COMPLESSO di VILLA PIANCIANI COMPLEX A.C.M.P.

INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS – AREA 2016

TOURISTIC TOURS Spoleto Spoleto is an artistic and cultural center, both because of its Roman and medieval history and architecture as well as its contemporary world-wide famous summer “Spoleto Festival” (Known as the Two Worlds Festival) ”. Built along one of the Roman primary roadways, the , Spoleto is easily reachable by train and car from or . The Roman theatre, the stunning Romanesque cathedral (the Duomo) and the dominating Papal fortress all entice the visitor to Spoleto. As in most of the Italian medieval hill towns, the fortress guards the town from the highest viewpoint. Beneath the fortress, the medieval aqueduct stretches dramatically over a narrow gorge and from it, the visitor experiences the lyrical beauty of . The Renaissance painter Fra Lippo Lippi left one of his masterpieces in the town’s cathedral, the Duomo. Its Romanesque façade, graced with mosaics, backdrops the events of the famous Festival of the Two Worlds, as do many of the other medieval and Roman edifices of Spoleto.

Todi , once voted the most liveable town in , is perched at the top of a hill overlooking the river. The town fans out from one of the most picturesque medieval square in central Italy. Originally the Roman forum, this circular square is surrounded by Todi most important civic and religious buildings, which eco past rivalries between civic and spiritual authority: they both try to outdo each other in splendor. In spring time Todi attracts visitors to its internationally acclaimed Antiques Fair. Enjoy a walk through the windy narrow backstreets where medieval history lives on. Todi underground - The Roman cistern in Piazza del Popolo, over 5 Km of underground passages and tunnels, more than 30 pre-Roman, Roman and medieval cisterns and 500 wells of varying ages form the rich underground heritage of the city. A flexible underground architectural system which completely covers the hillside, created over the centuries, knowledgably using the natural formation and characteristics of the land

Spello Famous in Italy for its precious and most delicious Olive Oil, is only 15 minutes away (by train and car) from . Embraced by its medieval walls, the town was founded during the Roman Empire, as the three, well- preserved, imposing Roman gates still witness. Walking through its narrow streets, you will be able to grasp patches of breathtaking views. At the top of the hill town these patches come together and the perfect scenery of the Umbrian Valley will appear to you: in the distances Assisi, Perugia, Montevallo and Bettina will be sitting at the top of their hills. You will not want to miss the Santa Maria Maggiore church: probably built over the of Juno and Vestal, the sanctuary will reveal to you one of the most beautiful (and famous) frescoed Chapels in Italy. The Cappella Bella, frescoed by Pinturicchio, is a masterpiece of the finest Renaissance art. Take you time to visit the little artisan’s shop and taste the genuine foods, wines and olive oil.

Orvieto Ingeniously built by the Etruscans at the top of a volcanic tuff rock plateau, boasts one of the most unique and dramatic settings in of all Italy. Bordering on the region of Latium it is just over an hour away from Perugia, and not far from the picturesque and peaceful lake Bolsena, as well as incredible Civita di Bagnoregio. This 'high and bizarre city', as one of the fourteenth century Italian poet described it, Orvieto is unique among the towns of central Italy, because of its unique position on the top of the vertical-faces of a volcanic cliff rock. Orvieto reached its maximum expansion during the Middle Age. The most important testament to its medieval growth and wealth is the Duomo, the town’s Gothic Cathedral. The gold mosaic façade, graced with an exquisite rose windows, rises above the city roof-tops and, and its lower level is embellished with intriguing bas-reliefs and sculptures. The interior houses the extraordinary Luca Signorelli frescoed chapel. The cathedral has a particular religious significance because it holds one of the most important relic in Italy. While visiting Orvieto, do not miss the 62 meter-deep Saint Patrick’s Well, the Etruscan archaeological sites and especially the Orvieto Underground tours which will give you a different view of the city through its underground tunnels and caves. A.C.M.P. - Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

Orvieto underground -Orvieto underground is a labyrinth of caves dug out over a period of 3000 years from the rock on which the city is built. You can visit the Etruscan “Velzna”, medieval and Renaissance Orvieto in an extraordinary journey through time. A guided tour of Orvieto underground is therefore the best way to become acquainted with this new, particularly cultural aspect of a city rich in history and outstanding artistical treasures. Not to be missed, a visit to St Patrick‟s Well designed by Antonio da Sangallo di Giovane.

