Umbria Umbria, St Francis and the Dukes of Spoleto
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Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected] Umbria Umbria, St Francis and the Dukes of Spoleto https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/umbria/ Route Summary At a glance 8 nights (7 days walking) - the full route. We recommend extra nights in Spoleto, Labro, Casperia and Misciani, and a night in Rome. How much walking? Full days: 12-21 km per day, 4¾-6¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: 8-16 km per day, 2¾-5½ hrs (using lifts) Max. Grade: page 1/9 A remarkable extended walk down the spine of Italy from Spoleto, just south of Assisi, to the abbey of Farfa, at the southern tip of the Sabine Hills, designed for the experienced walker. It goes through the territory of the old Duchy of Spoleto, which was founded by the Lombards in the 6th century AD. Its destination, the abbey, was founded by Duke Faraold II of Spoleto in the 7th century. Much of the first few days uses the Via Francigena, so Saint Francis is never far away in the churches and shrines you pass. From the medieval town of Spoleto, with its cathedral, fortress, ancient streets and sophisticated streetlife, your walk leads you (after a short lift at the start) over the hills to the pretty Val Nerina at Ferentillo; onward past vine-clad pastures to the lake at Piediluco, the last remnant of a stretch of water that once filled the whole of the Rieti Plain. Stay at hilltop Labro in one of two beautifully restored village houses, before crossing the Plain to the Sabine Hills at Greccio, where Saint Francis is believed to have invented the Christmas Nativity scene, and whose cell you can visit. Cross the hills, through Cottanello, then on to Casperia (staying in a palazzetto), to Mauro and Ornella’s “real” Agriturismo (have their wines, olive oil, goats cheese and prosciutto for supper) and finally two nights in Mompeo, where our route advisor Stefano and his family will be ready to greet you. The last day to the abbey of Farfa completes your pilgrimage – and you may be lucky enough to get a hilltop glimpse of the dome of Saint Peter’s in Rome, forty miles away. You can also add a night or two in Rome at our favourite B&B. Route Highlights ● Medieval Spoleto and the aqueduct ● The lake of Piediluco and hilltop Labro ● The fortified villages of Sabina ● Wooded hills and high pastures ● The palazzetta in Casperia ● The Abbey of Farfa ● A Roman villa and one of the oldest olive trees in central Italy! We Recommend Extra nights in Spoleto (to have a good look at this lovely town), hilltop Labro (your host will have many ideas for activities, or you can just relax), Casperia (see below for cookery course), Misciani for a half day experience of goat's milk collection and cheese making, pasta making or foraging (enquire for prices), or to relax by Stefano and Elisabeth's pool in Mompeo; and of course nights in Rome. Grading Full days: 12-21 km per day, 4¾-6¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: 8-16 km per day, 2¾-5½ hrs (using lifts) page 2/9 Walking on old hill paths and tracks. Good waymarking. Highest point on route: 1065m. Medium-hard: Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 625m (350m-750m) per day. Medium: CUSs 457m (340m - 600m) using shortening options GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route. Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information. When to go The best months to walk: May, June, September, October Other possible months: April, July These tree-clad hills offer a certain amount of shade, except on the higher reaches, where exposure can be high. The elevation tempers the otherwise fierce heat of the summer too, so we can offer this unique route for most of the walking year except peak holiday period times in late July and in August. Please note: date ranges shown are for a 'normal' year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability. Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in Spoleto Arrive in Spoleto, settle in to your accommodation and explore the old town. Extra night recommended. Day 2 - Spoleto to Ferentillo After a short lift (to the top of the hill!), a leg-loosening first day along pretty paths and easy tracks across the hills to the pretty Val Nerina at Ferentillo, where you stay in a beautifully sited agriturismo with pool. (Medium: 5 hrs, 15 km, CUSs 350m) Day 3 - Ferentillo to Labro After a visit (we suggest) to the extraordinary Mummy Museum, a lovely and easy walk down the Val Nerina as far as Arrone (lunch?) before striding off into the vine-clad hills which precede the lake at Piediluco. Take it easy alongside the water before the fin-du-jour slog to the top, where you stay in the heart of the village in one of two beautiful conversions. (Medium hard 5 hrs, 20km, CUSs 700m, or medium 4 hrs, 15km, CUSs 450m if you summon a lift from Piediluco (supplement).) Day 4 - Labro to Greccio Down to the plain, and cross to the Sabine Hills to join Route Advisor Stefano's self-made-and-waymarked path through the woods to the Santuario di Greccio. Visit the church and St Francis's cell before a final push to your comfortable hotel in Greccio village proper. (Medium-hard: 4¾ hrs, 17km, CUSs 750m, or medium: 3¾ hrs, 13½ km, CUSs 550m with lift on final stretch from Santuario to Greccio) page 3/9 Day 5 - Greccio to Casperia A long-ish day with a sting at the start. Climb to the top of the Sabine Hills (views of the Apennines) to a remote shrine, then down through woods and bucolic pastures to the dramatic hilltop village of Cottanello. Stop here for a snack, and continue with a walk down one of the oldest roads from the town to its ancient bridge; then a pleasant country road walk through attractive woodland. Visit pretty Montasola and end at Casperia, the best of the hilltop towns, and a stylish Palazzetta. (Hard: 6½ hrs, 21km, CUSs 750m, or medium: 4 hrs, 11km, CUSs 600m with taxi at end) Option Your host Maureen suggests: “An extra day here could involve short local walks around the old mule paths, to the next village for lunch, or just along the valley below. We have cooking lessons for min 2 people - three hours hands on followed by Italian 4 course meal with wines. Day 6 - Casperia to Misciani Walk (or arrange for a taxi through your host) from Casperia to the fine fortified village of Roccantica, which is definitely worth an explore and a coffee stop, before you start walking - a gentle climb up the Valle de Galantina to a waterfall; then through high pastures down the valley leading to Mauro and Ornella's quiet agriturismo ( Medium: 4 ½ hrs walking, 11 km, CUSs 510m, plus start as above for purists) Option Spend an extra night in this beautiful place, and experience some real old Umbria - a half day experience of goat's milk collection and cheese making, pasta making or foraging (enquire for prices) - led by Mauro. Day 7 - Misciani to Mompeo This magical day takes you through the open woodland below Misciani to the almost-perfect village of Montenero, where time has stood still for a century or more, except for the Bar Neno, where you can stop for a bite to eat and drink. Afterwards, continue down the river valley along quiet tracks before climbing steeply up to the ridge top, from where you will spy the twin hilltop villages of Salisano and Mompeo, next to which lies your goal, route advisor Stefano and Elisabeth’s beautifully positioned organic farm. (Medium: 4½ hrs, 15km, CUSs 640m) Day 8 - Mompeo to Farfa A day of (potentially at least) two abbeys. Down to the gorge for a quick paddle before your final day’s walking. Your chance to see Castelnuovo di Farfa, its quirky olive museum and old streets, before a final descent to the Abbey of Farfa. Hardy walkers can bag the final hill of San Martino to see the ruins of Farfa’s would-be sister abbey on the top, and, who knows, a view of St Peter’s dome in the distance? Lift back to Mompeo for the night. ( Easy version 2¾ hrs, 8 km, CUSs 340m, medium version with final ascent/descent of San Martino 4¾ hrs, 12 Km, CUSs 550m) Option Many walkers have told us that a memorable afternoon can be spent, Stefano's time allowing, to visit his very own Roman Villa, which he is in the process of discovering as layers of earth are stripped away, with help from the University of Vermont (introduced to the project by one of our own walkers). Donations gratefully accepted for the continuation and expansion of this extraordinary project. page 4/9 Travel Information ARRIVING BY AIR The best airport is Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci) (including intercontinental flights), though Rome Ciampino and Ancona are also useful. (Perugia airport transfers are only feasible by taxi.) Land by: 15:00 for public transport connections to Spoleto or Casperia. Return flight earliest: No time limit if staying final night in Rome. If not, 11:00 for train connections from Mompeo or Casperia (see transfer information below).