UMBRIA & SOUTHERN TUSCANY

Day 1 | Wednesday 16 September
Arrival
We gather at Rome Fiumicino airport in the mid-afternoon for a coach transfer to Spoleto. On arrival we take time to freshen up before a short orientation stroll followed by welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Spoleto (D)

Day 2 | Thursday 17 September
Spoleto
Spoleto’s commanding position on a steep hill guarding the southern approach to the Vale of Umbria has ensured its strategic and cultural significance since at least the 7th century BCE. Over the centuries, it has accumulated layers of history, visible in its architecture and urban fabric. After a morning talk in our hotel, we set out on a walking tour to explore the town’s ancient roots – from pre-Roman and Roman remains to its magnificent Duomo, which houses. The Life and Death of the Virgin (1469), the final masterpiece by Filippo Lippi. Following a break for lunch, we make our way to the nearby hamlet of Colle del Marchese, once a fortified village in the orbit of medieval Spoleto. Here, we enjoy an exclusive visit to the home of artist Neil Moore – a restored 13th-century castle tower that has been his residence for over 30 years. Our private tour includes the surrounding village, insights into the restoration of the castle, and a visit to Neil’s working studio. We conclude with aperitivi on the terrace, taking in sweeping views over the valley, before returning to Spoleto for an evening at leisure. Overnight Spoleto (B, Aperitivi)

Day 3 | Friday 18 September
Ancient Umbria
Umbria was one of the first territories conquered by the Romans, and its rich agricultural lands and reserves of metal would fuel the expanding republic. This morning we set out to explore this Roman legacy, with our first stop the Church of San Pietro extra Moenia, located just outside Spoleto. This Romanesque church stands on the site of an ancient pagan necropolis and reflects the continuity of sacred space across centuries. We then continue to the archaeological site of Carsulae, once a thriving Roman town on the Via Flaminia. With its remarkably well-preserved forum, theatre and monumental gate, Carsulae offers a vivid picture of life in the early Roman Empire. Following our visit, we travel a short distance to the charming hill town of San Gemini for a traditional Umbrian lunch at Taverna del Torchio. We return to Spoleto in the afternoon, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Spoleto (B, L)

Day 4 | Saturday 19 September
Montefalco & Spello
Umbria’s lesser-known hill towns are among the region’s best preserved, their position off the Florence – Rome highway nuturing the hidden gems. Leaving Spoleto behind, we make our way to Montefalco, the ‘Balcony of Umbria’, whose panoramic vistas sweep across the valley. Here we also visit the Museo di San Francesco to view Benozzo Gozzoli’s exceptional 1450 fresco cycle on the life of Saint Francis – a vibrant and humanistic narrative by one of Florence’s most accomplished ‘Quattrocento’ painters. Following a leisurely lunch in a traditional trattoria, we continue to Spello, where pink-hued stone lanes burst with geraniums. Our guided walk reveals Roman gates and medieval towers before culminating in Pinturicchio’s richly coloured frescoes in the Baglioni Chapel – a jewel of Umbrian Renaissance painting. In the late afternoon we continue north to Perugia, our base for the next four nights. After settling into our centrally located hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Perugia (B, L)

Day 5 | Sunday 20 September
Perugia
Perched above the Tiber Valley, Perugia has long guarded the northern approach into Umbria, its rich history spanning Etruscan origins, medieval independence and modern cultural renewal. This morning, we set out on a walking tour of the historic centre, beginning with the fascinating underground remains of the ancient city, including stretches of Etruscan wall and a medieval “ghost town” interred beneath a 16th century fortress. We then continue to the Collegio del Cambio – the former headquarters of the moneychangers’ guild – where Perugino’s exquisite frescoes from 1500 adorn the walls, painted at a time when a young Raphael was one of his assistants. After time at leisure for lunch, we reconvene to visit the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, housed in the Palazzo dei Priori. This outstanding museum showcases an exceptional collection of Umbrian painting, including works by Duccio, Gentile da Fabriano, Fra Angelico, and Piero della Francesca, offering a vivid picture of the region’s artistic legacy. Overnight Perugia (B)

Day 6 | Monday 21 September
Piero della Francesca
Piero della Francesca’s art is characterised by his ability to capture a calm stillness and refined beauty through his exceptional understanding of mathematics, perspective and geometry. Today we travel to Monterchi where we see his celebrated Madonna del Parto, and then to San Sepolcro, his home town, to admire the recently restored Resurrection. On our return to Perugia after lunch we explore an aspect of Umbria’s artisanal heritage, visiting the Giuditta Brozzetti Museum Atelier, which uses both the four-heddle traditional manual foot-looms to produce the rustic textiles so typical of these rural areas, as well as jacquard looms to weave both damasks and Perugia tablecloths. Overnight Perugia (B)

Day 7 | Tuesday 22 September
Assisi
Despite its fame, Assisi retains a deeply spiritual and contemplative atmosphere, shaped by its enduring association with Saint Francis. Today we explore the town’s sacred and historical landmarks, beginning with a guided visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis – a Gothic masterpiece adorned with vibrant frescoes that chronicle the saint’s life. These include works attributed to Giotto, along with important contributions by Sienese painters Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini, whose expressive style helped shape the course of Italian painting. We continue with a walking tour through the heart of Assisi, pausing at the striking 1st-century CE Roman Temple of Minerva, which dominates the main piazza, before we descend into the excavated remains of the Roman Forum. Following some free time for lunch and independent exploration, we return to our hotel in Perugia, where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Perugia (B)

