Compare Best of Italy by Intrepid Travel vs Choose Your Pace: Walking the Hill Towns of Umbria by Road Scholar

Day 1 Rome

Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Crowded with ancient ruins and religious monuments, Rome still pulses to the beat of modern life and is packed with designer shops, restaurants, cafes and exciting nightlife. If you arrive early, there are plenty of things to keep you busy. Maybe save the unmissable sights for later and today do as the Romans do – sip an espresso at one of the tiny streetside cafes and sample the many flavours of gelato that colour the city. For those captivated by the 'Eternal City', throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to Rome. Keep in mind that there will be an important welcome meeting, usually at around 6pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers.

Day 2 Rome / Florence

Enjoy some free time in Rome or, if you wish, your group leader will be available for an orientation walk, taking in some of the best-known sights of Rome like the Spanish steps, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. No visit would be complete without a trip to Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica. Entry to the Basilica is free and there's a small charge to climb the dome for a breath-taking panorama over parts of the city. If there's time, visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon you'll travel by train from Rome to Florence – Italy's outdoor museum (approximately 2 hours). Florence, the cultural heart of Tuscany, bursts with religious treasures and Renaissance masterpieces. It's been said that during the second millennium, a third of Europe's most important artists lived in Florence. The minds and talents of the Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello and Michelangelo all flourished here. After checking in to your hotel, join your tour leader for an orientation walk of Florence, then the rest of your evening is free to explore the city of the Renaissance. Food is also a major part of the city's identity, so why explore some of the Tuscan delicacies on offer with your travel pals.

Day 3 Florence

Today is a free day for you to explore all that Florence has to offer. It's impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so take your time to work out a plan. The principal sights are easily discovered on foot – the Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Arno riverside, the many statues and monuments of the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, 13th-century, the Baptistry and the Belltower, and the Santa Croce Church. Otherwise, take a visit to the Uffizi – one of the world's oldest art galleries and a work of art in itself. If you’re wanting to see Michelangelo's iconic statue of David, head to the Galleria dell'Accademia. In the evening, perhaps climb the steep stairs uphill to Piazzale Michelangelo a renowned sunset view across the rooftops of Florence. Afterwards, join the locals in taking a passeggiata – a leisurely socialising stroll – perhaps between Piazza Beccaria and Piazza della Repubblica. That is, if you aren’t enjoying a Tuscan meal instead.

Day 4 Florence / Lucca

No doubt there'll be more to see in Florence this morning, then this afternoon, take a train to Lucca (approximately 2 hours). Lucca is one of Tuscany's real hidden gems, with centuries-old buildings, beautiful churches, charming piazzas and narrow streets within its ancient city ramparts. You’ll be captivated by this charming and medieval town. You’ll be staying in the city centre which allows easy access to all the sights, restaurants and bars – all an easy stroll from the hotel's front door. Make sure you join the traditional evening pastime of many locals and take a stroll along the top of the famous city walls that surround the perimeter of the old city.

Day 5 Pisa / Lucca

Set off on a cycling tour following the scenic Serchio River through the Tuscan countryside (4 kilometres round the walls that are now a tree-lined avenue, and 14 kilometres by the river, approximately 3-4 hours). Your base in Lucca provides you with the perfect opportunity for a later outing to the nearby city of Pisa (approximately 30 minutes by local train). Here there'll be ample time for you to visit the world-famous Leaning Tower, as well as the nearby Duomo in Piazza dei Miracoli and the Pisa Baptistry. The Leaning Tower was built in the 12th century, but its foundation was on shifting sand and clay, meaning that it now leans at an angle of four degrees, after restoration and stabilising work. Continue to wander the streets past high-end boutiques and speciality book and antiques stores, perhaps stopping to enjoy an aperitif. Afterwards, head back to Lucca. An ideal way to end the day is to head to a local bar for a refreshing Prosecco and a delicious focaccia with finocchiona salami and pecorino cheese, best enjoyed in the shadow of the Palazzo Pretorio.

