A Journey through Umbria

with Peter Medhurst & Tom Abbott

3-9 November 2026

7 days from £3,399

To book, either download the brochure below or talk to Sandy Cornish at Tailored Travel on 01227 830624

(Monday to Wednesday 0800-1600, and mornings on Thursday to Friday 0800-1145)

or Telephone Tailored Travel on 020 7064 4970. Email: info@tailored-travel.co.uk

The booking form may be downloaded here

INTRODUCTION
‘There is an ecstasy . . . there is life where no one intrudes: it is not that I love man less, but nature more.’ So wrote Lord Byron about Umbria in his poem ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ published 1812, and it reveals the poet’s passion for the natural landscape of a less frequented corner of Italy. And indeed, it is the natural terrain, the infinite expanse of hills, the openness of the countryside, which supply the glorious backdrop to the abbeys, churches, pipe organs, Renaissance art, museums, waterways, and Roman ruins that we will visit on our magnificent Umbrian odyssey.

Thank goodness for the invention of the Executive Coach!

Day 1
Our flight from our designated London airport takes us to Rome, where we are met by Tom Abbott, tour manager and are then transferred to our accommodation in Ferentillo, Umbria, at the Abbazia San Pietro in Valle, a beautifully restored medieval abbey. After check-in, we take a guided tour of the local abbey church, known for its outstanding art and architecture, which includes Romanesque frescoes, an 11th century bell tower, and Lombard-era artifacts, such as the Ursus Magister slab. We enjoy dinner together in our hotel. We stay here for six nights.

Day 2
This morning, we visit the hillside town of Scheggino, famous for its winding streets and panoramic views of the surrounding Umbrian countryside. Scheggino was founded in the 12th century by the Duchy of Spoleto, and among the architectural highlights that we visit, is the Church of San Nicola with its superb frescoes by Giovanni Lo Spagna. We then make our way to Spoleto for another guided tour, where we take in the 1st century Roman Theatre, as well as the magnificent church of Santa Maria Assunta, which possesses a fine 17th century organ. After lunch, we visit the ancient, fortified hill town of Spello and make our way to the Baglioni Chapel in the 13th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, where we view the early 16th century cycle of frescoes by Pinturicchio. The scenes on the walls depict highlight moments from the New Testament. We return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 3
Today we visit the ancient hilltop town of Amelia located in the province of Terni. Our tour takes in the Monastery of San Mango with its newly restored organ, dating from 1680. We then enjoy a private tour of Palazzo Petrignani, a Renaissance noble building dating from the 1500s. After lunch in Amelia, we continue on to the Medieval town of Narni (the name inspired CS Lewis’ celebrated children’s books) to visit the Cathedral of San Giovenale and Cassio, which is built against the Roman city wall, overlooking the Piazza Garibaldi. Consecrated in 1145 by Pope Eugene III, the cathedral is Romanesque in style, and possesses a wide range of Renaissance and Baroque art. We return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 4
This morning, we depart for Assisi, birthplace of St Francis, and thus, a centuries old destination for pilgrims. The town, constructed on the slopes of Monte Subasio, is renowned for its religious history, and our guided tour takes in the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, with its glorious frescoes by Giotto, Simone Martini and Lorenzetti. After lunch, we visit the Basilica di Santa Chiara, the burial place of St Clare, Francis’s companion and the founder of the order of nuns, known as ‘Poor Clares’. We also visit the Chiesa Nuova and Piazza del Comune. On the return journey to our hotel, we make a stop at Rasiglia, a medieval village, dubbed the ‘Little Venice of Umbria’, due to the streams that run through its streets and under its stone houses. Dinner is at the hotel.

