RCGS: Rome, Assisi & Magical Umbria - Premium Adventure with Robin Esrock

The adventure begins in the endlessly alluring city of Rome. We’ll gather for the first time as a group at our four-star hotel near Rome Termini train station, then head to a nearby trattoria for a welcome dinner of traditional Roman dishes.

Everyone will be itching to explore the Eternal City, so after breakfast we’ll meet a certified guide for a tour of the landmarks, visiting the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more. There’s free time for lunch before a private transfer away from the city buzz to Abbazia Collemedio, our peaceful resort in the Umbrian countryside. The staff will be waiting with sparkling wine and appetisers for an extra-warm welcome.

We enjoy our first guided walk in Umbria this morning, a circular route starting and ending in the medieval town of Bevagna. From here, we venture to Montefalco, a hilltop town overlooking vineyards producing the much-revered rosso di Montefalco and sagrantino wines, the latter of which can be aged for up to 30 years. Both Bevagna and Montefalco are considered among the most beautiful villages in the country, and make a perfect introduction to the splendour of the region. Along our route, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch. Later in the afternoon, we visit Cantina Baldassarri, a celebrated vineyard and olive oil mill, to sample their fine wines and virgin olive oil accompanied by charcuterie, bruschetta and cheeses.

We explore the hills and paths around our resort this morning, starting at our front door and heading to the hilltop village of Collazzone. Upon our return, we head to the hotel kitchen and join a local chef for a hands-on cooking class, learning how to prepare perfect fresh pasta, tiramisu and flan. There’s free time in the afternoon to relax by the pool, before we head to Todi, another magnificent medieval village, where we can take advantage of the hilltop location and watch the sunset. There are many wonderful restaurants for dinner here – your leader will happily make recommendations.

We take a transfer to Assisi this morning, a Unesco-listed hilltop town and, as the birthplace of Saint Francis, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Italy. You’re free to explore it solo, but don’t miss the 13th-century Basilica di San Francesco, an astounding early gothic complex home to the tomb of Saint Francis and celebrated frescoes by Giotto. You may also want to visit the pink-and-white-striped Basilica of Santa Chiara; admire the towering columns at the Temple of Minerva; and visit the Rocca Maggiore, an imposing 12th-century stone fortress that protected the town for centuries.

Today we head to Perugia, a buzzing university town and capital of the Umbria region. Our first stop is Casa Museo Del Cioccolato, where we dive deep into the world’s favourite treat and taste a few samples. We’ll also learn about Baci Perugina, a world-renowned local chocolate with a hidden love message inside. After, we head to Perugia city centre. There’s free time to explore before a guided tour taking in many of the city landmarks, including Piazza IV Novembre and Rocca Paolina, a medieval fortress built for Pope Paul III with a network of underground tunnels and chambers to explore.

Today we take a circular walk from Spello, a medieval town where cobbled streets are brought to life with marvellous flower displays. Our guide will help us navigate the crisscross of ancient streets and alleys, giving you time to appreciate the Town of Flowers. Walking a section of the Path of Olives, we admire a Roman aqueduct, ancient abbeys and reach the village of Collepino, which occupies the sun-soaked face of Mount Subasio. Though the region has a long association with producing wine, craft beer has become increasingly popular here. So to end this walking adventure, we visit a craft beer factory and sample a selection of their expertly created drinks. An ideal way to toast the last night of the trip.

We enjoy our last breakfast together this morning and bid a fond farewell to Abbazia Collemedio. We then catch a transfer back to Rome Airport, where the tour comes to an end.