Tour Umbria, Umbria and Marche: the green heart of Italy

Thanks to its central position and vast woodlands, Umbria is considered the "green heart" of Italy. Crossed by the Apennines, its territory is mainly hilly and mountainous. Rich in history, traditions and culture, the Region hosts numerous historic cities and places of worship, which make it a destination for tourists from all over the world. Many attractives in Umbria, home to lush river valleys, full-bodied wines, pristine medieval hill towns, flavorful black truffles, and the monasteries and churches of a host of home-grown saints. Perugia,is the lively home of the University for Foreigners, a place where you'll hear music late into the night and almost any language you can name on the streets, dominating the medieval town (and reached by a very unmedieval escalator) is the Rocca Paolina, Italy's largest fortress. Trevi is another excellent example of a homogenous medieval town. lies within an admirably preserved ring of city walls;Tiny, unspoiled Bevagna has preserved several remains from its days as an ancient Roman staging post. Gubbio, a medieval jewel whose gray stone buildings seem to be resolutely marching up the impossibly steep slopes of its heavily wooded hill. At its feet is a well-preserved Roman ampitheatre, still used for summer performances. Assisi, the immaculate medieval hill town that was home to Italy's patron saint, St. Francis, always a vortex of beauty and spirituality, it also offers some wonderful frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. Orvieto, with what many believe to be Italy's most beautiful church; its cornerstone was laid in 1290, and over the next two centuries countless artisans and masters added their exquisite touches to its marble facades, its intricate carvings and inlaid floors. This lovely hill town of Orvieto is also famous for its colorful ceramics and its crisp white wine. Spoleto, an ancient city with architectural traces left by man that date back over 2500 years.

ITINERARY

1 Day:
Half day guided visit of Orvieto.
Visit to the magnificent and unmissable cathedral, one of Italy's finest Gothic building and visit to the rest of this lovely medieval town, with its etruscan tombs and its city's underground chambers.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.

2 Day:
Full day excursion to Perugia one of Italy's best preserved medieval hill town , to discover its strong artistic and cultural tradition. In the afternoon, continue towards Gubbio, one of the most thoroughly medieval of the Umbrian town.The streets are picture-book pretty, with houses of pink stone and seas of orange-tiled roofs.
Dinner and overnight in hotel

3 Day:
Visit of Assisi, one of the most important religious centres in Italy for its monuments dedicated to St. Francis and St. Clare.
S. Francis was born here in 1182 and his spirit hovers over every aspect of the city's life.
In the afternoon, drive to Spello, a typical medieval town.The traveler to Spello, home of the painter Pinturicchio, is rewarded by the absence of traffic. Only pedestrians are allowed on the steep, narrow streets of this town, whose ancient walls still stand, complete with portals and towers dating back to Caesar Augustus (63BC-14AD). Stop at the "Belvedere" from which you can admire the ruins of the Roman acropolis.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.

4 Day: Full day excursion to Spoleto, peraphs Umbria's most charming town, where you can visit the Dome and Piazza della Libertà and the characteristic streets of the old town.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Marmore Waterfalls, created by Romans in 271 BC.They are the highest waterfalls in Europe ( 165 m. ), and the green and the luxuriant setting, tumbling water and expanses of gleaming polished marble add up to a spectacular show.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.

5 Day:
Full day excursion to Urbino. Dominating a panorama of green hills and majestic mountains, the city is famous throughout the world for the inestimable masterpieces housed in the National Gallery within the Ducal Palace.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.

6 Day:
At disposal for optional excursions and departure.

OPTIONAL VISITS / EXCURSIONS

Trasimeno Lake
The fourth-largest lake of Italy, offers swimming, fishing and other water sports.The surrounding area also offers some great opportunities to saumple delicious local wines and produce.

Cortona
Set high on a hillside cloacked in olive groves,Cortona offers stunning views across the Tuscany countryside.
A scattering of Etruscan tombs aside, the steep streets are dominated by medieval architecture and you can breathe art and history in any corner of this lovely hill town.Even without its art treasures, Cortona is a good place to rest up, with its pleasant shops, excellent restaurants and amazing wiev of spectacular landscapes.

Todi
One of the best estabilished hill-towns, originally an Etruscan frontier settlement,Todi ended up as a prosperous commune in the early Middle Ages.At the present this town worth a visit for its medieval atmosphere, its historical center,its cathedral and its many small medieval churches.

Valnerina
The Valnerina is the most beautiful part of Umbria. Strictly translated as " the little valley of Nera river " , it effectively refers to the whole eastern part of the region, a self-contained area of high mountains, steep wooded valley, upland villages and vast streches of barren nothingness.In this area are situated many picturesque villages, medieval churches and monasteries still inhabitated by friars.
The biggest town in the area is Norcia, birthplace of St. Benedict,and now very popular for the production of Italy's top salami and for its black truffle.

Terni
Terni is the second Umbria province and it is the birthplace of one of the world's most famous saints, St. Valentine.
In its environs there are many daily sighseeing.