Umbria & Assisi

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided
with each itinerary. In April the air is fresh, the sun warm, and there are likely to be (occasionally heavy) showers; evenings can be a bit nippy. In May things start to warm up properly. May and June are generally warm and dry, with very little humidity. Early September is still hot and mainly dry. Mid-late September offers increasingly pleasant temperatures and in October the air becomes fresher and cooler again. Parts of this route are quite high (particularly Monte Subasio!) and as such can be cool and windy even on a summer’s day – and cold in the earlier and later season. Please come prepared with adequate layers and waterproofs, whatever season you visit.

What sort of walking can I expect?

8-day: Walks are offered on 5 days. 5-day: Walks are offered on 3 days. The walk lengths vary from 3.5 hours to a maximum of 6 hours. Hours of walking, which may vary from group to group, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.

The fitness level of this walking tour is Grade 3. The walking generally is fairly relaxed, allowing plenty of time for sightseeing in the places en route with a free day in Assisi. However, there is a much bigger walk on Day 6 (Grade 3+), featuring some fairly steep and prolonged ascent and descent. There is an optional lower (gentler) route on that day.

During the walking tour terrain is quite varied: you follow strade bianche (dirt/gravel roads), woodland and farm tracks, small grassy and stony paths and walk in open meadows.
There are no vertiginous patches. On certain days the paths may be rough and stony – so please make sure that your footwear
provides sufficient ankle support.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

TRAVEL TO ITALY

The recommended airports for this route are Rome (Fiumicino/Ciampino) and Perugia.

(For 5-day trip click here)

TRAVEL TO THE FIRST HOTEL BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

A useful website: www.rometoolkit.com, then click the airports link.

FROM ROME

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

Spoleto:

Hotel Aurora can offer a secure parking space at about 150m from the hotel for €3 a day. Please ask the hotel reception for a pass. Palazzo Dragoni does not have a private car park. For clients staying there, the hotel can arrange a parking permit valid for the entire length of their stay. With that clients can park just outside the hotel.

Assisi:

Alternatively, there are a number of public parking lots outside the centre of Assisi, which charge €11 per 24 hrs. To travel between Assisi and Spoleto the best option is the train, as buses are few and far between. Note, however, that in each case the train station lies some distance from the centre of town. If you are leaving the car in Spoleto, your Route Manager can help you source information about the return journey.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

Umbrian cuisine dates back to Etruscan times, and since then each town has developed its own take on the area’s intense flavours and rich dishes centred around fabulous, fresh vegetables, delicious olive oils, a variety of grains and pulses, and high-quality meats.

Truffles are of course the most famous Umbrian speciality, and whilst you might not be able to find a freshly dug one, you will always be able to find a canned or bottled version. They are used sparingly in such things as omelettes or specialities like crostini al tartufo, small croutons with a truffle paste.

Meat and game features quite largely on the menu with porchetta, a variation on roast pork stuffed with herbs and spices. Look out too for the extraordinary salame mazzafegato, a salami of pine nuts, pork liver, candied orange, sugar and raisins. Palombaccia, or wild pigeon roasted and then cooked in a sauce of wine, oil vinegar and herbs. Other variations include piccione alla Perugia, pigeon roasted with black olives. Inevitably pasta features heavily. Look out for the large heavy pasta cooked in a sauce of garlic, tomatoes and cheese, together with various spaghetti dishes with truffle sauces.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘Continental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

Wine

 The best known white of Umbria is Orvieto Classico, but there are others, such as the refreshing and quaffable Torre di Giano made in Torgiano, the wine-making ‘capital’ of this area by
Lungarotti, whose San Giorgio (red) is generally good, too. However, the most famous reds of this area are the Rosso di Montefalco and (better) Sagrantino di Montefalco (from the eponymous grape). Sagrantino Passito is red dessert wine -
rather like a Vin Santo crossed with blackberry!

Several of our independent routes (including this one) pass through well-known wine producing regions. If you are particularly interested in wine you may also like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Tuscan Hills

• Tuscany & Siena

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up for dinner – ‘smart casual’ dress is acceptable in all but the smartest restaurants in Italy. If you decide to treat  yourself to a special restaurant, men may wish to wear a jacket and women a dress or skirt.

We recommend you bring a comfortable, practical pair of shoes, as there may well be a short distance to walk to dinner.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

All have WIFI and  hair dryers; some offer laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012
the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here