In the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi – gravel biking in Italy’s Umbria

Umbria is known as the green heart of Italy. In its centre lies Assisi, a town that is both holy and rural at the same time. This is the land of St. Francis and the region is devoted to him. The nature is wonderful too: forests cover the surrounding hillsides, interspersed with vineyards and olive groves, while small villages dot the cultivated countryside. A maze of dirt roads stretch like veins through the landscapes. This Collection includes some of the best gravel routes in the area. There are easy and challenging routes, but all have as little tarmac as possible.

All Tours start from the Assisi train station, a good point to reach by public transport or to park your car. And then, the choice is yours: you can cross the plain to the west and visit the village of Bevagna with its medieval moat or ride further south to see Montefalco cycling through the vineyards.

You can also take on the 1,290-metre (4,230 ft) Monte Subasio as the Tour shows one of the best gravel routes to its summit. Or you can follow the ancient Via Flaminia, built by the Romans in 220 BC, that runs through the valley of Gualdo Tadino.

You can’t go wrong here; every corner is worth a visit and its variety is truly surprising. The region is sparsely populated and gives you a glimpse of rare, untouched natural beauty.
When you meet a local person, it is worth talking to them to understand how much the people who live in this region love their land and traditions. This is probably one of the reasons why the food is so good.

Tours are possible year round, but spring and autumn are definitely best. It can be a little too hot in the height of summer and snowfall is common in winter. All in all, however, the weather is mild.

You’ll find water, grocery shops, bars and even restaurants in every village you pass through.

However, specialised bike shops are few and far between along the route, so I suggest you take along everything you need for emergency repairs. But don't waste any time, it's time to pedal!