Medieval Umbria
Abbeys and Art in the Apennines
This tour starts in Arezzo with visits to world-famous paintings by Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca, before continuing to a leisurely lunch and olive oil tasting at an organic farm. We stay in the charming town of Anghiari, explore nearby Sansepolcro, and cross from Tuscany into Umbria over the Apennines with beautiful views across both regions. We follow evocative pilgrim trails, once trodden by St Francis of Assisi, to remote churches, a dramatic fortress and a 13th century Benedictine monastery. We sleep in a beautifully restored abbey and finish the holiday with three nights in the heart of the fascinating town of Gubbio, with its Etruscan, Roman and medieval history. The final day of our tour coincides with the unique medieval crossbow festival for which Gubbio is famous, known as Il Palio della Balestra, and we have a rare chance to witness this stunning spectacle. To find out more see our Blog on Il Palio della Balestra.
The walking holiday starts and ends in Arezzo which is on the train line from both Florence and Rome. The journey time from Florence is approximately 1.5 hours and from Rome 2.5 hours and both have regular services. Our meeting point is the Hotel Continentale, which is very close to the train station, and we return guests to Arezzo station at the end of the tour. For more ideas on visiting these areas see our City Guides.
"I spent over 20 years as a business consultant helping large and small clients perform better but I didn’t come across many small businesses as well run as yours. All the hotels, meals and wine were first class – some special indeed – which tells me that we, on the receiving end, have benefited from your insightful and extensive research. Bravo Zulu!" Gordon Ramsay
Cost: €3,195 per person
Single supplement: €325
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive - learn more about what we offer.
What's Included?
- 7 nights’ accommodation in 3 delightful hotels
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including wine
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Dinner in a variety of superb restaurants
- Museum visits and wine/food tastings as per itinerary
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please
- Transport to/from Arezzo in air-conditioned minibus
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
- Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack
Your Health and Safety
See our new protocols to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both our guests and HH staff.
Tour Highlights
- Outstanding hiking in lesser-known corners of Tuscany and Umbria
- Lunch at an organic olive oil farm
- See world-famous Piero della Francesca paintings
Walking/Terrain
Terrain: Hilly terrain, most walking on dirt roads and woodland tracks. Challenging (optional) final walk on mountain trails
Shortest/Longest Day: 6km/3.8miles:19.5km/12 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 3. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Etruscan Trails in Central Italy, Parma Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea, Northern Tuscany and Ravenna or Lucca, Volterra and the Island of Elba
Accommodation
Hotel La Meridiana: a friendly family-run hotel in the heart of Anghiari
Abbazia San Faustino: Luxurious country hotel with swimming pool converted from a 13th century abbey
Relais Ducale: 4-star hotel in heart of Gubbio. Formerly the Ducal Palace
