THE PIETRALUNGA FOREST. First stop to explore the area: Pietralunga. A walk through the beautiful woods surrounding the town, from where we start the so-called “wolf rings” that take us deep into one of the largest forests in Umbria. The summit area, characterized by strongly eroded slopes with exposed bare rock (which in some sections forms suggestive gullies), offers a panoramic view of the adjacent mountain ranges: Serra di Burano, Monte Nerone, Monte Catria, and Monte Cucco. A beautiful immersion in nature to inspire us.

Return to the property and relax. Dinner.

Length: approx. 13 km
Elevation gain: + 400m
Difficulty: medium

BIRDWATCHING AND VILLAGES. Transfer to the Spada Lakes Nature Park in Città di Castello, a protected reserve with environmental and educational purposes, located in the valley along the Tevere River. The area represents a recovery of a mining zone along the river and is now equipped with birdwatching stations and an educational path with explanatory panels for recognizing various species. It is possible to do birdwatching using the panels or with the help of a guide from the center. Afterward, a visit to Città di Castello is recommended, one of the most important cultural centers in the upper Tevere valley, the hometown of Alberto Burri, a contemporary artist with two internationally recognized museums dedicated to him.

Return to the property and dinner.

GUBBIO AND THE DINOSAURS. From Porta Sant’Ubaldo in Gubbio, an exciting trekking route begins along the suggestive Bottaccione Gorge, famous for the theory on the extinction of dinosaurs. The hike starts with a panoramic climb to Mount Ingino, followed by a passage along an ancient medieval aqueduct that gives the gorge its name (from “bottaccio”). Here, the stratified rocks tell the geological story from prehistory to the present. In the 1980s, a significant concentration of iridium, a metal common in meteorites but rare on Earth, was discovered, fueling theories about the extinction of the dinosaurs and making the experience even more fascinating. Returning to the center of Gubbio, we cannot miss the visit to the “Dinosaurs in Flesh and Bone” Museum. Here, through spectacular life-size models, fossils, casts, explanatory panels, and multimedia content, including Paco Lanciano’s Quadrisphere, the “Extinction” exhibition tells the history of life on Earth, with a special focus on the great extinctions.

Length: 7.5 km
Elevation gain: + 250m
If we use the cable car to reach Mount Ingino, the length is about 6.5 km with an elevation gain of 100m.
Difficulty: medium/easy