Day 6 La Spezia

Travel by train to La Spezia (approximately 3 hours) – the gateway to the gorgeous Italian Riviera. A medieval port town whose name is derived from its historic importance in the spice trade, La Spezia is your base for exploring the nearby stunning stretch of coast known as the Cinque Terre. The name comes from the five tiny villages – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, whose position, wedged into a series of coves between cliffs makes it one of the highlights in the whole of Italy. After lunch, explore the city or perhaps head out by ferry or bus to the pretty seaside town of Portovenere, known for its colourful houses straddling the waterfront. Return to La Spezia and walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione to the gardens along the harbour. Otherwise, opt to take another ferry to Lerici – another small village across the Bay of Poets dominated by its castle – for a waterside dinner.

Day 7 Cinque Terre / La Spezia

This morning, venture out to visit the enchanted Cinque Terre. The footpaths that run between the villages were once the only way to travel in the region, and take you through olive groves, vineyards and on to idyllic, breath-taking vistas. If you're feeling energetic, walking parts of the path (up to 12 kilometres, approximately 5 hours) will give you the best taste of the villages and countryside, though will require a good level of fitness. Some sections of path can be difficult, as there are challenging uphill stretches, narrow paths, steep cliffs and foot bridges. It's also possible to take the train between any of the villages or back to your base in La Spezia whenever you want. Stop off for lunch at one of the towns and relax in the vibrant atmosphere.

Day 8 Portofino Peninsula / Asti

Travel by train to Santa Margherita on the Peninsula of Portofino (approximately 1 hour). Store your luggage and set off on an energetic 5-7 kilometre walk, finishing in Portofino. Start by wandering down to the Santa Margherita waterfront, past small fishing boats in the marina, enjoying the views back to town. Continue along the road, passing beach clubs, private villas and hotels that command the skyline, where the hills of the Italian Riviera meet the Bay of Tigullio. Spot locals sunbaking in the coves, then cross through some undulating forested terrain. Descend down to the picturesque port of Portofino – the place where the rich and famous come to play. Continue up to the viewpoints surrounding the town, join the glamorous for coffee and people-watching along the harbour, or perhaps stop at a focacceria to try this typical Ligurian bread. Afterwards, enjoy the fabulous coastal scenery with a boat ride back to Santa Margherita (weather permitting). Continue by train to Asti (approximately 2.5 hours) in the Piedmont region, where mouth-watering culinary delights await. Be sure to try a dish flavoured with truffle and indulge in a tipple of Italian wine.

Day 9 Asti

This morning, take a private vehicle to the green hills of the nearby rural village of Castagnole Monferrato, where you’ll visit the home of a local winemaking family to sample their vintages. The Ruche grape variety is unique to this region of Italy – it's grown in just seven small villages in the province of Asti and produces a ruby-red, intense and aromatic wine. You may even like the option to enjoy a home-cooked lunch in the village, before returning to Asti. The town of Asti, located in the Piedmont region, was one of the most important towns in medieval times, sitting on trade routes between Turin, Milan, and Genoa. Today, it’s best known as the home of some of the finest and most sought after wines in Europe – excellent reds and the sparkling white ‘spumante’. It's also the best place to find ‘tartufo’, or truffles – a distinctive regional delicacy. You may be lucky enough to be here on a market day, when the Piazza del Palio hosts the region’s largest open-air market.

Day 10 Milan / Lake Como

Travel by train to Milan (approximately 3 hours) – Italy's second largest city and the capital of Lombardy – for a few hours to explore. In this most fashionable of cities, this is the place for stylish shopping and cafes! Explore the city's historic centre, visit the Gothic Duomo and walk between its rooftop sculptures, admiring the views and the stunning Gothic terrace. You may like to visit Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece – The Last Supper – if there's time, so be sure to book tickets well in advance. Alternatively, head to the park of Castello Sforzesco; the perfect destination on a hot day. Later in the afternoon, continue by train and bus to Lake Como (approximately 2 hours) – an area of stunning beauty full of unique and evocative landscapes. Your hotel tonight is on the shore of Lake Como where you'll be able to experience its true serenity.

Day 11 Lake Como

This morning, explore the pretty village of Bellagio. Here you can enjoy a walk through the countryside and discover the estate of the Villa Melzi. This grand white villa sits just back from the water and its surrounding estate is filled with rare and exotic plant life. The rest of the day is free to take the ferry between the various parts of this area of Lake Como, like Varenna, Cadenabbia, or the beautiful Villa del Balbianello, which film fans may recognise from films franchises like James Bond and Star Wars. Villa Carlotta is another waterfront villa open to the public. It holds a range of artwork and is surrounded by acres of manicured Italian gardens. Just past Cadenabbia is Tremezzo, where you can find delicious food or an aperitif – sitting dockside, lakeside, or out on a veranda. Simply strolling and admiring the beautiful views whichever way you turn is an ideal way to spend the day. With some fine Italian food tonight, of course.