Day 5
Today, we head South once more, this time to Montefalco for a guided tour of the Civic Museum, which displays works by Pietro Perugino, Nicolo Alunno and various other leading Umbrian artists. There will also be an opportunity to see Benozzo Gozzoli’s magnificent ‘Life of St Francis’. We continue to the delightful Umbrian village of Bevagna, and its medieval Piazza Silvestri, where we visit its two Romanesque churches. San Silvestro, constructed in 1195, is the more atmospheric, due to its shadowy interior and ancient crypt. However, while San Michele Arcangelo was originally founded a little earlier, in 1070, the building has undergone many renovations over the years, resulting in a church of a mainly Baroque aesthetic. Its glory is its stone onger to visit ancient workshops, which show how candles and paper were produced in the Middle Ages. Dinner this evening is at La Maestra.

Day 6
Today is Piero della Francesca day, so we have an early start, not only to allow us time for a guided tour of Sansepolcro, the artist’s birthplace, but also to visit the Museo Civico, to view della Francesca’s masterpiece ‘The Resurrection’. We then continue to Arezzo, and the Church of San Francesco, to view della Francesca’s celebrated frescoes illustrating the ‘Legend of the True Cross’ (after 1447). The depictions run from the death of Adam to the battles between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire (early 7th century). We then take a guided tour of Casa di Vasari, a house built by the artist, in 1540. The interiors – which contain a priceless collection of Mannerist paintings – are richly decorated with frescoes, and collectively are a testimony to the highest expression of 16th century domestic culture in Italy. We return to our hotel for a farewell drinks reception before dinner.

Day 7
We conclude our time in Italy with (subject to opening times) a visit to Collescipoli, one of the Ancient Municipalities in the territory of Terni. Here we visit the Collegiata di Santa Maria Maggiore, an 18th century church built on the site of an earlier
Romanesque building, and enjoy a recital on the Hermans Organ, dating from 1678. Subject to flight timings, we have lunch in Terni at a selected trattoria prior to transferring to Rome Airport, for our flight home.

FEATURES
Tour limited to 24 passengers
Thomas Abbott – professional tour
manager & art historian
Professional local guide on Days 2 to 6
First class hotel
All excursions, entrance fees &
guided tours included
All dinners included
Light lunches on Days 2 to 7
Direct scheduled flights
from London to Rome
Executive coach throughout
Gratuities for hotel &
restaurant staff included

HIGHLIGHTS
Abbazia San Pietro in Valle – guided tour
Hillside town of Scheggino
Spoleto – guided tour
Spello & the Baglioni Chapel
Hilltop town of Amelia & the Monastery
of San Mango
Palazzo Petrignani – private tour
Narni & the Cathedral of San Giovenale
& Cassio
Assisi – guided tour
Rasiglia – the ‘Little Venice of Umbria’
Montefalco – guided tour of the
Civic Museum
Benozzo Gozzoli’s ‘Life of St Francis’
Bevagna – churches of San Silvestro &
San Michele Arcangelo
Ancient candle workshops
Sansepolcro – guided tour
Museo Civico & della Francesca’s
‘The Resurrection’
Arezzo & the Church of San Francesco
Casa di Vasari – guided tour
Collescipoli & Collegiata di
Santa Maria Maggiore

YOUR ACCOMMODATION
We stay six nights at the Abbazia San
Pietro in Valle (www.sanpietroinvalle.com),
a beautifully restored medieval abbey near
Spoleto surrounded by centuries old forests
and olive groves. We enjoy dinner here
every night apart from Day 5 when we dine
at La Maestra Farmhouse. All rooms are
ensuite with tea/coffee making facilities.

EXTRAS TO YOUR TOUR
Insurance (including Covid cover) £84
Double room for sole use supplement £299
Local accommodation tax to be paid directly to the hotel

To book, either download the brochure below or talk to Sandy Cornish at Tailored Travel on 01227 830624

(Monday to Wednesday 0800-1600, and mornings on Thursday to Friday 0800-1145)

or Telephone Tailored Travel on 020 7064 4970. Email: info@tailored-travel.co.uk

The booking form may be downloaded here

Normal booking conditions apply