Arrival in Roma Fiumicino Airport and independent transfer to Spoleto . Transfers are not included but we can make the arrangements for you. Check-in to Hotel San Luca for four nights. This charming, family-run hotel is set in the grounds of a former convent with original features such as the 18th-century fireplace in the lobby. Spoleto’s historic center and its cathedral are just up the hill by escalator, a 10-minute walk away. In the evening, meet your tour guests at a Welcome Dinner at a restaurant serving Umbrian specialties. Overnight in Spoleto – Hotel San Luca.

We start the tour with a city tour of Spoleto. Overlooked by the imposing Rocca Albornoziana , the city is still protected by walls that encircle its medieval buildings. We will see the Duomo , the Roman Theatre, and the Bridge of Towers. A system of escalators will take us from the bottom of town (near your hotel) to the top with intermediate stops near the major points of interest. For fans of the long-running Italian mystery series, Don Matteo, we will see the Basilica di Sant’Eufemia (Don Matteo’s church). 

In the morning, we will travel about an hour and a half drive to the East towards Tuscany to Orvieto. Orvieto is one of the most enchanting cities in Umbria, famous for its gold-mosaic fronted Duomo , a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, and St. Patrick’s Well , a renaissance engineering work 54 metres deep, excavated to supply the city with water in the event of a siege. We will explore the Etruscan origins of the city in the caves of the Pozzo della Cava , (Underground Orvieto) under the streets and houses of the oldest part of the medieval quarter. After lunch we depart for Civita di Bagnoregio , designated one of the most beautiful villages in Italy also known as ‘the dying city,' because of its location on a tuffa (soft volcanic stone) hill that is constantly eroding. Founded by the Etruscans over 2,500 years ago, today access to the village is only through a narrow pedestrian bridge with a stunning panoramic view. Entering the town through Santa Maria Gate, we will stroll through an intricate labyrinth of medieval alleys, small squares and ancient stone buildings. Overnight in Spoleto – Hotel San Luca

The town of Norcia is famed throughout Italy for its skilled butchers. We will visit the town and then enjoy lunch based on the rich local tradition of salumi (cured meats) called “ norcinerie. ” In the afternoon, we visit a farm making cheese to learn about Umbrian dairy products like ricotta and pecorino (sheep’s milk cheese), followed by a tasting. The farm also cultivates and sells the prized small local lentils firm enough to keep their shape when cooked. Overnight in Spoleto – Hotel San Luca

After check-out, we travel to Perugia with stops along the way. We start our day with a visit to an oil mill where we’ll learn about the production methods of extra virgin olive oil followed by a guided tasting. Next stop is a winery in the production area of DOCG Montefalco Sagrantino . The combination of thick-skinned Sagrantino grape and long aging in oak produces a dense, full-bodied wine, high in tannins, which mellows as it ages. The visit will be followed by a tasting of wines paired with a light lunch. After lunch, we head to Bevagna , an enchanting medieval borgo (an old hamlet) where a nice walk will lead us to the cashmere shops that are part of the long tradition of textile craftsmanship in Umbria. Arrive in Perugia , check-in to your hotel for five nights followed by dinner on your own. Overnight in Perugia—Hotel Sangallo Palace.

Perugia was built as a fortified medieval village on the side of a hill over the Tiber River Valley. Like Spoleto, Perugia has an efficient escalator system that will lead you from your hotel to the very heart of the historic centro, through the remains of the Rocca Paolina , a fortress built by Pope Paul III. For our city tour, we will walk along the Corso Pietro Vannucci , named after the famous Renaissance painter, known familiarly as “Perugino.” We will see the Piazza IV Novembre with the Fontana Maggiore surrounded by the Palazzo dei Priori and the Duomo. In the afternoon, we will visit the Perugina Chocolate Museum. Next, we will have a class with a Perugina Maître Chocolatier (chocolate master) including hand-tempering if we choose. We may also be able to visit the soon-to-be-opened Chocolate City in the former indoor market area in central Perugia. Overnight in Perugia—Hotel Sangallo Palace.

In the morning, we’ll travel to the charming town of Montone where Chef Giancarlo Polito (“ Il Capitano ”) will teach us to prepare some of his specialties followed by lunch. After lunch, we visit the Burri Museum in Città di Castello , a former tobacco drying plant featuring the work of Alberto Burri, one of the most prominent abstract painters of the twentieth century. After returning to Perugia, free time to explore the town and perhaps find a charming trattoria to enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight in Perugia—Hotel Sangallo Palace.

Morning excursion to Acqualagna in the neighboring Marche region for a visit to the annual White Truffle Festival . This event takes place over three weekends between October and November and promotes the prized tartufo bianco with its intoxicatingly potent aroma and flavor. It features a central market with local products like cheese, wine, and hazelnuts, along with vendors and chef demonstrations. While you can’t bring home fresh white truffles, products like truffle pasta, truffle-infused chocolates, and truffle pesto make fantastic souvenirs. 

In the morning, enjoy a guided tour of Assisi , one of the most sacred sites in Italy. You will admire the stunning frescoes that the great painter Giotto made in the upper church of St. Francis’ Basilica between approximately 1296 and 1304 and depicting the life of the saint in 28 scenes. After lunch on your own, we depart for Deruta, famous for its hand-painted ceramics , with time to visit the many workshops and buy them if you wish. Farewell dinner in Perugia. Overnight in Perugia—Hotel Sangallo Palace.

Independent departures for home or for an extended stay (we can help.) Private transfers to Fiumicino Airport in Rome can be arranged upon request.