Day 12 Venice

Leave the lakes district behind and take your private vehicle to Milan and catch a train heading to Venice (approximately 3 hours) This grand city of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas – practically unchanged for 600 years. Venice is built over a hundred small islands connected by 400 bridges. There are plenty of things to keep you busy when you arrive. Join your leader and take a walk around the maze of streets behind Piazza San Marco and begin to understand the complex canal system of Venice. Your leader will introduce you to the local way of crossing the canal, by traghetto. It only takes a minute or so, but it is a quintessential experience to have in Venice. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. The Grand Canal is a great place to start, as you can stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless amounts of boutique shops that sell Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware. For dinner, perhaps seek out Venice's distinctive culinary heritage, which goes back to ancient times and features rich risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta.

Day 13 Venice

Venture out and explore Venice today at your own pace. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Take in the famous sights – the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco with its golden Basilica, and of course, the evocative Bridge of Sighs. You could take a vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for the best view of Venice. No trip here would be complete without a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola. See Venetian creativity and artisan wares in the glass in Dorsoduro or down the streets spreading out from the Campo Santo Stefano. Visit the Palazzo Ducale, overflowing with paintings by Italian masters, and contrast it with the modern Guggenheim. In the evening, join your tour leader for a cicchetti stop as a real Venetian, then continue for a celebratory dinner of Venetian specialities, such as fresh lobster and squid ink spaghetti.

Day 14 Venice

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! As there is so much to see in Venice, you may want to consider extending your stay. There’s a range of Urban Adventures to embark on in Venice, including Cicchetti & Wine Tour, which takes you around the lanes and canals in search of the best of Venetian culture and wine. See urbanadventures.com/destination/Venice-tours for more information. If you would like to spend more time in Venice, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive Rome, Transfer to Foligno, Check-In, Orientation
Foligno D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Hotel check in is at 2:00 PM.

Dinner: Welcome Dinner at the hotel. Water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: Welcome drink and orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Hikers will have the option of choosing between hikes of different levels of difficulty, organized into groups based on preference and ability. Sites visited may vary based on the hiking level you choose for that day. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Day 3
Olive Oil Walk, Bevagna, Medieval Paper Manufacturing
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: walking on city streets and cobblestones. Intermediate: 4.6 miles, 719 feet elevation change. Most challenging: 5.6 miles, 719 feet elevation change in the morning and 2 miles with minimal elevation gain in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: All groups transfer by private coach to Gualdo Cattaneo and enjoy a short visit of the hamlet. The intermediate and most challenging groups begin the walk towards Torre del Colle. The easiest group will explore the Fortress of Gualdo Cattaneo and then transfer to Torre del Colle. Here, the intermediate group will join them and transfer together by private coach to the olive mill. The challenging group continues walking to the olive mill. Once at the mill, all groups will learn about olive oil.

Lunch: At the olive mill.

Afternoon: The most challenging group will walk through vineyards and olive groves to the serene and handsome medieval town of Bevagna (662 feet). This town has two of Umbria's finest Romanesque churches. The easiest and intermediate groups take a private coach to Bevagna and enjoy some free time and visit a medieval paper manufacturer to learn the techniques of this ancient art. After the most challenging group has arrived in Bevagna, everyone will transfer back to the hotel together.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Collepino to Spello along the Roman Aqueduct
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 1.8 miles, 646 feet elevation change. Intermediate: 3.5 miles, 1237 elevation change. Most challenging 1.5 miles, 1358 feet elevation change in the early morning and 3.5 miles, 1237 feet elevation change in the late morning.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will have an early morning transfer to the southern side of Mount Subasio to Madonna della Spella, an old chapel for shepherds on the mountain. The view from here covers a great part of Umbria. The walk descends down towards Collepino, a medieval gem of a hamlet, along meadows, through woods gently winding down. The intermediate and easiest groups will transfer by private coach to the tiny hamlet of Collepino. All three groups will walk from Collepino. The intermediate and most challenging groups will walk to Spello, a former Roman town that is known today for its medieval character. The easiest group will be picked up halfway and transferred to Spello. The easiest group will have some time to visit the Capella Bahlioni in Spello with the Pinturicchio frescoes.