Perugia Perugia is the "city of infinite views" as Henry James describes in his "Italian Hours". Set at the top of a hill by its Etruscan founders, breathtaking views and landscaped appear constantly at the visitor's eye, while walking through its narrow medieval streets. The city owns various master art pieces, which cannot be mist seeing: Pietro Vannucci's Collegio del Cambio , in which he has also depicted his most famous self portrait, but also the exquisite work of Pinturicchio, born in Perugia, and visible at the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria. This museum is the most important in Umbria, because it gives a complete insight on Medieval and Renaissance Umbrian art. The museum is hosted in an exquisite civil palace: built in the Middle Age, the Palazzo dei Priori, overlooks one of the most charming Italian squares. At the center of the square there is a three level fountain, entirely engraved on its sides. A nice walk down the hill will bring you to the San Pietro church and monastery. This unique architectural complex is completed by the botanic and medieval gardens. The city is also worth visiting for its chocolate. Various pastry and coffee shops all over the town make their own delicious chocolate: if you are there in the winter do not miss sipping a warm cup of hot chocolate; if in the summer, you will taste some of the best chocolate gelato in Italy.The city also has a great night atmosphere, thanks to student life and to its various music and art events. Perugia underground -Perugia below ground is accessible by means of mechanized paths through the structure of the Rocca Paolina, within the Rocca are the remains of the medieval quarter belonging to the Baglioni family. The fortress was built by Paolo III Farnese in 1540/43 based on a design by Antonio de Sangallo di Giovane. The powerful fortress was demolished in 1860 when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy. What remains today of this powerful structure is the medieval quarter with the old living areas, some streets, such as Via Bagliona, courtyards and squares, ovens, workshops and the 13th Century house of Gentile Baglioni with its intact tower, and the retreat of Ridolfo and Braccio Baglioni. 5 kilometres to the south-east is the Hypogeum of the Volumni, a monumental tomb of the Etruscan Perugian family of the same name. The tomb, discovered in 1840, is one of the most important monuments of Etruria and is part of a much bigger necropolis known as Palazzone, which extends around the Hypogeum with numerous tombs and rooms from the archaic age (3rd and 1st Century BC). The tomb is dated between the second half of the 2nd and the middle of the 1st Century BC.

Assisi Home of Saint Francis, Italian beloved patron saint, Assisi is a suggestive medieval gem embedded in Mount Subasio flank. Considered the crown jewel of Umbrian Medieval hill towns, the town is a Unesco World Heritage site because of its historical, artistic and religious significance. The 13th century, three-level gothic Saint Francis Basilica is a place of prayer and art. Built to house the saint body, the finest artists of the time were called to 10.000 square meters of wall, permitting us today to consider this church on of the Italian major art museums. Walking through the narrow coble stone streets, you will feel thrown back into time. The whole town, built in the local pink and white lime stone, is worth visiting: the Basilica of Saint Claire, the San Rufino Cathedral and the main square where you can admire the intact façade of the roman Minerva temple. Just outside of the town walls you can visit the little monastery and church of San Damiano, where the legend tell that an ancient wooden crucifix spoke to Saint Francis investing him with the spiritual mission to renew the Church. A couple of miles up the Subasio mountain, among the oaks and fir trees, the Hermitage will appear to your site, embedded in the forest. It is a place of spiritual and religious reflection, but also a very peaceful spot, beautiful and suggestive to visit all year around.

Montefalco Often referred to as "the balcony of Umbria", this small country-side hill town, offers delicious food and wine, charming architecture, precious art pieces and endless views of the Umbrian green valley. Embraced by its intact Medieval walls, is a quiet typical Umbrian town. Mostly built during the Middle Age and Renaissance, it conserves a precious part of the italian infinite artistic patrimony. What use to be the Saint Francis church, is today one of the region most important museums, where is possible to admire the precious frescoed-cycle by the Florentine master and many more art and artifacts. The heart of the town, where all the windy flower-decorated streets end, is Piazza della Repubblica, a unique circular square on which the Town Hall palace overlooks.

