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Italy South Tuscany and Umbria 2016
The Green Heart of Italy
Beratung & Buchung
Armin Kofler
Italy
Inclusive services
7 nights incl. breakfast
6 multi-course dinners
1 wine tasting
1 olive oil tastingl
All entry fees as mentioned in the tour description
All visitors and tourist taxes
All interim transfers as mentioned in the tour description
Additional city tours in Florence, Perugia, Assisi, and Orvieto
Rotalis guide during the whole tour
Rotalis service bus during the whole tour
Rotalis luggage service
Rotalis touring bike (excluded electric bikes)
Tagesablauf
Arrival: Saturday
The tour starts and finishes in Florence. The most convenient airport is Florence. Shuttle busses operate
regularly between the airport and the main railroad station "Santa Maria Novella" (transfer not included in
the tour price). Our first hotel is located at about 500 m from the station and within only a short walking
distance from many places of interest. In Florence, you will either lodge at the Hotel Mercure Centro (date
1), the Hotel Adriatico (dates 2,3,4,12 ) or Hotel Albani (dates 5-11). About 5 p.m. we meet at the hotel
lobby. A local tour guide will show you the most interesting sights. Sightseeing tour and accommodation
from Saturday to Sunday (including breakfast) are already included in the package price.
1st Day Sunday: Florence - Piazzano (32 miles)
After breakfast we are leaving Florence by train and are enjoying the beautiful sight of the hilly landscape.
We take over our bikes and ride straight into the fertile Chiana Valley of which beauty already Goethe raved
about. On comfortable side streets our tour passes on direction south. One of the oldest and for sure the
most beautiful settlements is Cortona, which we reach after a short trip by bus. This place, enchanting with
an incomparable panoramic view over the Chiana Valley and it?½s numerous churches and palaces.
Cortona will surely stay in your memories. After having lunch we go downwards and in the late afternoon
we reach the historic Villa Piazzano, a with loving dedication restored residence with a beautiful garden.
2nd Day Monday: Piazzano - Perugia (21 miles)
Just like Hannibal with his Punic army, we approach Lake Trasimeno. Soon we roll across the battlefield
where he vanquished the Romans in 217 b.c. Our 16 mile ride along the shore of the largest lake of the
Apennine peninsula reveals beautiful views of it’s islands and the hill towns above it. The olive oil from this
region is reputed to be Italy’s best. Our hotel, the Brufani Palace in the center of Perugia, keeps up best
Italian tradition. It is the starting point for an afternoon exploration of this architecturally impressive town
with its cathedral, the Fontana Maggiore and the Etruscan arch.
3rd Day Tuesday: Perugia – Montefalco (21 miles)
In the morning, we take the bus or train from Perugia to Assisi. Hardly any other town in Umbria has
preserved its medieval character as well as Assisi. The highlight of our city tour with a local guide is the
Church of St. Francis decorated with the wonderful frescoes by Giotto. In the afternoon, our cycling tour
starts with a panoramic route through the olive groves on the flanks of Mount Subiaso. Then our bikes roll
along the flower-decorated alleyways of charming Spello before we reach Bevagna which has one of the
most beautiful village squares in central Italy. Situated a little below Montefalco, the secluded estate of Villa
Zuccari will accommodate us for two nights. The stately country house of the Zuccari familiy has its origins
in the 16th century.
4th Day Wednesday: Montefalco (10 miles)
In the morning, we visit Montefalco. This majestic hilltown offers some of the most beautiful panoramic
views of central Umbria, inviting the beholder to enjoy the quiet serenity of the area. The church of St.
Francis today houses a little museum with colourful mural paintings by Benozzo Gozzolis, a disciple of Fra
Angelico. We stroll around the narrow streets before a pleasant descent takes us down the hill on our bikes.
In the afternoon, we will taste some of the exquisite red wines of the area in one of the numerous vineries,
not far from our hotel, where you can enjoy the amenities of this charming place. Dinner and second night
in the Villa Zuccari.
5th Day Thursday: Montefalco – Todi (21 miles)
After one hour of cycling on flat terrain, our route slowly rises while we approach Spoleto. We leave our
bikes and take an escalator to the historic center. A promenade leads us through the tangle of narrow
streets and places to the Ponte delle Torri. High above the ground of the valley, this colossal construction is
supported by the walls of a Roman aqueduct. After lunch, a taxi takes us up on a hill where a scenic
highlight and our bikes await us. Our further route leads us on paths across meadows and olive groves into
a wild mountain landscape. A 4 ½ mile evenly descent takes us to Aquasparta in the Naia River valley. For
the last few miles to Todi we take a bus. We are welcomed at the classy Hotel Relais Todini, just outside
the town (on date 4 the Hotel Fonte Cesia).
6th Day Friday: Todi – Orvieto (25 miles)
After having breakfast we will be carried by bus to Todi, in order to get to know the city together. Like in a
stage set, the gothic palaces centre around the Piazza del Popolo. Afterwards we saddle our bikes and
drive 18 miles ride along the Corbara Lake. Six miles before reaching Orvieto, the town will already be in
view, perched on volcanic limestone cliffs. We are welcomed at the traditional Hotel Maitani, located only a
few steps from the cathedral. You will have time to stroll around the old town with its busy streets before we
enjoy our farewell dinner together in an excellent restaurant in the center.
7th Day Samstag: Orvieto – Florence
In the morning a local tour guide leads us through different stages of Orvieto’s history: The world famous
cathedral, one of the most convincing examples of Italian gothic with its impressive façade and the
breathtaking frescoes by Signorelli in the interior, the medieval city center with its narrow streets, and the
very impressive underground Orvieto. After the sightseeing tour we drive back to Florence. Please note that
flights from Florence airport cannot be reached before 3.30 p.m.
Dates and prices
06.05.17 / ab 1.690 €
16.09.17 / ab 1.690 €
13.05.17 / ab 1.690 €
23.09.17 / ab 1.690 €
20.05.17 / ab 1.690 €
30.09.17 / ab 1.690 €
27.05.17 / ab 1.690 €
07.10.17 / ab 1.690 €