Lunch: A special meal will be served at a local restaurant in Spello.

Afternoon: Transfer back to the hotel and enjoy some free time to see and do what interests you the most.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
St. Francis Hermitage, Assisi
Foligno B,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: walking on city streets and cobblestones. Intermediate: 2.4 miles, 1715 feet elevation change. Most challenging: 2 miles, 1064 feet elevation change in the early morning and 2.4 miles, 1715 feet elevation change in the late morning.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will leave in the early morning and transfer to Mount Subasio for a morning walk to the hermitage of St. Francis. The easiest and intermediate groups will transfer directly to the hermitage. All three groups will visit the hermitage together. After the visit, the most challenging and intermediate groups walk to Assisi. The easiest group is transferred to Assisi to spend some extra time in Assisi. Assisi is visible for miles around, tucked under the ridge of Monte Subasio. The tranquil backstreets and homes with geranium-filled window boxes make you feel like you are walking back in time.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Guided visit of the Basilica of St. Francis and some free time before transfering back to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Perugia
Foligno B,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Today's walk will be an approximate 2.5 hour city walk for all, at a slower "learning" pace to take in the history and beauty of Perugia. The intermediate and most challenging groups will have an afternoon urban trek of approximately 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by train to Perugia (673 feet) where a stop will be made for a city walk. Perugia is one of the twelve Etruscan city-states, the regional capital, and home to one of the largest state universities in the country.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: The easiest group enjoys a free afternoon in Perugia before returning by train back to the hotel. Others will enjoy a guided urban trek before transferring back by train to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Montefalco, Wine Country
Foligno B,L Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 2.43 miles, 402 feet elevation change. Intermediate: 5.3 miles, with more than 1000 feet of elevation changes. Most challenging: 5.3 miles, with more than 1000 feet of elevation changes in the morning and 3.3 miles with 1086 feet elevation change in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Montefalco. All three groups start walking towards the Colleciocco winery, north of Montefalco (1552 feet). This Umbrian valley offers wonderful views of the cities Assisi and Trevi. Walk through woods and open fields to the winery. After 1.5 hours, the easiest group will be picked up and transferred to Montefalco to explore. Once all groups are at the winery, enjoy an expert-led excursion through the winery and conclude with a wine tasting.

Lunch: Plated meal at the winery in conjunction with the wine tasting.

Afternoon: The easiest and intermediate groups will visit the Museum of St. Francis with the Benozzoli frescoes before being transferred back to the hotel. The most challenging group will walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Monte Patrico, Truffle Hunt, Monteluco
Foligno B,L,D Hotel Italia
Activity note: Three hiking options to choose from today. Easiest: 1.5 miles with 510 feet of elevation change. Intermediate: 1.5 miles with 510 feet of elevation change in the morning. 1.2 miles with 1443 feet of elevation change in the afternoon. Most challenging: 2 miles with 800 feet of elevation change in the early morning. 5.3 miles with 1000 feet of elevation change in the morning. 1.2 miles with 1443 feet of elevation change in the afternoon.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: The most challenging group will begin to walk towards the truffle farm whereas the easiest and intermediate groups will visit the Sacred Wood and hermitage before they transfer by private coach to Monte Patrico (3280 feet) for an educational truffle hunt. Monte Patrico is located above the town of Spoleto, on the summit of the Calnerina Mountains known for its rugged beauty. Once all groups have arrived, the truffle farmer will give a talk and teach you how to properly hunt for truffles.

Lunch: Eat with the truffle farmer at his home.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, the easiest group will be transferred to Spoleto for a guided city walk. The intermediate and most challenging groups walk down to Spoleto, one of Umbria's loveliest hill towns. In Spoleto (1299 feet), view the Ponte delle Torri, a bridge and aqueduct of ten towering arches linking Spoleto with the slopes of Monteluco; it is one of the greatest engineering works of the Trecento. Walk to the upper part of the town center before taking the coach back to the hotel.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Departures
In Flight B
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: After breakfast, transfer by private coach (approx. 2.5 hours) to the Rome airport. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.