Cultour Italia - Umbria Culinary Tour - June 2025

We meet in Florence and transfer to Assisi where you check into the tranquil NUN Assisi Relais and Spa Museum, formerly a convent built in 1275.

That evening we gather for a welcome drink in the hotel’s bucolic garden and then walk through the storied streets of Assisi, continuing past the town walls and along green paths to dine just below the beautiful Basilica of St. Francis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The morning takes us to Spello, a Roman colony in the 1st century BC. We start with a bike ride through olive groves, finishing at an oil mill where we see the production facility and taste the typical Umbrian olive oil. We are deep in the Umbrian countryside, where no pesticides are used to produce what is considered to be one of Italy’s highest quality olive oil.

We lunch in Spello and then return to NUN where you have free time to enjoy the gardens and spa. Remarkably, the spa contains ancient Roman remains from the imperial era. Unearthed during the hotel’s renovation, they were incorporated into its design.

Later that evening we dine on site, enjoying the beautiful surroundings and delicious regional flavours. The restaurant’s chef is deeply passionate about highlighting local ingredients and emphasizing traditional Umbrian dishes.

*The bike excursion is on e-bikes, on low trafficked roads, 15km long with an elevation gain of 250m. The terrain is paved and we have a charming stop along the way.

Homeland of St. Francis of Assisi, we begin the day with a visit to the hermitage where St. Francis and other hermits would go to meditate. The site contains a building dating back to 1205, with further buildings added later.

We continue with a visit to the Basilica* of St. Francis of Assisi. Construction was begun in 1228 and comprises an upper and lower church. Both are decorated with frescoes by numerous late medieval painters. The range and quality of the works give the Basilica a unique importance in demonstrating the outstanding development of Italian art of this period. 

We depart Assisi (and check out of the hotel) and continue to Bevagna - a charming medieval town which was a former Roman river port, connected with Rome via the Tiber river. Here we visit some fascinating Roman archaeological sites.

The late afternoon and evening take us to back to the Umbrian countryside, this time into vineyards, where we visit two distinct wineries, with tastings and dinner. 

The first is a family-run winery with roots in the land dating back to the 1500’s, and the second is a young winery where a chef and wine grower focuses his passion in biodynamic agriculture and sustainable growing practices. We dine in the former stables of this farmhouse turned winery and enjoy rustic gastronomy sourced from the land.

Tonight we check in to our hotel in Perugia, the luxury 5 star hotel SINA Brufani, located in the heart of the medieval city, it dates from 1884.

*The term basilica originally referred to a specific function and style of building in use during the time of the Roman Empire. It was a public building used by the Emperor or Judges for major events of noble import or significance.

The morning is free to explore Perugia - the small and vibrant capital city of Umbria. Step out your hotel doors and you are immediately immersed in the medieval architecture of the historic downtown. We rejoin for lunch in the city center and begin our guided tour of this captivating city whose history dates back to the Etruscans and which boasts a university dating from 1308.

We finish our tour back at the hotel, then leave the city walls and juxtapose the day’s energy with a bucolic walk among the vineyards of our third winery, where a passion for art and organic wine production shaped renovations and viticultural efforts. 

We end the day with an exclusive cellar tour, wine tasting, and a dinner focused on typical, rustic Umbrian cuisine.

We check out and depart for the hilltown of Deruta, renowned for its rich history and craftsmanship, particularly in ceramic production. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, with archaeological evidence suggesting that the area was inhabited during the Roman era. Deruta is known worldwide for the production of artistic ceramics, documented since the Middle Ages. It is still today the center of the largest production of artistic majolica in Italy.

We visit the workshop, museum and store of a family who has been producing the renowned Deruta majolica for five centuries, using time-honoured traditions passed down from generation to generation.

After a replenishing lunch, we venture onto the private acreage of a castle whose origins date back to the 12th century, when it was built as a defensive stronghold. Strategically positioned and offering a commanding view of the surrounding landscape, it was an important site for monitoring and protecting the area from potential invaders.

We have an exclusive tour of the castle and dinner too!

This evening we check into our last uniquely selected accommodation. We are working on final details and will update you soon.

The first half of the day is dedicated to truffles! We head out truffle hunting in the lush, green woods of the upper Tiber valley with hunters and dogs.* Hopefully after a successful hunt we return to the family farm and cook typical pasta & truffle recipes in a familiar and comfortable atmosphere.

Sated, the afternoon is free to enjoy some leisure time before our final dinner together.

Our last dinner is at the Michelin-starred restaurant housed within the walls of Vocabolo Moscatelli, a former 13th-century monastery.

*The truffle hunting terrain is gentle with the occasional incline and we’re in the woods approx. 60-90min.

After a week filled with unforgettable experiences, we provide a transfer back to Florence for your onward journey.

We hope you’ll choose to join us in Umbria, where the blend of art, history and gastronomy makes the region a captivating destination for travellers seeking an authentic Italian experience.

*Itinerary subject to modifications.

If you would like to extend elsewhere in Italy, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]