Walking
and Sightseeing in
UMBRIA, ITALY
April 21 – 29, 2013
Thank you for your
interest in our excursion to Umbria, Italy.
As you read on, you will find that we have a rather full itinerary. Keep in mind….you do not have to join in the all the activities. We are staying in a lovely location. You have the freedom to spend as many days
as you wish….just relaxing….reading….absorbing…
While Tuscany has
gained fame for having successfully capitalized on the charm of its
sun-bleached stone farmhouses, those looking for a slightly less trampled
alternative will enjoy an agriturismo in Umbria. Known as the Green Heart of Italy and home
to such famed medieval hill towns as Assisi and Spello. Umbria hosts a treasure trove of
gastronomic and cultural delights rivaling those of its more famous neighbor to
the west. In Umbria there are works of
art, harmonious architecture and views of a breathtaking and mystical landscape
add to the total experience.
Umbria is the
birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of the Environmental
movement. This region of Italy has seen
the history of three millennia pass across its lands. Etruscan civilization flourished in the ancient times. Then the Romans conquered bringing roads and
theatres. During the medieval era,
Umbria was known for its Saints and
throughout the Renaissance this region was a major center for learning and
art.
Today, Umbria is not
as well known as Tuscany but equally beautiful and historic. In the sprit of St. Francis the region
boasts four nature reserves which are wonderful for hiking as well as walking
paths which once were part of the pilgrims’ route to Rome.
This will be my
(Kathy’s) 13th trip to Malvarina. Enjoyed eight day visits In May, 2002, April
2003, and September 2005. In the spring of 2007, I led four consecutive trips,
three trips in 2009, and two in 2011..
Always look forward to a return trip to Malvarina, our lovely base in
Umbria. This time, I am planning to
lead two consecutive trips.
Weather in Umbria in
April/May is beautiful. We have long
days of daylight. Temperatures usually
do not go above the mid-seventies.
Evenings in the hill towns will be cool.
At this time of year,
the poppies are in bloom and you will hear the mating call of the cuckoo.
Accommodations:
Situated on a hillside east of Assisi, nestled among olive trees and rosemary bushes, La Malvarina is a renovated farmhouse.. The Inn dates from the Middle Ages. The name Malvarina derives from a strip of land once part of a castle complex. The estate has been tastefully restored by the owners. Each room is furnished with antiques from the area. Maria Maurillo and her family live on the property and take pride in maintaining it’s impeccably groomed grounds. Hospitality is a family affair. Maria’s son Claudio, his wife Patrizia, and their children enjoy making guests feel like part of the family. Grandson, Filippo, often takes us out on day trips. The buildings at La Malvarina date back to the fifteenth century. Stables, barns and annexes immersed in an oak forest, have been renovated to provide rooms with private bathrooms, all carefully refurbished in classic country style. Part of the old wine cellar has been converted into an intimate dining-room with a large fireplace where relaxed in the warmth and comfort of the surroundings, you can enjoy the immense variety of Patrizia’s cooking using her mother in law Maria’s recipes of old traditional Umbrian recipes using home grown produce. Patrizia, also offers cooking courses for those who are interested. We will offer an option of taking cooking classes at 25 Euros per person per lesson Maria and Malvarina were featured n Bon Appetit magazine (My 1997) and on CNN Travel Now (Nov. 1999 and March 2000). Kathy first learned of La Malvarina in a Wall Street Journal article. For photos of La Malvarina and information about the area check the following websites: http://www.malvarina.it Try doing a Google search on “Maria, Malvarina, cooking” and see what you get.
Malvarina is situated between Assisi and Spello…..four
miles in each direction. There are
scenic walks to each of these towns through olive groves along paths and dirt
roads.
Price of trip covers double occupancy in rooms with
private baths. You can have a
private room and bath at a single occupancy cost of an additional $185 for the
trip.
Meals: At La Malvarina (Umbria) our breakfasts and
dinners are included. On our daily
excursions, you will purchase your own lunches. Breakfasts are at 8:00 am and dinners are served at 8:15 pm and
sometimes last until 11:00pm. We are
served course upon course of Maria’s wonderful home cooking. Wine and mineral water are included with our
dinners. When one bottle is
emptied….another one appears. To give
you an example of a typical meal: toasted bread with olive oil, fresh faba
beans, pecorino cheese, artichokes, a
bean dish, special chicken soup, a faro (barley) dish, cannoli with veal, lamb
shanks, greens of chicory and arugula.
Dessert of cut up fruit and small cakes and cookies. Every night there was a pasta, a meat,
salad, vegetables….and many extras!
