Sierra Club Outings | Walking the Franciscan Trail, Umbria, Italy

Highlights:

Hiking in the countryside, regional and national parks of Umbria
Exploring picturesque hill towns, cathedrals, restaurants, and monastic retreats
Learning about St. Francis’ travels and the history of Umbria’s ecological movement
Viewing local history and efforts at cultural preservation through the eyes of a Contessa, a respected priest and interesting villagers with a medieval perspective

Includes:

Transportation
Lodging
All meals except for one “free” dinner

Called "Tuscany without tour buses," Umbria boasts a rich history, picturesque villages, and beautiful countryside. Our outing here will combine the mysticism of the Franciscan Trail with the history of an influential central Italian family. We will be introduced to the region by its locals: a respected priest, a titled contessa, and an assortment of villagers who look at the world from a medieval perspective. We will walk parts of the Franciscan Trail and discover Umbria's most enchanting but lesser known places, explore a few of the regional and national parks, and hopefully view one of Gubbio's medieval festivals from the balcony of our guide's palazzo. Our tour includes a day on Trasimeno Lake visiting a bird sanctuary and a special island. We will be staying in small inns and an agritourismo (farm house) and sampling the regional cuisine. Hikes will be 5-8 miles a day with gains of 2,000 feet at the most, a moderate trip.

Day 1: Rome to Orvieto: After meeting in Rome, we will be transported by private bus to the beautiful village of Orvieto, a picturesque hill town built high on a plateau of tufa rock. Besides its spectacular cathedral, Orvieto is known for its mysterious Etruscan caves and delicious wine.

Day 3: Todi to Gubbio: An early departure from Orvieto will take us to Parco Fluviale del Tevere, the Tiber Park, where we will enjoy a walk and learn how the locals are preserving two separate river basins. From here you will visit Todi, an exquisite Umbrian hilltown, where you can wander the village's historic center including a picturesque central square and duomo. In the afternoon we will drive to our final destination, a beautiful countryside agriturismo (farm house), situated in the peaceful Umbrian countryside. Walking distance: five miles.

Day 4: Gubbio: Today we will enjoy one of the best preserved medieval villages in central Italy. We will be invited to an ancient palace, now a historical monument, where our hostess Alessandra will take us back in time and tell us how the locals used to live, eat, pray, and die. She will also explain Gubbio's famous "Ceri Festival" and what the people from Gubbio are doing to protect their cultural identity and traditions. A direct descendent of the first person to preserve St. Francis's basilica in Assisi, Alessandra will share the history of St. Francis and describe the various trails walked by the saint in his lifetime. We will then climb the local mountain, Monte Ingino, and visit the St. Ubaido Monastery. From this point on, we will be on the Franciscan Trail. Walking distance: four miles.

Day 5: Mount Cucco Park: Today we will visit the highest mountain in Umbria, Mount Cucco, part of Mount Cucco Park. Walking the "ring route," we will enjoy incredible views of the surrounding mountains. During our walk we can search for fossils in the sloping sedimentary rock. The flower varieties here are diverse and, on a clear day, we may see the Adriatic Sea. The park has mineral springs, healthy beech forests, and deep caves accessible only to small groups of travelers. It is also home to wolves and golden eagles. After our walk we can enjoy the quiet of a tiny church where St. Francis frequently prayed. Walking distance: five miles, 1,500-foot elevation gain.

Day 6: Assisi and Mount Subasio Park: Assisi is a mountain town situated just above the setting where the Franciscan movement started. During our tour of Assisi we will see the treasures that adorn St. Francis's basilica including the tomb of the saint and Giotto's frescoes. We will enjoy the evocative atmosphere of Assisi's roads and piazzas, and the panoramic view of the Umbrian plains. We will climb to the mystic Eremo delle Carceri, a monastery hidden among oaks and holm oaks. This is the single most important part of the Franciscan trail, and the birthplace of the modern Italian environmental movement. In the 1970s, the World Wildlife Fund lauched its "Operazione San Francesco," to save the very last wolves in the country, a tribute to St. Francis's love of and devotion to nature. Walking distance: three miles, 1,000 foot elevation gain.

