Italy
Choose Your Pace: Walking the Hill Towns of Umbria
Program No. 18709RJ
Learn from scholars and local farmers as you walk the meandering hills of Umbria at the pace you choose, discovering its vineyards, olive groves, villages and sensational cuisine.
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9 days
8 nights
17 meals
7B 4L 6D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Perugia
Montefalco
8
Monte Patrico, Truffle Hunt, Spoleto
Montefalco
At a Glance
With all the amazing views that echo the landscapes of Tuscany but none of the crowds, Umbria holds a special place in the hearts of those who love the stunning Italian countryside. With rolling hills, picturesque medieval towns and beautiful vineyards and valleys, it also holds a special place for those who love to walk. Join local experts for spirited and informative rambles through this truly unique region on daily hikes selected based on your preferred pace and difficulty.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Choose Your Pace
Each day, choose from multiple hiking options based on your desired level of challenge and pace, ranging from 1.5 - 8 miles on mountain trails. Elevations up to 3,596 feet. Sites visited may vary based on the hiking level you choose for that day.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Join a truffle farmer above the town of Spoleto to learn the proper way to hunt this delicacy.
- Visit the regional capital of Perugia, one of the 12 Etruscan city states, with art dating back to the 13th century.
- Climb through the Umbrian valley with views of Assisi and Trevi to a local winery for a tasting.
- Visit, in some groups, a medieval paper manufacturer in the town of Bevagna to learn the technique of this ancient art.
Suggested Reading List
(19 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Choose Your Pace: Walking the Hill Towns of Umbria
Program Number: 18709
The Italian Renaissance
A well-written history of the Renaissance, its artists and thinkers, with chapters on Florence, Milan, Rome and Venice, Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Women of the Renaissance.
A Traveller's History of Italy
A brief history of Italy through the 1990s -- wide-ranging, accessible and necessarily condensed. With a useful chronology and historical gazetteer, this book marches confidently through the centuries.
Reluctant Saint, The Life of Francis of Assisi
Spoto draws on fascinating new research to explore the travels, spirit and work of the beloved saint. This engaging portrait provides an excellent overview of the life of St. Francis.
A Valley in Italy, The Many Seasons of a Villa in Umbria
This short memoir chronicles a year in the small Umbrian village of San Orsola--especially the delights and frustrations of renovating a decayed villa. Taking in food, wine, local customs and landscapes, the book is an excellent introduction to the region
Italy for the Gourmet Traveler
Organized geographically, this encyclopedic guide features eating establishments, cooking schools, markets, shops and other gastronomic treasures in 500 cities and villages, perfect for the food-addled who can't be in the company of the irrepressible master himself.
Italy in Mind
A terrific collection of some of the best literary writing on Italy, including pieces by Melville, Lawrence, Henry James, Mary McCarthy and many others.
Canti
An acclaimed new translation of Italy's greatest modern poet's work. Born in the Italian Marches in 1798, Leopardi lived in Rome, Central Italy, and Naples, where he died in 1837.
Umbria Regional Map
A colorful, detailed map of Umbria and surrounding areas, at a scale of 1:200,000. The most detailed map of the area available, imported from Italy.
Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary
This compact phrase book, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary, also includes Steves' insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world.
After Hannibal
Unsworth's vivid novel takes in the history, landscape, pleasures and the other Americans and Europeans, like himself, who live in Umbria.
La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
Italians themselves love this guide to the Italian character, which addresses their never-ending passion for beauty, disorder and high emotion. The book opens with a snapshot of Malpensa Airport, then moves on to Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sardinia.
Mysteries of the Middle Ages, And the Beginning of the Modern World
Cahill deftly evokes the historic glories of the major medieval figures (and the places they frequented) in this illuminating overview of philosophy, art and literature.
Ratking
Venetian crime investigator Aurelio Zen goes after the kidnappers of a Perugian industrialist in this enjoyable thriller, winner of the Gold Dagger Award (and first book in the series).
The Italians
Italy correspondent for The Economist Hooper explores Italy -- its baffling contradictions, unique character and contemporary culture -- in this illuminating portrait.
Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves, An American Naturalist in Italy
The author, a poet and naturalist, heads along the Franciscan Way from Florence to Assisi. This most unusual travelogue combines natural history, spirituality and a lively appreciation of local food and food traditions. A print-on-demand paperback.
D.H. Lawrence and Italy
This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places, his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia.
Italian Days
Grizzuti Harrison writes with warmth and depth of her journey from Milan south to Calabria in this sprightly account of Italy and the Italians.
Eyewitness Guide Umbria
A marvelously illustrated, compact guide to the culture, history and attractions of Umbria, organized geographically and especially helpful for its innovative site plans, building diagrams and local maps.
The Art of the Renaissance
A classic, illustrated survey of the world of the Renaissance and its art. With chapters on Florence and its artists, the Netherlands, early illustrated books and many individual artists.