Day 8 | Wednesday 23 September
Orvieto
Today we travel from Umbria into Tuscany, stopping en route to explore the ancient hilltop city of Orvieto. Dramatically perched on a volcanic escarpment above the Tiber Valley, Orvieto was once a major Etruscan stronghold and the spiritual centre of the Etruscan League. In later centuries, its strategic position made it a favoured refuge for popes during times of unrest in Rome. We begin our visit at Orvieto’s magnificent cathedral, whose richly decorated Gothic façade shimmers with mosaics and sculptures, while its Romanesque interior houses one of the great masterpieces of Italian Renaissance painting – Luca Signorelli’s vivid Apocalypse cycle in the San Brizio Chapel. After a break for lunch, we descend beneath the city to explore Orvieto’s remarkable underground network of caves, cisterns and passageways, carved over millennia into the soft tufa rock. In the late afternoon we continue to Cortona, our base for the next three nights where, after settling into our hotel, we gather for a convivial aperitivo to conclude our day. Overnight Cortona (B, Aperitivi)

Day 9 | Thursday 24 September
Cortona
With its commanding position overlooking the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno, Cortona was one of the principal cities of the Etruscan League, its long and layered history reflected in its architecture, museums and enduring sense of identity. This morning begins with a talk by Neil on the Etruscans, offering valuable context for today’s visits. We then explore the recently reorganised Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca, home to one of the finest collections of Etruscan artefacts in Tuscany, including bronze votive figures, funerary goods and the famous Tabula Cortonensis. After a short coffee break, we continue to the Museo Diocesano, housed in the former church of Gesù, which holds important works by two masters closely associated with Cortona – Luca Signorelli and Fra Angelico. Highlights include Signorelli’s expressive Lamentation and Angelico’s luminous Annunciation, a jewel of early Renaissance painting. We gather for lunch at a well-regarded local restaurant in the heart of town, after which the afternoon is free to explore Cortona’s elegant streets, browse its shops or simply enjoy the views. Overnight Cortona (B, L)

Day 10 | Friday 25 September
Arezzo
One of Tuscany’s most cultured and historic cities, Arezzo was home to poet Petrarch, art historian Giorgio Vasari, and Guido d’Arezzo – the medieval monk credited with inventing modern musical notation. The city’s wealth of artistic and architectural heritage reflects its long-standing importance in the region. This morning we travel by coach to Arezzo, where we meet our local guide for a walking tour of the historic centre. Highlights include the Church of San Francesco, home to Piero della Francesca’s extraordinary fresco cycle The Legend of the True Cross – a landmark of Renaissance art admired for its harmony, perspective and restraint. Following free time for lunch in the central piazza, we continue into the surrounding countryside to a boutique winery. Here we enjoy a tasting of local wines before returning to Cortona in the early evening. Overnight Cortona (B, Wine Tasting)

Day 11 | Saturday 26 September
Pienza & La Foce
This morning we depart Cortona by coach, making our way through the iconic Tuscan landscape of the Val d’Orcia towards Pienza. En route we visit La Foce, the garden of Anglo-American writer Iris Origo. Origo’s attachment to the Val d’Orcia is not only evident in her literary accounts of the area during the rise of Italian fascism and World War II, but also in the huge efforts she made during her life to transform the land from barrenness to abundance. After a guided visit of the garden, we then make our way to one of the most striking churches in the Val d’Orcia, the Temple of San Biagio, nestled among rolling hills just outside the village of Montepulciano. We enjoy lunch in a beautiful 16th century building before touring this stately masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture built between 1518 and 1548. Our final journey brings us to Pienza, arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Pienza (B, L)

Day 12 | Sunday 27 September
Montalcino & Sant’Antimo
We begin the day with a walking tour of the town of Pienza, laid out precisely according to the new Renaissance principles on the orders of its most famous son, Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Pope Pius II. We then depart by coach to Montalcino, a charming hilltop town famed for its Brunello wine. With its medieval walls, fortress and cobbled streets overlooking the Val d’Orcia, a leisurely stroll through the town allows us to soak up its relaxed atmosphere and panoramic views. Our next stop is the nearby Abbey of Sant’Antimo, an evocative Romanesque complex set in a secluded valley. Believed to have been founded by Charlemagne, the abbey gained prominence during the Middle Ages as a key stop along the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. After centuries of decline, it was re-established as a working monastery in 1992, and today it remains a place of tranquillity and spiritual resonance. A light lunch and wine tasting at a renowned estate near Sant’Antimo offers the opportunity to sample some of the region’s celebrated vintages before returning to our hotel. Overnight Pienza (B, L)

Day 13 | Monday 28 September
Bolsena & Bagno Vignoni
Perched on the edge of Lake Bolsena, Europe’s largest volcanic lake, the town of Bolsena is steeped in history – from its Etruscan foundations to its role as a medieval pilgrimage centre. Its serene setting and historic architecture make it one of northern Lazio’s hidden gems and this morning we explore the town, beginning with a visit to the Church of Santa Cristina – the site of the 1263 ‘Miracle of Bolsena’, which inspired the Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi. The church and its crypt offer a compelling window into centuries of veneration and legend. Weather permitting, we also take a short boat ride on Lake Bolsena. We then travel onwards to Bagno Vignoni,
a unique Tuscan village famed for its central piazza filled with steaming geothermal water. Here, we gather for farewell drinks in this evocative setting, before returning to Pienza. In the evening, we come together for our farewell dinner with views over the Val d’Orcia. Overnight Pienza (B, D)

Day 14 | Tuesday 29 September
Departure
This morning we transfer by coach to Rome Fiumicino Airport, arriving in time for mid-afternoon international flights. (B)