Itinerary:   

q       Day 1: Arrive Assisi. You should take the opportunity to explore the mediaeval city of Assisi. You can join the crowds to visit the upper and lower Basilicas of St Francis, although you can normally visit the lower shrine of St. Francis early tomorrow from 06:30 if you want a more quiet time. However there is plenty more to see, including the Duomo (cathedral) on Piazza Rufino and the Temple of Minerva on the Piazza del Commune.  There are numerous other churches of which San Pietro (13thC) and the Basilica of Santa Chiara are perhaps the most interesting. The interiors of some of these buildings may not be accessible at certain times.  Overnight Assisi.

q       Day 2:  There is a choice of two walking routes from Assisi (420m) to Spello (220m): either an easy-to-moderate traverse of the farmed and forested lower slopes of Monte Subasio, following lanes and tracks (8 miles/13km/4 hours), or a more strenuous route, much of it on footpaths (12 miles/19km/6 hours), which crosses the open summit area ( 1290m) above the trees within the confines of the National Park. Both routes start very steeply. You should have some very fine views across the Val di Spoleto to the Martani Hills, which you will cross later in the week.  On arrival in the mediaeval town of Spello there are more antiquities, including the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which contains frescoes by Pinturicchio and two Roman gates and a Roman arch.  Overnight Spello.

q       Day 3: As you have 2 nights in Spello, today we advise that you take the train to the nearby town of Spoleto and then do a circular walk, starting from the church of S.Pietro, rising up to the monastic church of S.Giuliano, passing the small hamlet of Monteluco, finishing at the Roman bridge below the fortress of Spoleto. Before you start and at the end there is a suggested walk throughout Spoleto visiting the several sites and the narrow roads. Apart from the first ascent to S.Giuliano the walk is not that difficult and will take you about 3 hours. A good combination is to visit the town and the surrounding forests. Take a torch with you as you need to go through a dark tunnel.

q       Day 4: The first part of today's walk is relatively gentle, as you cross the low ground of the Val di Spoleto, which is largely agrarian fields, orchards and vineyards.  Around lunchtime you reach the mediaeval village of Bevagna (225m) on the ancient Via Flaminia, described by The Rough Guide as 'even more serene and handsome a backwater than Spello, with a central piazza of austere perfection...two of Umbria's finest Romanesque churches'. If lunch in Bevagna turns out to be too filling there is a bus service on to the hill town of Montefalco (472m) - otherwise it's a gradual uphill walk with a bit of a sting in its tail.  Montefalco, the 'Balcony of Umbria', is celebrated for its panoramic view over vineyards and olive groves back over the Val di Spoleto, for its 14th century ramparts and for its famous local dry red Sagrantino wine (but note: Sagrantino Passito is a sweet wine!).  12.5 miles/20km/6 hours. Overnight Montefalco.

q       Day 5: After breakfast you will have a transfer southwards across the undulating plateau of farmland and wooded hills to the remote hill village or borgo (fortified hamlet) of Giano dell' Umbria (546m), surrounded by olive groves and pastureland. Then walk across more delightful hilly Umbrian countryside today as you approach Todi. Today you will come out onto high moor and grassland, before descending through the forests once again, this time to the town of Massa Martana, from where there is a bus service to Todi. Todi is, like many other Umbrian towns, built on a hill. There are Etruscan and Roman walls, mediaeval streets, Renaissance palaces and the magnificent Renaissance church of Santa Maria della Consolazione. There is plenty to see here. Overnight Todi. (7.5 miles/12km/4 hours) walking to Massa Martana.

q       Day 6: Either (6-day tour) Depart Todi by taxi to train station, then train to Roma Termini, changing trains en route at Terni. Journey time 2 hours. Book through tickets from Todi to Rome airport. Or (on the 9 day tour) Todi to Asproli. Today's walk is relatively short, so there is time for some sightseeing in the morning. An easy walk into the hills west of Todi. Overnight Asproli. Your accommodation is in a delightful rural setting tonight amongst the Almond and Strawberry Trees. (8miles/13km/4.5 hours walking).

Note: it is not always possible to secure accommodation in Asproli due to the very limited accommodation here. If this is the case then you will walk as normal to Asproli and we will organize for a taxi to collect you at a certain point and time, you will then return to Todi for the night. The following morning the taxi will collect you and drop you in Asproli so that you can continue your walk as normal to Montecchio. Sherpa will cover the additional taxi transfers. More details of this arrangement will also be given in the route notes

q       Day 7: Asproli to a farm guesthouse near Montecchio.  A day's walk through the hilly countryside between Monte Croce di Serra and the Corbara reservoir (138m) which now occupies the valley of the Tiber.  Overnight on a farm near Montecchio (377m). 9.3 miles/15km (to Poggio Volara) or 12 miles/ 19km (to Podere Casette).  Add 2.5 miles/ 4km if including the diversion to Civitella del Lago.

q       Day 8: Farm guesthouse near Montecchio to Baschi.  Today you descend from the hills to approach the River Tiber at Baschi (165m). We recommend using public transport (bus and/or (on weekdays) train; not included in tour price) from Baschi to Orvieto Scalo to shorten the latter part of the day's walk. The distance walked varies between 12 and 16 km (7.5 miles – 10miles) according to where you start the day and whether you make the diversion to Montecchio village. It is also possible (but considerably further) to walk all the way to Orvieto Scalo. From Orvieto Scalo there is a funicolare (cable railway) to take you up to Orvieto itself. Overnight Orvieto, a real gem of a city with several beautiful piazzas and churches. On the one hand there is the magnificent Gothic cathedral with some alabaster lights and the amazing (newly restored) frescoes by Signorelli. On the other hand try to find the beautiful small church of St. Lawrence with its Etruscan (sacrificial slab) alter and the sky light fashioned in the form of Christ crucified.

q       Day 9: Depart Orvieto. Taxi to station then train to Roma Termini (1 hour 20 mins) or to Florence (1 hour 40mins). From Roma Termini shuttles train every half hour to Rome Fiumicino airport.  Book through tickets to Rome airport from Orvieto.

Accommodation

5 nights/6 days - In Assisi our small family run 3* hotel is in a quiet back street just off the town’s main square. The view from its pretty terraced garden is wonderful. In Spello we spend 2 nights in a 3* Albergo. It is an elegantly restored 18th century building near the Augustus Gate. In Montefalco our 3* hotel shares its structure with the villages eldest church (features of the original church have only recently been discovered). All the rooms are now modernised and have well appointed facilities. At Todi we normally stay in a small guesthouse (only 4 rooms) in the town centre, or at a modern hotel with a swimming pool just beyond the city wall.

8 nights/9 days - Near Montecchio we stay at one of three rural ‘agriturismo’. In Asproli a well appointed guesthouse is used. In Orvieto our 3* hotel is right in the historical centre of the medieval town. Breakfast on the terrace is a must..

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