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Saints, Gods & Angels

Landlocked in the centre of the Italian peninsula, the Umbrian countryside is green and lush, where a timeless and spiritual quality pervades. It is unspoiled and wild, with churches, secret hermitages and wayside chapels dotted along ancient trails. Summers are long, but the mountain air is fresh, and the green meadows are filled with spectacular flowers in May and June. Enjoy the earthy Umbrian cuisine, famed for its use of black truffles, and the robust reds of Torgiano and Montefalco.

This ride starts in world-famous Assisi with its immense and imposing Basilica to St Francis standing high above the town. You cycle through national parks, passing hermitages and abbeys on your way to the atmospheric medieval towns of Spello and Spoleto. The wooded Nera Valley leads to Lake Piediluco and then through olive groves to your final destination, Bevagna, a picturesque walled medieval town.

Nights: 7
Grade: 2, some longer steady climbs
Terrain: panoramic, quiet provincial roads
Hotels: one historic house; two 3-star hotels; one 4-star hotel
Meals: breakfast each day, dinner on 1 night
Climate: Umbria enjoys a long summer, when temperatures average 22°C, and a fine spring and autumn, with average temperatures of 15°C in May and 18°C in September.

Tre Esse, Assisi

Basilica San Francesco

Scenic routes

Spello

Hotel Clitunno, Spoleto

14th-century aqueduct, Spoleto

Starting point: Tre Esse (3*), Assisi. An intimate country house hotel with a pool and restaurant (pay locally if you choose to dine here). The hotel is only a ten-minute walk from the Basilica and the well-preserved temple to the Roman Goddess, Minerva. Your bikes will be waiting for you at the hotel.

Day 1: You enjoy a leisurely circuit today from Assisi, through the rolling Umbrian countryside passing through quaint villages on the way to Bettona and Torgiano, a medieval town with ancient walls standing between the rivers Tiber and Chiascio. Explore the Museum of Wine before sampling the real thing in one of many attractive restaurants in the square, after which you can meander back to Assisi. (38km)

Accommodation: Tre Esse, as above.

Day 2: On leaving Assisi, you head into the Parco del Subasio to visit the Hermitage of the Prison and the Abbey of Saint Bernadette before arriving at the medieval gem that is Spello. This wonderful walled town, formerly a Roman settlement, is full of charm, with many small churches and historic buildings within the medieval walls. (19km)

Accommodation: La Bastiglia (4*), Spello. Your hotel is an authentically converted mill, with an excellent restaurant serving local specialities.

Day 3: Today’s pleasantly meandering ride takes you down a wide river valley, passing through the towns of Fiamenga, Trevi, Poreta and Eggi on the way to Spoleto. (36km)

Accommodation: Hotel Clitunno (3*), Spoleto. Situated in the heart of the old town, within easy walking distance of the cathedral, the Tomassino family’s hotel is an excellent base for exploring Spoleto. Breakfast only is included, leaving you free to choose between the hotel's own restaurant and those elsewhere in the town.

Day 4: Spoleto is one of Umbria’s finest hill-top towns and you have a full day to explore its great monuments. The focal point is the fan-shaped Piazza del Duomo, site of the magnificent 12th-century cathedral. Other important monuments that you should not miss include the Roman theatre, the 14th-century aqueduct and the Romanesque church of Sant Eufemia. However, you may prefer to enjoy a circular cycle ride. After a transfer to Scheggino, you take a lovely ride through the wooded River Nera National Park and on to the glistening lake at Piediluco. From here you and your bikes are transported back to Spoleto. (30km)

Accommodation: Hotel Clitunno, as above.

Day 5: From Spoleto you cycle north through the undulating green countryside of central Umbria. Your destination is Bevagna. (31km)

Accommodation: L’Orto agli Angeli (historic house), Bevagna. You spend two nights in one of a number carefully and elegantly restored rooms named after angels ('Orto agli Angeli' translates as ‘The Garden of the Angels’), a touch of luxury at the end of your holiday. The building overlooks the remains of a Roman Temple to the Gods. You stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 6: On your day in Bevagna, enjoy a circuit through the countryside to Gualdo. (18km)

Accommodation: L'Orto agli Angeli, as above.

Recommendations for extra nights: Spoleto, so that you have time to explore the town and enjoy our suggested ride.

Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system.

Similar holidays: Siena & Southern Tuscany (grade 2), Secret Hills & Precious Mosaics (grade 2), Vineyards, Venice & Vicenza (grade 2)

Prices & travel 2008:

Recommended destination airports: Perugia & Rome
Latest flight arrival time: Perugia flexible; Rome 1600
Earliest flight departure time: Perugia flexible; Rome 1200
*Connecting travel: rail from Rome and taxi/rail back (out/home 2h30) £45pp;
return taxi from Perugia (out/home 0h30) £40pp
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Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):

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