Thursday
WOODS AND CHOCOLATE – MONTE MALBE
Difficulty: E; Distance: 12.5 km
Embark on a half-day hike through the woods of Monte Malbe, just a stone’s throw from Perugia. The route begins and ends at the rural parking lot in front of Villa Montemalbe (or Villa Galletti). This circular trail is of medium difficulty and allows you to experience the diverse landscapes and historical-natural beauty of Monte Malbe in just a few hours: from the Hermitage of San Salvatore to karst sinkholes, ancient lime kilns where lime was once baked, charcoal pits, and the charming “trosce,” small ponds formed by rain, vital to the area’s ecological balance. The vegetation is typical of Mediterranean scrub, featuring holm oaks and dense underbrush. Notably, the area is home to heather (Calluna vulgaris), which is extremely rare in Italy. This pleasant walk offers a chance to learn about the forest and its wildlife: wild boars, foxes, porcupines, badgers, and particularly amphibians such as newts, salamanders, frogs, and toads, which find refuge in the ponds.

At the end of the hike, a visit to Perugia is recommended to explore pastry and chocolate shops, replenish energy, and indulge in the world’s most celebrated guilty pleasure!

Arrival at the accommodation, check-in, and a dinner tasting featuring typical Umbrian products. The restaurant, part of a local organic farm, is listed in the Slow Food Osterie d’Italia guide and uses its own organic produce.

Friday
FROM FLOUR TO PASTA
Cooking class! Start by heading to the garden to gather what’s available and needed for a handmade pasta recipe. First, learn to identify cereals, then touch and taste different flours, and finally get hands-on to prepare two dishes: umbricelli and agnolotti. Enjoy a meal together made with your creations.

In the afternoon, head to Deruta and continue focusing on the table—this time, the plates! Visit a ceramic workshop and try your hand at painting classic Deruta ceramic designs and motifs. Next, visit an organic and biodynamic winery dedicated to environmental health and sustainable practices. Learn about their eco-friendly strategies, meet the geese that help maintain the vineyards, and see the farm’s horses.

Return to the accommodation for a Murder Mystery Dinner, unraveling the legend of the Castello di Pupaggi.

Saturday
LOOP HIKE: COLLEMANCIO – MONTI PREMARTANI
Distance: ~10 km | Elevation gain: +420 m | Difficulty: Medium

This beautiful trail begins at the archaeological site of Urvinum Hortense, a Roman municipium in the heart of Umbria, mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia. Discover the remains of a temple, a Paleochristian basilica, and parts of a Roman villa, strategically located at the boundary between Umbrian and Etruscan territories. Artifacts from the site are housed in the Museum of Cannara. The hike continues through olive groves and woods, descending to the Sambro stream, which you’ll follow and cross at several points before climbing back toward Collemancio.

Distance: ~10 km
Elevation gain: +310 m
Difficulty: Medium