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

The views are breathtaking, the atmosphere is very relaxed. The town social and economic life revolves around the Sagrantino red wine, produced with the ancient grapes of sagrantino, typical of the Montefalco hilly country side.

Bevagna The attractive little town of lays unusually flat in the River Valley, surrounded by medieval walls. Situated at the center of the Italian green heart, it is a few miles away from Montefalco, and Spello. Its special position, flat in the valley but just below the Martani hills, makes it pleasant to walk and visit. Various archaeological sites testify its Roman origin: the amazing mosaics of the thermal baths, the remains of the town theatre and two Roman temples. The amphitheatre is visible in its curving lines, on which tiny Medieval homes were built. The town's main square, Piazza Silvestri, is dominated by the two imposing S. Michele and S. Silvestro Romanesque churches and –as an exhibition of Bevagna civil power - by the Palazzo dei Consoli. Inside this 13th Century palace, a tiny, delicately decorated theatre built in the 1800s, today finds its unusual lodging. The town also hosts one of the Umbrian most important historical festivals, the Mercato delle Gaite.

Gubbio This suggestive gothic town is also worth visiting both for its setting and for its imposing medieval architecture. The town is one of Umbrian most famous gothic jewels, and the visitor will see why as soon as he will reach its feet. It is only reachable by car or bus, with a one hour ride through the most stunning landscapes in Italy. The grandiose Palazzo dei Consoli dominates the town-scenery. It was built on what is supposed to be the largest “hanging” square of the world: in the 14th century the civil authorities commanded that a large square was to be built in the exact center of the town. They were forced to modify the ground and sit the main square on large vaults. The Saint Ubaldo cathedral is the most important town sacred place, not only because it hosts the patron saint body, exposed in a crystal urn over the altar, but also because it is where the 3 ceri are kept during the year. These 4 meter tall and 280 kilogram wooden prisms, similarly shaped to an hour-glass, are run from Palazzo dei Consoli up through the narrow streets by the strongest men of the town every 15th of May, during the Corsa dei Ceri. At the bottom of the town the Roman Theatre reminds the visitor how antique the town is. has a special atmosphere, due to its isolation and silence, to its amazing setting in the green mountains of the Apennines range and to its perfect conservation, which literally throws you back into the Medieval Age.

UNUSUAL TOURS IN UMBRIA

The Fossilised Forest of Dunarobba Southern Umbria, Avigliano Umbro. The Fossilised Forest of Dunarobba in the district of Avigliano Umbro stems from a natural phenomenon that allows us to admire, after millions of years, this open museum of fossilised tree trunks, exceptionally conserved in their original position. We are speaking about colossal plants, very similar to the modern sequoia, buried in clay and broken off at 5-10 metres high, capable of reaching a diameter of more than 1.5 metres.

Clitunno Springs From Spoleto continue on the SS3, coming off at Campello. A veritable natural jewel of Umbria, A veritable natural jewel of Umbria, the Fountains of for the impression that they evoke, are the ideal place to comprehend the crossover between religion and the environment. Here springs of intense colour and luxurious vegetation create an environment of incomparable beauty. Dedicated to the God Clitunno, personification of the river where he spoke to his followers, already famous in the roman period and celebrated by Properzia, Plinio and Virgilio in their writings, this water has inspired in more recent times poets such as Byron and Giosuè Carducci, painters such as Corot and even today disgorges from cracks in the rock and gathers in a delightful pond.

The Oasis of Alviano www.oasidialviano.it. From Todi follow the SP448 towards Orvieto, come off at Baschi and follow the SP205 towards Alviano. The Oasis of Alviano was created in 1978 on an area of 800 hectares and included in the Parco Fluviale del Tevere (the Tiber Fluvial Park). From 1990 the WWF has managed a wildlife reserve, in a context rich from the point of view of vegetation both riverside and marshland. Inside the oasis you can bird watch from positions on the towers, platforms with well equipped huts. There is even an open classroom right in the middle of the swamp. The zone is humid and ideal for the passage and nesting of rare migratory and permanent birds, you can admire Kingfisher, heron, cormorants, seagulls, hawks and other birds.

