Umbria Wine and Gourmet Cycling Break

A relaxing Umbrian cycling break packed with scenic rides through the breathtaking Umbrian valley. Stay in the charming, historical towns of Assisi, Spello and Bevagna, enjoying excellent wines and delicious Umbrian cuisine along the way.

This green fertile valley is the perfect venue for a relaxing, romantic cycling break. Quiet lanes lead you past olive groves and vineyards to stunning, medieval, hilltop towns. Park the bikes and wander the winding streets of these atmospheric little places that have changed little over the centuries.

Umbria Wine and Gourmet Cycling BreakAssisi

This region produces some of Italy’s finest wines and in the surrounding hills there are no less than four listed areas of D.o.c. (denominazione di origine controllata): Torgiano, Assisi, Montefalco and the Monti Martani. Two tasting sessions allow you to sample a variety of these delicious local wines.Of course Umbria is also famous for its wonderful food and on this holiday you are invited to enjoy a pre booked dinner in a local restaurant featuring local specialities.

This cycling is quite easy as you are cycling mostly along the valley floor. There are a few short climbs, usually on the way up to some of the hilltop towns but the daily distances are relatively short so this tour should suit anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.

Umbria Wine and Gourmet Cycling Break

A relaxing Umbrian cycling break packed with scenic rides through the breathtaking Umbrian valley. Stay in the charming, historical towns of Assisi, Spello and Bevagna, enjoying excellent wines and delicious Umbrian cuisine along the way.

This green fertile valley is the perfect venue for a relaxing, romantic cycling break. Quiet lanes lead you past olive groves and vineyards to stunning, medieval, hilltop towns. Park the bikes and wander the winding streets of these atmospheric little places that have changed little over the centuries.

Umbria Wine and Gourmet Cycling BreakAssisi

This region produces some of Italy’s finest wines and in the surrounding hills there are no less than four listed areas of D.o.c. (denominazione di origine controllata): Torgiano, Assisi, Montefalco and the Monti Martani. Two tasting sessions allow you to sample a variety of these delicious local wines.Of course Umbria is also famous for its wonderful food and on this holiday you are invited to enjoy a pre booked dinner in a local restaurant featuring local specialities.

This cycling is quite easy as you are cycling mostly along the valley floor. There are a few short climbs, usually on the way up to some of the hilltop towns but the daily distances are relatively short so this tour should suit anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.

Itinerary

This cycling is quite easy as you are cycling mostly along the valley floor. There are a few short climbs, usually on the way up to some of the hilltop towns but the daily distances are relatively short so this tour should suit anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.

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Day 1 : Arrive Assisi

On arrival make your way to your first hotel. Assisi is a medieval town built on a hilltop. It is a place where history, tradition, art and natural beauty combine in perfect harmony. There is a lot to see, such as the Basilica of St. Francis and Basilica of St. Clair, but it’s also highly enjoyable just to sit in a terrace cafe on the main square soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying a glass of wine. In the early evening you will meet the local representative for the welcome briefing and bike handover.

Day 2 : Assisi – Torgiano
16 miles/25 kms

After breakfast your cycling adventure begins. You freewheel down into the Umbria Valley and then across the fertile countryside to Brufa, a small Umbrian town where you can test your legs on a short climb. You then descend to the valley once more and follow the Art Route to Torgiano, your home for the evening.

Torgiano is a beautiful medieval town at the confluence of the rivers Tiber and Chiascio. Some of the original fortifications remain to this day but the town is most well known for its wonderful wines and you will have a chance to enjoy some of them at a wine tasting session this afternoon. You may also choose to visit the town’s impressive wine museum where traditions and techniques of the local viticulture are described and displayed.

In the evening you are invited for a lovely meal of local specialities at a local restaurant. Enjoy (appetizers, ‘primi’ (pasta –risotto), ‘secondo’ (main course), vegetables and a coffee with a grappa or another after-dinner spirit). For the lover of black truffle you can also choose for some dishes prepared with these "Black diamonds of the Kitchen."

Day 3 : Torgiana – Bevagna
18 miles/30 kms

After breakfast you continue on along the beautiful Valley of Umbria, following quiet lanes past olive groves and vineyards. Your first stop is the organic winery Di Filippo. Your host will give you a guided tour and describe the wine making process. Afterwards you are invited to taste some of their excellent product. Back in the saddle, you continue to Bevagna, a town of Roman origin situated in the famous wine producing areas of Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco.

Day 4 : Bevagna – Foligno – Spello
18 miles/28 kms

Perhaps take some time to explore Bevagna further before cycling on through the colourful valley towards Foligno. After a while you have a choice to make; continue on along the valley floor to Foligno or take on the challenging climb up to the medieval village of Montefalco. This hilltop town is also known as the Balcony of Umbria because of the fantastic views over the surrounding countryside and in our opinion this view is ample reward for the effort. If you did take on the challenge you now get to enjoy an exhilarating freewheel back to the valley floor followed by an easy spin to Foligno, another gorgeous Umbrian town with wonderful Piazzas where you can revive and refresh yourself. From here it’s a short ride to the charming medieval town of Spello where you will spend the night..

Day 5 : Spello - end of trip

After breakfast it’s time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.

Bikes

Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 21-24 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump.

Electric bikes are also available.

We suggest you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons. Alternatively, helmets for adults are avaiable to rent at the time of booking.

Accommodation

Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.

Superior: Comfortable hotels and B&Bs

Assisi: Assisi Hotel La Terrazza

Torgiano: Hotel al Grappolo d’Oro 

Bevagna: B&B Porta Perugina

Spello: Hotel Il Cacciatore

Superior Plus: Good quality hotels.

Assisi: Hotel Dal Moro Gallery

Torgiano: Tre Vaselle

Bevagna: B&B Porta Perugina superior

Spello: Hotel La Bastiglia

Local taxes

Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night

Getting there

Fly to Perugia, Rome or Florence

Research flights from the UK here

Take the train to Assisi

Research trains in Italy here.

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