Day 1 – Arrival
Arrival in Assisi (PG). Meeting with the organization at 5pm
Presentation Umbria Walking Festival: organisation, trip, day by day activities
Dinner and overnight in Assisi
Day 2 – Walking Assisi
Breakfast at the hotel
Assisi to Spello hike
Starting from Assisi, we will reach Hermitage Carceri and the holy wood that surrounds it, a place suspended in time chosen by Saint Francis as spiritual refuge and vicinity of nature. Left the hermitage, the trail continues up and down hill crossing the green and wooded western side of Mt Subasio, protected by a Regional Park, with beautiful views over the valley below and its villages, and then finish among the olive groves and the gentle landscape of Umbria countryside, until the enchanting medieval village of Spello
Distance: 16 km – Elevation gain: 800 m – Elevation loss: 1000 m – Time: 5 h (without stops)
At the end of the hike transfer by public bus in Assisi train station and train to Spello. Visit Spello.
Meeting in Spello at 4pm and transfer to Preci (1 h drive)
Accommodation
Dinner and overnight at Il Collaccio
Day 3 – Walking the Campiano Valley
Breakfast
Mt Moricone loop
We begin to discover Monti Sibillini National Park, with this loop around Moricone mount, which overlooks Castoriana valley. The route passes through small villages, and cultivated fields, which alternate with lush forests of oak, until reaching the top of the mount (1429 m asl) with its magnificent view on Sibillini chain, from Mt Bove to Redentore ridge.
Distance: 18 km – Elevation gain: 1150 m – Elevation loss: 1150 m – Time: 6 h (without stops)
Free time
Dinner and overnight at Il Collaccio
Day 4 – Sibillini, wild and unknown
After Breakfast transfer to Ussita (1 h)
Monte Bove loop
We move to Marche region for reaching the heart of the Park, a hike that is a real concentrate of all the beauties of the mountains: the unique view from the top of South Bove mount (2169 m asl) that embraces all the 2000 peaks of Sibillini chain, from Mt Vettore to Mt Rotondo; the colourful flowers blooming at high altitudes and the incomparable emotion of walking in the kingdom of the lord of the rocks: the Apennine Chamois!
Distance: 13 km – Elevation gain: 800 m – Elevation loss: 800 m – Time: 5 h (without stops)
Back to our accommodation by private transfer (1 h)
Dinner and overnight at Il Collaccio
Day 5 – Montefalco, land of culture and Sagrantino wine
Transfer to Montefalco (1 h drive)
Visit of Montefalco and welcome to a local family. A small farm managed by Alessandro and Grazia will give you the Italian style of life. Lunch
Transfer to Bevagna and free time to visit the ancient town and shopping
Transfer to Romanelli winery
Back to our accommodation by private transfer (1 h)
Light dinner
Day 6 – In the famous highlands of Castelluccio di Norcia
After Breakfast transfer to Castelluccio di Norcia (1 h)
The Imperial Loop: Mt Argentella and Sasso Borghese
The trail starts from Pian Perduto, one of the three Castelluccio high plains. After a steep stage under one of the few patches of beech wood survived on the plains, the route follows the spectacular Imperial Road, used from the roman period, until reaching one of the most beautiful places of Sibillini: Sasso Borghese Pass, from which two 2000 of the chain can be reached: the rocky and overhanging Sasso di Palazzo Borghese (2119 m asl) and the rounded summit of Monte Argentella (2200 m asl). Way back passing through Forca Viola, gate of Pilato Lake Valley, with an amazing view on Castelluccio and its plains.
Distance: 13 km – Elevation gain: 850 m – Elevation loss: 850 m – Time: 5 h (without stops)
Visit Norcia and dinner at Il Castoro Restaurant
Back to our accommodation by private transfer or by walk (the accommodation is 2 km far from the restaurant)
Overnight at Il Collaccio
Day 7 – Valnerina, in the green heart of Umbria.
After breakfast transfer to Sant’Anatolia di Narco/Gavelli (30 min)
The iron mines of Mt Birbone
Our last hike is in Valnerina, the green heart of Umbria. The trail starts from a small high plain of tectonic origin, where there is one of the few natural mountain ponds of Umbria, and then continue through very beautiful beech woods, until reaching Terargo iron mines on the western side of Birbone Mount. This place was one of the most important mining sites of Vatican State from the XVII century, part of the gates of Basilica di San Pietro and of the Pantheon were built with the iron coming from Terargo. After reaching the top of Birbone mount (1501 m asl), we close the loop always surrounded by an amazing landscape.
Distance: 12 km – Elevation gain: 600 m – Elevation loss: 600 m – Time: 4 h (without stops)
Transfer back to our accommodation by private transfer (1 h)
Dinner and overnight at Il Collaccio
Day 8 – Departure
After breakfast transfer to Spoleto train station (45 min)