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

The Marmore Waterfalls From Todi follow the SS3 bis towards -Rome, coming off at Terni, The Marmore Waterfalls are among the most remarkable and fascinating natural spectacles. It is a formidable work of Roman engineering made by the Roman Consul Manio Curio Dentato, who designed the drainage of the Velino swampland and had a canal excavated, called Cavo Curiano, at the point where today you find the main waterfall, channelling the still waters of the river. The Marmore Waterfalls are so called because of the incrustation of calcium crystals that give an appearance similar to marble (marmo). The waterfalls develop in three spectacular drops for a total of 165 metres (the highest in Europe), two equipped observations points allow visitors and tourists to observe the atmospheric and fascinating spectacle offered by the force of the water. A few kilometres from the Marmore Waterfalls, Lake Piediluco, set between green mountains is a tourist attraction not to be missed for its beauty. It is the second biggest lake in Umbria.

MUSEUMS N.B. Some museums and galleries are closed on Mondays and some are also closed every afternoon. In order to avoid disappointment, we suggest to call or verify on museum website. Please make sure your legs and shoulders are covered when visiting churches and monasteries otherwise you may be refused entry.

PERUGIA NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGIC MUSEUM -Piazza G. Bruno tel 075 572 7141. It houses a splendid and very rich Etruscan collection. NATIONAL GALLERY OF UMBRIA -Corso Vannucci tel 075 5720316 one of the most important exhibition of the Gothic painting, with masterpieces by Duccio di Boninsegna, Beato Angelico, Piero della Francesca. SALA DEI NOTARI -Piazza IV Novembre. Palazzo dei Notari. COLLEGIO DEL CAMBIO -Corso Vannucci 25 tel 075 5728599 INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.perugiacittamuseo.it/it/museo-archeologico-nazionale-dell-umbria.html

SPOLETO ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SPOLETO - Via S.Agata, 18/A, Spoleto, Opened in 1985, the museum documents mainly the Roman period in the town of Spoleto and the surrounding area. There are numerous busts and inscriptions, including the famous “lex spoletina,” a stone inscribed in archaic that establishes punishments for the profanation the woods dedicated to Jupiter . INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.archeopg.arti.beniculturali.it/?page_id=151

DERUTA -CAPITAL OF CERAMICS PINACOTECA CIVICA E MUSEO DELLA CERAMICA - Piazza dei Consoli. tel 075 971 11 43 This beautiful little Mediaeval town, sits on a hill overlooking the river Tiber, 15 kms. south of Perugia. The 14th century town hall houses the Ceramics Museum. Here you can find local antique majolicas as well as priceless paintings from the 14th century. Modern ceramics, based on ancient designs, abound here in the many shops, whilst the prices rise according to the amount of work involved in each piece. It is possible also to see the ceramics actually being made -for example,“ Placens” in the centre (Via Biordo Michelotti 25). In the new town close to the superstrada you will find all the large ceramic factories. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.sistemamuseo.it/home.php?id=2&idDettaglio=12

TORGIANO WINE MUSEUM (MUVIT) - rises on a ridge above the confluence of the rivers Tiber and and is an ancient town, fortified in the Middle Ages. The museum, located in the 18th century Palazzo Graziani Baglioni, was founded by Giorgio and Maria Grazia Lungarotti to support the local wine-producing economy and was opened to the public in 1974. A tour of the museum traces the Middle Eastern origins of viticulture with a depiction of the Mediterranean land and sea routes that spread the making and drinking of wine throughout the ancient world and on to the importance of wine to Umbria through the ages. Next door to the museum is the Bottega where you can have a tasting of the wines produced locally and of course, you can buy as many bottles as you wish. http://www.lungarotti.it/fondazione/muvit/

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

ASSISI PINACOTECA – Via san Francesco 12. Located in the XVII century palace Vallemani displays frescoes and paintings from the XVXVII century. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.sistemamuseo.it/ita/2/musei/154/assisi-umbria-pinacoteca-comunale-palazzo-vallemani/ FORO ROMANO. Via Portica 2 -Tel 075 813053 Roman ruins preserved along a path under the Main Square. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.assisionline.it/museo_civico_assisi.html ROCCA MAGGIORE 075 815292 Ancient Mediaeval Castle of the XII century. – INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.sistemamuseo.it/ita/2/musei/156/assisi-umbria-rocca-maggiore/

FOOD &WINE Umbria’s wines have finally made it on the “world wine map.” An extraordinary red wine, Sagrantino di Montefalco, got the wine community to pay attention to Umbria and its wines. Umbria makes other wonderful wines: , Trebbiano Spoletino, Grechetto, Orvieto Classico, and more, are just some of the wonderful variety offered by the region grape blends.

