Assisi, Umbria
One of my resolutions after the A to Z Challenge in April was to “join the dots” where I’d only written about parts of a holiday. One of those was our Italian trip in 2003. We started off in R is for Rome, then took the train to Foligno in Umbria before setting out on a walking tour, Footsteps of St Francis, which ended at G is for Gubbio. This was organised through Headwater, a company which moves your luggage on while you walk from hotel to hotel, in this case every other day.
Headwater’s rep collected us from the station and took us to Il Poggia del Pettirossi, a hotel in the Bevagna hills overlooking the Umbria Valley – see the beautiful view above. I also like the shot through our window, left, though I remember the problem of having no curtains, just a blind which the photographer (ahem, not me) rolled right up out of the way so that it jammed and wouldn’t come back down! There was a terrace running outside the bedroom windows, so doing without wasn’t an option. Attempting to explain with minimal Italian on our side and minimal English on the staff side was tricky, but fortunately, with some difficulty and possibly swear words that we didn’t understand, it was fixed.
Our next stop was Assisi, 23km away – though the rep gave us a lift for the first part and we “only” did 18km on foot according to my diary. We walked down into Assisi – and then walked 3.5km, on a road, out the other side to our hotel. This was something I wasn’t happy with in general on this holiday – too many steep climbs on roads with the sun beating down on the tarmac. However, Assisi was lovely – we walked back down the next day, but took the sensible approach and got a taxi back.
Our next port of call was our favourite place to stay, because Paula at Agriturismo La Fontanella was such a welcoming host. More roads on the way though! Those are her cats – an additional plus point for us. On our day off, we walked to a place called Casa Castalda which had two pretty churches but not much else to detain us.
We had one more stop before we set off for Gubbio, but I have no good memories of that, so choose to draw a veil over it. We had holidayed with Headwater many times before this, in France, Spain and elsewhere in Italy, and the walking was much better. We’ve only used them once since (T for Tenerife), but I think that’s because it’s a type of holiday we’ve moved on from rather than from any dissatisfaction with the company. They still have Footsteps of St Francis in their brochure, but it’s completely different from the route we followed and probably much better for it.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
History and beauty combined. One cannot wish for more.
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Thank you – and thanks for tweeting too.
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It looks lovely but I couldn’t do the walking part even although I know you see the best of a place that way.
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Not sure I could walk that far either these days!
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Umbria is one of the beautiful areas of Italy. I once took a group of women there and we all loved it…so many special lowns like Bevagna, Montefalco and of course Assisi. Your photos have bought back fabulous memories.
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Glad of that! Some day, we’ll be back.
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Assisi looks beautiful – sadly we didn’t manage to make it here during our time in Italy. I love all the little things that pop up when traveling (or don’t come back down) and make for some of the best stories 🙂
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Maybe you’ll make it another time – it’s very beautiful.
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That is some serious walking. I had to convert 18 km to 11+ miles to figure out how much. I had heard of companies that move your stuff while you bike from town to town before but not for walkers. I walk so much during vacations I’d never make it to the next town.
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My default setting is still miles, which is what we use in the UK, but as continental Europe uses km I’ve got used to swapping between. We did a couple of cycling holidays this way too – but I’m talking decades ago. I’d probably fall off a bike now!
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I always seem to get into the same sticky predicaments where I have to try and “fix” something. I’m sure I’m getting sworn at! Love it. I haven’t been to Asissi yet…on the ever-lengthening list!
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Those lists never stop growing! Umbria is on my “go back” list – Assisi and Gubbio were lovely, but other equally lovely towns are available.
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Anabel, you’ve been so many places and have done so many things that I always find your posts inspiring, which is why I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Whether or not you enjoy blogging awards, I hope you’ll be encouraged that your readers are indeed drawing inspiration from your work! (Badge and Details: http://theartisticchristian.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/very-inspiring-blogger-award/ )
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Thanks John – I’m glad to hear you find my travels inspiring. I’m grateful for the thought, but I’m going to pass on following up the award – having just completed a Liebster award from two months ago I just know that my record on this is not good! Especially with holidays coming up…..but thanks again for the flattering nomination.
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Love the photo through the open window 🙂
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I had forgotten how good it was! Great composition – just a shame he had to mess up the blind making it.
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Some good and bad memories but the views look beautiful and love the pussy cat photo too. Always lovely
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The pussy cats were gorgeous! The place I didn’t write about they had barking dogs that wouldn’t leave us alone.
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So much history and so beautiful. First thing we learn when visiting a different country (sometimes) is the choice words. 🙂
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Fairly sure there were some used against us here, it was a pain to fix. But then, it shouldn’t have been able to roll back into itself anyway. Bad design!
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