The Italian breakfast
is simple…scrambled eggs, bread, cheese, butter, homemade jams, fruit, juice,
coffee, and tea.
Travel: Airfare is not included in the price of the trip. Kathy will keep you informed of the best
buys for air travel. If you hear of a
bargain rate, let Kathy know and she will share the information with the rest
of the group. We will have a
designated time to meet at the airport in Florence on April 21 (which means
that you would need to leave home on
April 20….or earlier). Highly recommend
that you arrive at least a day early in Florence….just to be sure that you are
there when the bus picks up the group.
A passport is
required of Americans traveling to Italy.
Be sure that it does not expire for at least six months after you return
home.
We have hired a small
bus and driver for our stay in Umbria.
The driver will meet us at the airport in Florence and return us to the same airport at end of trip. During the week he/she will drive us to our
day’s activities.
Local Guides: The guides that we used on past trips were
excellent. Peppe, Filippo or Piera will
be our guide for sightseeing and hiking in the hilltowns and countryside.
Horseback Riding: Optional (at your own expense)….A half day
of guided horseback riding in the mountains behind Malvarina is possible. This is for experience horseback riders…not
novices. There are beautiful views as
you ride through the olive groves.
Trip Coordinator
Kathy Didier owns and manages Pembrook in Woodstock, NH. She is an AMC Boston Chapter leader (hiking,
snowshoeing, and skiing). She leads at least two trips a month in New
Hampshire’s White Mountains. Kathy
leads an average of eight extended trips each year….all over the world.
Trip Insurance - Cancellation and Medical
We strongly recommend
purchasing travel insurance when you book.
This can reimburse you if you need to cancel last minute due to sickness,
family emergency, jury duty, job change, or any other unforeseen
occurrence. One of the most frequent
reasons for participants to cancel a trip is not their own health issues…but,
those of senior parents.
Requirements to Participate
a) To fully enjoy this trip, recent,
on-going hiking/walking experience is
required. We will be hiking or walking
in towns from four to eight miles each day.
Our pace will be slow to moderate.
The idea of the trip is to enjoy the scenery that surrounds us. If a participant
is not up to hiking eight miles, he/she has the option of staying at our
accommodations and doing a local walk on his/her own.
b) Adaptability: An important criterion
for this trip is the ability to be flexible.
Our itinerary could change from day to day, planes can be delayed, and
weather could cause changes. Everyone
is expected to be able to “roll with the punches” as much as possible, be
cooperative, abide by leader decisions, and add to the total group experience
while enjoying themselves. Safety will
always take priority in the leaders’ decisions.
c) Understanding
Purpose of Trip: This trip is designed
for everyone to experience the natural wonders, history and culture of Umbria, Italy while enjoying the company of
fellow hikers. Although each person
comes with his or her own expectations, this is primarily a group trip. Decisions will be made to benefit the group
as a whole.
Equipment
- You provide your own daypack, hiking boots, and rain gear.
Cost Particulars
Cost will
be based upon the number of participants.
10
participants - $2300
12
participants – 2180
14
participants - $2100
16
participants - $2050
In the past
we have had full groups and went with the lower price.
This rate is based
upon the value of the US $ and Euro. I
have used $1.50 US to one Euro. Final
price of trip will be based upon the foreign exchange at time that payments are
paid to Malvarina. I am hoping that it
will be less and you will receive refund.
If it is more, we will have to raise the price of trip.
Single
occupancy is available at $185 for the eight nights.
Included in the price
1. Land travel by bus and driver while in
Italy
2. Accommodations in beautifully restored
farmhouse (double occupancy)
3. Eight multiple course dinners and wine, eight breakfasts
4. Lunch at Malvarina on the day of arrival
5. Local guides for six days outings
6. Oil tasting
7. Special luncheon excursion on one of the days
8. Tips to Guides and Kitchen staff
Not included in price
1.
Transportation to/from your home and your local airport
2.
Flights from home city to Italy.
Any Airport Taxes **
3. Alcoholic and bottled drinks other than the wine served at
dinner.
4. Single supplement.
5. Lunches
6. Cooking classes if you are interested ( 30 Euros)
7. Horseback riding
6.
Personal expenditures
7.
Costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation
8.
Program changes and delays beyond our control
8. Any pre-trip costs such as Passport or anything else not in
the above list of “included in the price”
9. Trip Insurance
Payment Schedule
Registration - $ 850
September 1, 2012 $ 850
January
1, 2013 $ Final Payment
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation must be writing -
a)
$150 non-refundable portion
b) Any moneys paid out to vendors and money necessary to keep
the trip cost from increasing - causing an increase for other trip
members. Therefore, you should have
purchased travel insurance by this time.