Several canteens opened to the tourists offering the opportunity to make the experience of nice wine tastings directly by the producer. Here below there is our short selection of names and links of modern, classic, large and small high quality canteens in the surroundings available for wine tastings: - Antonelli - http://www.antonellisanmarco.it/ - Scacciadiavoli - http://www.cantinascacciadiavoli.it/ - Il Carapace - http://www.tenutacastelbuono.it/it/tenute_umbria_carapace.php - Miliziade Antano - http://www.fattoriacolleallodole.it/ - Arnaldo Caprai - http://www.arnaldocaprai.it/

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.winemag.com/2012/09/11/discovering-umbria/ http://www.movimentoturismovino.it/risultati.php?reg=UMB&language_request=en_US http://www.stradadelsagrantino.it/index.php?l=en

CULTURAL EVENTS AND SHOWS Umbria has a full calendar of artistic and folkloristic events throughout the year: art festivals, concerts, opera season, period pageants, local food festivals, wine festivals. With a monthly rich calendar of events and cultural activities Umbria celebrates its history and culture attracting visitors from all over the world (Umbria Jazz, Festival dei due mondi, Infiorata di Spello,and much more). In addition to the major events, there are some smaller ones that constantly recur as part of daily life in the historic center of the towns: concerts or conferences, the antique Market that takes place along the streets of Spoleto every second Sunday of each month (Mercato delle Briciole) or the km0 agricultural markets were few farmers sell their traditional products.

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: (please copy an paste if the link does not work properly) https://www.angloinfo.com/umbria/how-to/page/umbria-lifestyle-entertainment-festivals-events http://www.umbriantravel.com/?page_id=61 http://www.tipicamenteumbria.it/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=110&lang=en http://zangarelli.jimdo.com/culture-events/ http://www.festivaldispoleto.com/

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

NATURAL EXCURSIONS Villa Pianciani is located in an exceptional naturalistic site allowing for very interesting excursions. Throughout the seasons, it is possible to choose different routes along the Spina and the parallel Valnerina valleys and discover uncontaminated landscapes. There is a chance to frequently encounter squirrels, hares, wild boars, porcupines, birds of prey, and more rarely wolves, wild cats, badgers and deer. National and Regional Parks: Parco dei Monti Sibillini . Monte Vettore 2800 m. Parco di Colfiorito Parco del Nera e Cascate delle Marmore Parco del Lago Trasimeno Parco del Monte Subasio Parco del Monte Cucco

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.parks.it/regione.umbria/index.php www.marmorefalls.it www.sibillini.it

WATER SPORTS AT TRASIMENO LAKE is located in Central Italy and surrounded by the great art cities this area between and Rome is so famous for, places like , , Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto and Gubbio, all cities enormously rich in history and culture. Eight towns surround the Lake itself, some on panoramic hilltops – like Città della Pieve, , and – and others right on the shore - , , and . On the Lake Trasimeno there are several sailing schools for adults and children;excursions with a skipper, wakeboard classes and equipment rental are also available.

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.lagotrasimeno.co.uk/pg.tipologia.struttura.php?id=17&cat=2&lang=en USEFUL ADDRESSES: Club Velico Castiglionese - Via Brigata Garibaldi, 3/a 06061 - Castiglione Del Lago (PG) Tel. e Fax 075/953035 Club Velico Trasimeno - 06065 - Passignano Sul Trasimeno (PG) - Località Darsena Tei. 075/8296021 Fax 075/829609 Circolo velico sezione vela C.L.T. - Via Noceta, 6 - Piediluco (TR) Tel. 0744/368266 Sci Club Trasimeno - Via Roma, 34 - 06060 Sanfatucchio - Castiglione del Lago (PG) 075/9652836 - Fax 075/9652754

PARAGLIDING AND HANG GLINDING Umbria, it is a fantastic place to practice paragliding and hang gliding; from several years, a group of riders with proven flight experience, shares his passion, allowing everyone a unique experience in unique placeS with spectacular flights over the skies of Assisi and Spello.

