarkable: among the most rare tree species we have spruce of Spain, red spruce, Balcan spruce, Lebanon cedars and more than 30 different species of spontaneous orchids. Lunch in restaurant.

Only few kilometres divide the lake from another amazing water show: Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore Falls). A natural show …human-built show! Was the Roman Consul Curio Dentato, in 271 a.C. to design this clever hydraulic system that, with some modifications and a sophisticated engineering technique allow to mix the waters of river Velino with the ones of river Nera. Today’s result is a waterfall with a fall of 165 metres of level difference surrounded by a lush vegetation. There’s a lot of things that make these falls special: the multiple, simultaneous rainbows, the unbelievable chant of the water, the gorgeous vegetation and that feeling of exuberant calmness that make everyone glad to be there to see them.

8 – Departure – Accordingly with the timing of your flight, you will be transferred to the airport.

Included in the price:

Transfer from/to Rome Fiumicino airport
7 BB in 4 stars’ hotel near Assisi + 1 dinner on the arrival day
Assisi - HD guided tour + light lunch + HD carriage tour & wine tasting
Deruta - FD Ceramic class +entrance fee & visit to the Ceramics Museum + lunch
Perugia - HD guided tour + entrance fee & visit to the stain glasses museum+ lunch
Truffle Hunting near Assisi + Lunch based on Truffle, wine included/HD
Torgiano - vineyard experience + entrance fee to MUVIT+ light lunch & wine tasting
Piediluco & Marmore Falls - free visit of Piediluco and Villalago + entrance fee & guided walk along the paths at Marmore Falls+ lunch