Please note that once the trip has filled and prospective
participants are turned away, you will not receive a refund unless we are able
to fill your space.
Once a trip begins, there is absolutely no refund, partial
or full, for any reason. Travel insurance may cover you for this
expense.
Registration
The minimum age for
this trip is eighteen. Because of bus
size, this trip is limited to a group of fifteen. A separate application is required for each person. To reserve a space on the trip, please fill
out the application completely, sign the liability form and mail these with
your deposit to:
Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock,
NH 03293
Make checks payable
to "Kathy Didier “. She will
promptly review your application. Upon
acceptance, a receipt and additional information will be sent to you. If not accepted, your deposit will be
returned.
If your application
is received and accepted after January
1, 2013, please add scheduled payments to the amount of deposit. Thank you.
If you have any questions, please call:
Leader: Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock, NH 03293
603-726-3553
kdidier@suchmail.com
UMBRIA
Walking and Sighteeing
April 21 – 29, 2013
ITINERARY
Sunday, April 21
– We will meet at 10am at the airport in Florence, Italy, by our bus driver and
driven two to three hours south to Malvarina our home for the next eight days,
near Assisi in Umbria. Light lunch at
Malvarina. Enjoy free time, relax or
take a walk. While staying at La
Malvarina, all of our breakfasts and dinners are provided. Breakfast is at 8:00 am. Dinner is at 8:15 pm. (L,D)
Monday, April 22 – “Walk
Around the 8 Gates of Assisi” with Peppe. (Walking distance up to 8 miles;
Modified version for those who need it.
Difficulty level: Easy to
Moderate.) Today’s route goes around
the medieval walls and gates of Assisi.
Assisi’s town walls begin on the valley floor and completely enclose the
city as they climb the steep hillside, climaxing at an enormous castle. Assisi with its maze of tiny streets is a
marvelous town for walking. It is great
fun as you come across intriguing little lanes opening into small squares. When you stop to rest, there are marvelous
vistas of the breathtaking Umbrian fields stretching out below. There are many
places where you can break away from the group to pursue your own
interests. We will meet at a designated
place. After the hike a visit to the Bascillica of St. Francis. (B,D)
Tuesday, April 23 – Visit to three
jewels on the medieval Umbrian crown: Spello is noted for its intact urban
layout and remarkable frescoes by “Pinturicchio,” master of the
Renaissance; Late morning wine tasting
at Terre de Trinci da Ludovico e Umberto.
Meet Peppe and travel to Bevagna,
known for its elegant “piazza” and Roman mosaics; and Montefalco to view Benozzo-Gozzoli’s “Life of Saint Francis”
frescoes. Lunch in Montefalco. Olive tasting in nearby Vescia
de Foligno. After learning about
the process of making this special olive oil….we get to sample the oil….with a
glass of wine. (B,D)
Wednesday, April 24 – Piera will take
us to the town of Deruta, known for its accomplished potters. Start the day with a visit to the pottery
makers of new Deruta. We continue on to
the old city of Deruta to walk the old city and view the works of many
potters. Travel to Perugia for lunch
and a walking tour of this old university town. Free time to explore on own..
(B,D)
Thursday, April 25
– Hiking day with Peppe as our
guide. We will be driven to a trail
close to the summit of Mount Subasio, a national park created in 1983. We enjoy its open summit before walking
downhill through meadows of wildflowers
to the little village of
Collepino….and then on down to Spello.
For those who want an easier hike…we will start in Collepino and walk to
Spello. This is open countryside with
vistas in all directions. Lunch (not
included) in Spello. Our mini-bus will
then meet us at the end of our day at the base of Spello (B,D)
Friday, April 26 –
Travel to Gubbio with Peppe.. This
beautiful hill town is one of the oldest cities in Italy, older than Rome. Palazzo del Consoli is one of the most
elegant and perfectly preserved Renaissance buildings in Europe. Gubbio is also famous for “Bucchero”, a
pottery-making technique known since Etruscan time. Our bus drops us at the top of hill, high above the town. From there Peppe will guide us as we walk to
the Basilica of San Ubaldo. Legends
about the town of Gubbio go back to Noah’s flood and it certainly true that the
town dates back to pre-Etruscan times.
