Five days in Umbria

Art, taste and medieval atmosphere in Bevagna

DAY 1:  Welcome in Umbria! With typical cooking lesson in Norcia

Arrival of guests in the afternoon at the airport and transfer to Norcia, hotel accommodation, welcome cocktail and following cooking lesson with the restaurant’s chef, to learn the typical nursina gastronomic tradition. At the end, dinner-tasting of the so prepared menu together with local wines. Facultative walk in the historical centre.

DAY 2: among breathtaking views, vineyards and historical parades

Breakfast in hotel and departure for Bevagna with en-route stop in Montefalco to visit the

village, also called the “balcony of Umbria” because of its fascinating landscape, the Church and Museum of Saint Francesco. Stop at a local artisan weaver and light lunch in

a typical country-inn. Following visit to a wine cellar and vineyards of a producer of the DOC wine Sagrantino di Montefalco with final tasting. At the same time, it’ll be possible to visit a near outlet that produces cashmere items. We’ll then proceed towards Bevagna. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation in the rooms. Free time at disposal for a short relaxing pause before entering the suggestive medieval atmosphere of the historical centre, tasting typical menus and admiring the involving historical parade that passes through the streets and starts the Mercato delle Gaite (Gaite’s Market), a local event of ancient appeal. During the evening, local people dressed with historical costumes recall past times by eating, working and playing through the streets and in the many corners of the village.

DAY 3: discovering Perugia and the ancient crafts

Breakfast in the hotel and following departure for Perugia to visit one of the most important town in central Italy. Perugia was a very important Etruscan town and this is still

visible in many monuments such as the Etruscan Arch, the Etruscan well and the Porta Marzia, one of the Etruscan city gates. In the II century a.C. Ottaviano took possession of the town and this, after being heavily destroyed, was given the name of "Augusta Perusia". In the XI century, Perugia became a powerful independent city-state allied to the Papal State till 1860 and it was enriched with splendid palaces, valuable sculptures and paintings. Heart of the upper part of Perugia is Palazzo dei Priori, the town hall that grew from a modest foundation between the end of the XIII and the beginning of the XIV centuries. It’s one of the most important and imposing example of the Italian Middle Ages. The main portal with a monumental staircase, facing Piazza IV Novembre, leads to the Sala dei Notari. We can admire two levels of three-light windows and a wonderful gothic portal enriched with the statue of the three patron saints: Sant'Ercolano, San Costanzo and San Lorenzo. The Palazzo dei Priori houses on the ground floor the Collegio del Cambio and the Collegio della Mercanzia and on the third floor the National Gallery of Umbria. Near Palazzo dei Priori, the Fontana Maggiore can be found. This represents a 13th century masterpiece and was carved by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, together with Fra’ Bevignate da Cingoli, between 1277 and 1278. The Main Fountain is composed of two polygonal basins, the upper one with a smaller diameter. Over the upper basin there is a bronze round vessel with three bronze statues, the nymphs representing the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity). Centuries have left many remains in town: the Etruscan tombs and walls, Roman gates, medieval churches and Renaissance palaces: a fascinating puzzle of styles, periods and histories that turns Perugia into an excellent Italian example of town. Time at disposal for lunch and, after the visit to the Paolina Fortress, afternoon return to Bevagna for relax and medieval dinner in one of the many trattorie of the historical centre. Following walk through the suggestive historical centre, where it is possible to start the Circuito Culturale dei Mestieri Medievali (guided tour of Medieval Crafts) from “gaita” (as here the districts of the town are called) San Giovanni, the Cartiera (paper-mill), where to learn the ancient methods for the production of the cotton-wool paper, Gaita Santa Maria, the Setificio (silk mill) where to learn the life cycle of a silkworm and the production of textiles with a loom, Gaita San Giorgio,the painter workshop where to admire the tempera painting with the use of coloured powder pigments joined together with the egg-yolk. Return to the hotel.

DAY 4: art pottery in Deruta and the culture of wine in Torgiano

After breakfast, excursion to Deruta, located on a hill dominating Tevere valley. It’s considered the land of pottery production not only in Umbria but also in Italy. Walk through

the historical centre among shops of typical gourmet products and local craft items, comparing medieval with modern proposals. En-route stop to visit an artisan pottery workshop, plunge into the artisan tradition of pottery’s production, and learn the processing, cooking and decoration techniques as well as the differences among the materials used. Walking through the centre of Deruta, we can meet numerous characteristic alleys and reach Piazza dei Consoli with its palace, that hosts the town hall, whose fourteenth-century tower has Romanesque double lancet windows. It also hosts the Pottery Museum with wonderful local ancient majolica objects and the Pinacoteca with valuable paintings of different periods. Free time at disposal for lunch. In the afternoon, excursion to Torgiano to visit the Museum of Wine and Olive Oil belonging to the Lungarotti Company. It’ll be possible to taste the company wines and typical products in a near osteria and have free time at disposal for…gourmet shopping. In the evening, return to the hotel in Bevagna with stop for country-style dinner in a traditional country-inn. Overnight.

DAY 5: Wonderful Orvieto and departure

Breakfast, check-out and transfer of guests to the airport with stop in Orvieto for a guided visit of this town lying on a tufaceous cliff. During Middle Ages many religious buildings and palaces were built in the town. The most important monument is the spectacular Cathedral, dating back to 1263, with its gothic façade, the many paintings and chapels. In the ancient town, you can admire the famous Pozzo di San Patrizio, built in 1527 and designed by Antonio  Sangallo the younger, the XIV century Palazzo dei Sette, the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (XII century). Departure with facultative stop for light lunch. End of the tour.