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.montesubasio.it/en/paragliding-in-two-subasio-umbria/ http://www.volareinparapendio.it/index.php/umbria

RAFTING AND CANYONING In Umbria, beneath the Marmore falls, there is an ideal place for rafting: the fabulous descent of rapids on a rubber dinghy. Here, the Nera river bubbles over the rocks for over three kilometers, forming fourth degree rapids (on a scale from 1 to 6), surrounded by lush vegetation, in a beautiful tropical-like setting. For adventure lovers it is also possible iit also possible to cross truly spectacular gorge and gullies cut into the rock in the course of thousands of years of erosion by Canyoning. Accompanied by the Alpine Guides licensed by the “le Marmore” Center, they will let themselves down with ropes, sliding on the toboggans and diving into the pools. Children and people who do not know how to swim are available other activities as Easy Rafting – Hydrospeed – Tubing. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.raftingmarmore.com/english/

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it Complesso di VILLA PIANCIANI www.villapianciani.it VILLA PIANCIANI Complex

HORSE RIDING Numerous stables and farm holiday businesses arrange horseback riding excursions on various riding routes, for all levels of experience through the breathtaking Umbria countryside and all aound the Trasimeno Lake. The activity it is usually led throughout the whole year. To check for opening period, tour and rates have a look on the direct websites. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.bellaumbria.net/en/horse-riding/ http://www.umbriantravel.com/?page_id=788#Horseback http://www.lasomma.com/ http://www.larosacanina.com/

BIKING TOURS SPOLETO- CICLYING TOUR The route of the former railway that connected Spoleto to Norcia is now a path of about 45 km in the open, walking, cycling or horse riding. Inaugurated in 1926 and abandoned in 1968, the railway line that came from Spoleto to Norcia was a small example of mountain railway for the brilliant solutions adopted to cope with the difficulty of the track. For its characteristics plano-altimetric the railway Spoleto-Norcia can be called a mountain railway and is a little gem of railway engineering. Along its 51 km were in fact carved out of a large number of galleries, designed sections helical path, high viaducts constructed and installed iron bridges to allow the convoy once they leave Spoleto, to climb up to the pass gallery Caprareccia (Long 1936 meters), descend into the valley of the Nera and then continue, now in plan, up to the station from Norcia through the valley of the Horn River and the Deaf. INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.bellaumbria.net/en/nature-and-environment/the-route-of-the-former-railway-spoleto-norcia/

SPOLETO ASSISI CICLYING TOUR The first stage of the cycle path between Assisi and Spoleto starts at one of the most strikingly beautiful places in Umbria: the square beside the Basilica Inferiore, the lower church of the magnificent Basilica of Saint Francis. This stage goes mainly downhill or along the flat from Assisi to Bevagna, so it is very easy, apart from the kilometre leading up to the centre of Assisi, and particularly suitable even for beginners. There is no cycle path on this stage, but the route is along secondary and country roads, so there is very little traffic. The surface is sealed nearly all the way, except for 3 kilometres of dirt road between and Cantalupo. The second stage starts from the centre of Bevagna and, by contrast with the first stage, it is almost entirely along the enjoyable cycle path that runs along the banks of the Teverone and Maroggia rivers. The route is along the flat across the Umbrian valley and has some beautiful views of places such as Montefalco, Trevi, Pissignano, and , some of which can be easily reached by deviating for a few kilometres. The stage is 26,6 kilometres long and has no climbs, so it represents a good opportunity for learners and families to start cycling.

INFORMATION ON WEBSITE: http://www.bikeinumbria.it/in_bicicletta_nel_cuore_verde_d_italia/eng/routes/assisi_spoleto/assisi_spoleto.htm

A.C.M.P. Monumental Complex of VILLA PIANCIANI fraz.Terraja 44 Spoleto, Umbria, Italia, EU Tel - fax 0039-0743 261373 [email protected] www.villapianciani.it