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Hill towns of southern umbria
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A Discovering the ancient towns and landscapes in the land of Saints. |
Ref: EX-DIP
8 days
from £659 (minimum 8 passengers)
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Destination:
Italy
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Go Back
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Discovering the ancient towns and landscapes in the land of Saints.
Birthplace of many a Saint and steeped in history, the towns of southern Umbria are a treasure of historic churches, palaces and ancient winding streets often punctuated with beautiful squares. The name of Saint Francis is synonymous with Assisi, a fortified town perched part way up the slopes of majestic Monte Subasio. Saint Francis also preached in Trevi, a near-vertical village, which pushes the definition of ‘hill top’ to its bounds. Montefalco is an unspoiled gem known as ‘il limbo di cielo caduto in terra’ or ‘heaven’s hem fallen to earth’ as no less than eight saints are former Montefalconesi. The list goes on but it is in Spoleto, which Shelley described as "the most romantic city I ever saw" that we base ourselves for a week of exploration. The famous towns such as Assisi attract millions of pilgrims; others hold the quieter charms of years gone by and even the smallest villages house magnificent works of art. Southern Umbria is also home to some of the most beautiful countryside in Italy, rolling hills, woods, streams and valleys create a classic image of the region and scattered like jewels in a crown are the many magnificent hill towns. A very different face of Umbria is seen during a day trip to Castelluccio and the Piano Grande. The Piano Grande is a 16 square km mountain meadow where once was a glacial lake, surrounded by remote and wildly beautiful scenery. Perched above this magical valley in the Sibillini Mountains is Castelluccio, one of the highest and most isolated villages in Italy.
Extend your stay:
extra nights can be booked in Spoleto or Rome. At the Hotel Clitunno in Spoleto the cost is from £58 per double/twin room and £36 for a single. At the Hotel Continetale in Rome the cost is £72 per double/twin room and £47 for a single. Rooms are on a B&B basis and a £5 booking fee is charged. Extra accommodation in either Spoleto or Rome is more expensive in December and early January
Further Information
Special equipment required: walking boots or strong walking shoes are recommended, small daypack, waterproofs.
Extra Expenses:
entrance fees can be as much as €50 if you visit all the main sights. For the dinner not included allow €25 for a good meal and extra for wine. Lunches are not included but there is always somewhere to buy lunch or a picnic. You will also need to allow for tips at restaurants.
Meals Included:
7 breakfasts and 6 dinners.
Transport:
we use a minibus or small coach for airport transfers. The daily programme uses a minibus, train or public bus.
Children:
children under 16 cannot join the group departure but it is possible to book this destination with children on a fly-drive basis
Joining locally: the local joining point is the hotel in Spoleto. To get to Spoleto from Rome airport take the express train from Rome Termini station then change for the 1 hr 15 min journey to Spoleto. You will need to take a taxi to the hotel in Spoleto. The total cost of the journey is approx €30. A taxi direct from the airport will cost a lot more!
Group & Staff:
Min. 8, max. 16 plus leader.
Accommodation:
The Hotel Clitunno is located in the heart of old Spoleto, just minutes away from the monuments, bars and cafes. Run by the Tomassoni family, the hotel has the warm atmosphere of a friendly Umbrian home. The family has taken great care in selecting antique furniture for the lobby, lounge and reading room. The hotel has its own restaurant and bar. Rooms are well appointed with en-suite facilities - twin, double and a limited number of single rooms are available. Each room has a TV, telephone and hairdryer, and the hotel can also provide internet points and a laundry service.
Food:
The hotel owner is very proud of the local specialities served from his kitchens. Evening meals are traditional Italian fare with a first course of antipasti followed by pasta, a main course and dessert. We take three evening meals at the hotel and three more in local restaurants to sample a wide variety of the local specialities, including perhaps truffles, bruschetta or crostini. Vegetarian choices are always available. Breakfast is continental style, with various extras. Umbria has produced quality wine for centuries and throughout the trip there are opportunities to sample a few. The area around Montefalco in particular produces three of the finest red wines
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Day 1 | Fly from London Gatwick to Rome. On arrival travel to Spoleto, a journey of about 2 hrs. Those with land-only arrangements join the group in Spoleto. | Day 2 | The week comprises of two days mixing sightseeing in Spoleto with walks at a gentle pace, three days of organised visits and one free day. The order of the daily itinerary is flexible so that the leader can adjust the programme to best suit weather conditions, opening times, etc. There is the potential for a busy week but all organised activities are optional, and you can join the leader and group as often or as little as you wish. Sightseeing trips are arranged to include the hill towns of Trevi, Montefalco and Bevagna on one day and the mountain retreat of Castelluccio and the Piano Grande on the other. Assisi fills a third day; made famous by Saint Francis it has a magnificent basilica and plenty more to see. All of these excursions involve a lot of sightseeing on foot although one can always opt for a longer lunch or an extra coffee. Two days are spent in and around Spoleto. The old city is a compact area with much to see including the Duomo, Rocca and Roman amphitheatre. Each day some time is taken to explore the surrounding countryside on foot. One option is to visit the nearby village of Monteluco and see the Ponte delle Torri, one of the greatest engineering works of the 1300s. This bridge and aqueduct is a spectacular 755ft long, and has ten towering arches that span a 260ft ravine. The walks during the trip offer sweeping views of Spoleto and the surrounding countryside and should last between two and four hours at a relaxed pace with additional time for stops. Some stretches of the walks will be on mule tracks, others are paved and a few can be a little rough underfoot. There is one free day when the leader does not organise a guided trip. The choice of optional excursions includes a trip to Perugia - one of Italy's greatest cities for art, or Rome, which is only one and a half hours away by train. Alternatively, you may wish to pass the day relaxing at the hotel or spend more time in the shops, restaurants and museums of Spoleto.
| Day 3 | As above | Day 4 | As above | Day 5 | As above | Day 6 | As above | Day 7 | As above | Day 8 | Travel to Rome for the flight to London. Those with land-only arrangements end the trip in Spoleto. |
Departures Between | Price from | 16 Oct 04
23 Oct 04 | *£659 | 22 Dec 04 | *£689 | 29 Dec 04 | *£799 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment €150 (approx. £110)
Single room supplement £95
Insurance £25
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Hill towns of southern umbria
A Discovering the ancient towns and landscapes in the land of Saints.
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