Day 7: Pietra Lunga: Today we will walk among ancient castles, mills, and dense forests to the Camporeggiano Monastery, a sixth century church with a very unique and mystical feeling of simplicity. Far off the beaten path of mass tourism, we will explore the region around the monastery including the former railway route that once served Gubbio. An important center in the 1400s, Gubbio found itself locked in time when it became part of the papal states. Later, a railway link connected Gubbio with Florence and Rome but this Iink was destroyed during World War II. Today, just a few traces of the old railway can be found, providing us with an unusual and charming path along old country roads and abandoned railroad houses. Walking distance: 4.5 miles.

Day 8: Spello, La Spella and Mount Subasio: We will drive by bus to the beautiful hill town of Spello, where we will see some incredible frescoes and walk through the small cobblestone streets. We will then go to La Spella church, on top of a hill, to start a very scenic walk up to Mount Subasio, the mountain of St. Francis. On our way back to Gubbio we will stop at a local restaurant to sample some of its best regional dishes. Walking distance: six miles, 2,000 foot elevation gain.

Day 9: Sitria Abbey and Fonte Avellana Monastery: Today we will explore a mystical abbey and one of the most important monasteries in Italy. Surrounded by chestnut trees and wildlife diversity, the Fonte Avellana was an important learning center at the time of St. Francis. It is regarded today as the place where “history was remembered” by monks who worked long hours transcribing ancient documents. Walking distance: three miles, 2,000 foot elevation gain.

Day 10: Trasimeno Lake: Today we will move from Umbria to Tuscany, the region of Italy that most Americans know best. However, instead of staying on the beaten path, we will visit Trasimeno Lake, part of Trasimeno Park, which is also home to the Oasi Naturalistica La Valle, a bird sanctuary and environmental research center. Here we will take a local boat to two special islands, Polvese and Maqggiore. We will also visit what is arguably the best olive oil production center in Italy. After tasting here, you will never think the same way about olive oil. Tonight we will sleep in a very nice country inn among groves of olive trees and grapevines. Walking distance: three miles.

Day 11: La Verna: La Verna is the other famous Franciscan center of Italy. Today we will drive to a mountain near La Verna, where we will walk the Franciscan trail to Monte Calvano, Monte Penna, and finally to La Verna. After a visit to the monastery we will head back to our inn for our farewell dinner. Walking distance: three miles

Day 12: From Arezzo you can get by train to Rome or Florence, where you can either fly home or further explore the wonders of Italy.

We will be staying in small inns and an agritourismo (farmhouse). All meals are included except one dinner, when you will have the choice of exploring various restaurants.

This is a moderate trip. Daily hikes will be 3-6 miles with elevation changes of up to 2,000 feet. As with all trips, the better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy it.

A detailed equipment list will be sent to each participant. Plan to bring spring/summer clothes for hiking, a day pack with water bottle, first aid kit, sunscreen, raingear, and perhaps walking sticks.

A more detailed bibliography will be mailed to you, but here are three sources to get you started.

The contessa and her American husband are ardent conservationists and cultural preservationists of their special area. They are eager to talk with Sierra Club members about their efforts to develop sustainable eco tourism and educate the Italians in the value of preserving both the natural and cultural heritage of Umbria.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers, may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Diane Cornell�s love of nature has led her to an adventure-filled life. She is happiest when outdoors hiking. Besides leading day hikes for the Ventana Chapter, Diane also frequently hikes in the Italian Dolomites and Apennines. One of her recent challenges was teaching a lesson on solar energy to 4th graders in Loreto, Italy. Diane also started a non-profit educational foundation to teach science to children outdoors. Diane looks forward to sharing her appreciation of life on this journey.
E-mail: info@osefun.com