From the Basilica we walk the route of the famous “Candle Race” as we
wind our way back into town. Once in
town, there will be time to visit museums, palaces, or walk the narrow
cobblestone streets of Gubbio. Back at
Malvarina, optional cooking lesson with Patrizia and Piera at 5:30pm (B,D)
Saturday, April 27 - Today,
offers a chance to stay around our villa and relax, horseback ride, ….or to revisit
Assisi No need for the bus. We
walk through the woods and olive groves that bordered the Mt. Sabasio Park and
back on a scenic route with open vistas of the valley below. Total distance is 7.5 miles r/t. In Assisi, you will have more time to
examine the art work in the churches or to do some shopping. Lunch at café with open outdoor courtyard
with great views. Stop for gelato and
then walk back to Malvarina. Option to
take a taxi back. Time for relaxation
and socializing ….or preliminary packing
OR….watch Georgio as he makes pecorino and ricotta cheese.(B,D)
Sunday, April 28 . Valnerina (Vallo di Nera, Castel S. Felice
and abbazia, Scheggino) con pranzo a Pontuglia da Gianni alle 13.30
precise. Sulla via del ritorno sosta
alle Fonti del Clitunno e al Tempietto – cena insieme con chitarra e canti.
(Okay…by end of week, we should understand that much Italiano,) We will visit former Benedictine Monasteries
in the Valley of Nera. Special
lunch…. Visit to town of Scheggino…and
to Castle of San Felice. Time for some
long walks with fantastic countryside views.
Claudio has planned a special lunch with some of his friends. Memories to take home. Farewell dinner at Malvarina. (B,L,D)
Monday, April 29
- All good things must come to an
end. We bid Malvarina goodbye. Our driver will take us to the airport in
Florence for our flights back to the US.
Some of you might choose to extend your trip in Italy.
Please note: The
order of these hikes and day trips will be changed when we get to Umbria. Peppe is a professor and the days will
depend upon his schedule. In the past,
Peppe or the staff at Malvarina have had suggestions of day trips that they
thought we would enjoy more than those scheduled. So…..we need to be flexible.
For more information about this trip, contact Kathy Didier
(603-726-3553) kathydidiertravels@yahoo.com
UMBRIA, ITALY
Walking and Sightseeing
April 21-29, 2013
APPLICATION
Please
take this form seriously. It must be
completed and carefully filled out in order to be considered for this
trip. Registrants will be considered on
a first come (deposit plus completed forms) first served basis. Each person must fill out a separate
application. Final selection will be
determined by the leaders.
NAME: ________________________________PHONE: hm ( )___________________________
ADDRESS: ______________________________ cell (
)___________________________
______________________________________________EmailAddress: ________________________
OCCUPATION: ___________________________ SMOKER:
____ NONSMOKER: ___________
DATE
OF BIRTH: _____________ SEX
____ HEIGHT _______ WEIGHT
_______
PASSPORT
NUMBER
______________________________
EXPIRATION DATE ________________
HOW
DOES YOUR NAME READ ON YOUR PASSPORT?_____________________________________
EMERGENCY
CONTACT:
NAME:
__________________________ PHONE:
hm & Cell ( )___________________________
ADDRESS:
_____________________________ wk (
)__________________________
_______________________________________
RELATIONSHIP:
__________________________
COST
OF TRIP COVERS TWO PEOPLE SHARING A ROOM.
DO YOU PREFER TO HAVE A ROOMMATE?
____________ If so, with whom would you like to share? ______________________
WOULD
YOU LIKE TO BE ASSIGNED A ROOMMATE?
______________
DO
YOU PREFER TO PAY $185 EUROS EXTRA TO HAVE A PRIVATE ROOM? ___________
1. Please be candid about your expectations concerning this
trip. Why are you interested in coming
on this trip? Are you able to adapt to
group living and changing itineraries?
2.
Please describe your
hiking ability. Describe the extent of
your hiking experience over the past two years. Include the frequency and level of difficulty.
1. List any disorders, however slight, for which you take
medication. List medications and
dosages.
2. Please describe any chronic disorders that you have (i.e.
knee, ankle, back, etc.)
3. List any dietary restrictions or preferences that you have.
4. Describe any physical activity that you routinely do in
order to maintain your health. Please
include types of activities, frequency of each, and duration of exercise.
7. List any
organized group excursions of one week or more in which you have
participated.
Title and Dates Primary Activity Leaders
_____________ _________________________ ____________________
_____________
_________________________
____________________
8. Other trips or comments:
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Thank you. Please mail this form along with your
deposit
Payment Schedule
Registration - $ 850
September 1, 2012 $ 850
January
1, 2013 $ Final Payment
Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock, NH 03293
603-726-3553
