Tastes of Umbria

Begin your trip with complimentary airport lounge access before flying to Florence, collect your car and make the drive to the capital of Umbria. This ancient town has a unique aspect – the upper part was an Etruscan and Roman acropolis that today descends gracefully down to a collection of medieval quarters. Here, masterpieces of art and architecture are now incorporated into modern life. Wander its historic Corso Vannucci main street to link arched stairways and magnificent piazza lined with cathedrals, grand palazzo mansions and fountain flourishes. Don't miss out on the National Gallery of Umbria and the Collegio del Cambio for its celebrated frescoes by Perugino, one of the great masters of Italian Renaissance painting. For lovers of chocolate, head to the Perugina House of Chocolate and Museum just outside the city centre.

Stay: SINA Brufani, Perugia (Deluxe)

After breakfast, head east onto the border of Umbria and Tuscany, from Torricella you will follow the banks of Lake Trasimeno, the fourth biggest lake in Italy, just slightly smaller than Lake Como, lakeside fishing villages merge into a landscape of vineyards, and fruit and vegetable farms, and isolated castles and towers which were originally built for controlling the road.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is the rustic luxury of Relais Corte dei Papi, an ancient farmhouse located in the Esse Valley just across the border into Tuscany, an oasis to enjoy Tuscan gastronomy with chef Giuseppe Masciopinto hand picking local Chianina meat and the best local suppliers. Also enjoy some of the 700 Umbrian and Tuscan wines in the cellar.

Head south to arrive at Orvieto with its medieval beauty – surrounded by vineyards and cypress trees – is equally enticing and is reached by a charming drive through the Umbrian countryside. Break for lunch at any number of inviting farmhouse eateries along the way. On arrival, you'll stay in the Casa Vissani where you can experience Michelin starred haute cuisine and stay in splendid rooms

Stay: Casa Vissani, Orvieto (Superior)

Orvieto lies on a spectacular rock of volcanic tuff – the ideal mantelpiece for one of Umbria's most historic centres. You'll have a full day to explore a town whose past bears traces of medieval pragmatism, Renaissance flourishes and Etruscan archaeology. You'll want to take in its Duomo's stirringly Gothic disposition that ranks it among Italy's finest, the town's stern 14th century fortress and the Bridge of Towers, a daring medieval work, 76 metres high and 230 metres long. Lastly, don't miss out on the trio of papal palaces. 

Stay: Casa Vissani, Orvieto

After a beautiful Umbrian breakfast, we recommend heading west and breaking up your journey with a stop at Spoletto; watched over by an imposing medieval fortress and backed by the equally impressive Apennines, it's a visual pastiche of Roman ampitheatres and Lombardian cathedrals. Continue to Torgiano. Here, you’ll check into the superb Tre Vaselle Resorte Solare; resting idyllically among Umbria’s picturesque valleys and olive tree groves, marble fireplaces, antique furnishings and authentic cotto flooring remember the villa’s 18th century aristocratic heyday. Its stunning rural vistas are best taken in when dining al fresco at the traditional restaurant or from the gorgeous pool.

Stay: Tre Vaselle Resort & Spa, Torgiano (Superior)

After breakfast, a hands-on cooking lesson will introduce you to the art behind the region's famous gastronomy. Known as the 'Green Heart of Italy', Umbria's specialties include pasta sauces of grey-white truffles, porschetta roast suckling pig and immaculately prepared rustic soups. You'll get to taste your morning's work over lunch, wine-paired of course. If you've room, consider taking the short drive to nearby Castiglione del Lago, a well-preserved medieval location on Lake Trasimeno that seems to be governed by a "law of threes". Walls have three gates and the town features precisely three squares and three churches. We've also included entrance to your hotel's spa where you can replenish yourself with a range of luxury treatments.

Stay: Tre Vaselle Resort & Spa, Torgiano (Superior)

After breakfast, continue your journey east to Assisi – a medieval town built on a Roman settlement. Capping a spur of Mt. Subasio, the views haven't changed much either with its privileged position overlooking much of the green vale of Umbria. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims to the 13th century St. Francis Church, famed for its colourful frescoes by Giotto, before tracing the history of the region's favourite saint even further at St. Chiara, a fine Gothic basilica that contains the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. For your time here, you'll stay at the Fontebella Palace, you will find Restaurant Il Frantoio, which is mentioned in the Michelin guide. It has over 300 wines in its cellar, and specializes in truffle dishes and homemade pasta.

Stay: Fontebella Palace, Assisi (Superior)

Today we recommend a trip to Montefalco. Termed the 'Balcony of Umbria', it's a 12th century pentagon where five gates and their associated lanes and churches point the way to a piazza that commands unrivalled views over the surrounding countryside. It's also particularly known for its viticulture – something you'll explore on a visit to Sagrantino di Montefalco, one of only two DOCG-standard wineries in Umbria. Here, a guided tasting will bring you through its finest varietals as a cooking class adds extra detail to Umbria's cuisine. Long unfairly overshadowed by its neighbour to the north – Tuscany – you'll learn why Umbria's traditional cuisine is finally getting the attention it deserves. The secret is in the farmhouse recipes.

Stay: Fontebella Palace, Assisi (Superior)

After breakfast, drive back to Florence Airport in time to catch your return flight.