A WALK WITH TASTE: A short walk in Fratticiola Selvatica, a village founded by charcoal makers, set in a protected area for pastures and forests. Here, we’ll see how a charcoal kiln is built, from setting up the pile to the chimney… and watch out for the gagnoli! Return to the property, and for dinner… carbonara! We’ll then visit the Biscina farm near Gubbio, along the Via di Francesco, a renowned pilgrimage trail connecting the La Verna Sanctuary to Assisi. Lucia will guide us through her olive grove, explaining the characteristics of local olives, agricultural needs of the various cultivars, and the challenging calculation of olive yields to produce high-quality 100% Umbrian oil. Lunch will follow on-site, featuring local products. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the Castel d’Alfiolo and the Abbey of Santa Maria d’Alfiolo, likely dating back to the year 1000!

To conclude, we recommend an urban stroll through Gubbio’s historic center, a beautiful Umbrian town famous for the “license of the mad” and the crescia sul panaro with friccò!

AN ENVIRONMENTAL MYSTERY: WHO KILLED THE WILD CAT?

MONTE CUCCO PARK – Technical info: Difficulty E; Elevation gain 200 m; 8 km

Monte Cucco Regional Park is a stunning natural reserve, housing numerous Natura 2000-protected habitats. Its monumental beech forests are home to various mammals, including wolves and wild cats. Unfortunately, Felix_39, a four-year-old wild cat under monitoring by the conservation program, has been found dead.

When his GPS signal stayed still for too long, experts feared the worst. Felix_39, a healthy male with a large territory, showed no visible injuries or signs of disease on initial examination. Your task is to discover how and why Felix_39 died so that those responsible can be brought to justice and the wild cat population can recover.

This loop hike takes place in Monte Cucco’s ancient beech woods, starting and ending at Pian delle Macinare. This experience offers total immersion in nature and an unforgettable adventure with friends and family!

TRUFFLE HUNTING: Just a few kilometers away is Isola di Nocera Umbra, near the Gualdo Tadino border, where we’ll experience an unforgettable truffle hunt. The truffle is a prized underground fungus and one of Umbria’s greatest natural treasures. Nora and Stella, two Lagotto Romagnolo dogs—the only breed certified for truffle hunting—will guide us with their incredible noses to find the “black diamond,” as it’s been known since ancient times.

This experience begins with an introduction to truffles and their natural habitat, covering the development of cultivated truffle grounds in Umbria to protect this important local product, as well as truffle cultivation methods and the types of truffles and mycorrhized plants found here. The second part will be dedicated to an on-the-ground search with the Lagotto dogs. The truffles collected will then be used for a tasting session. Entering the world of this unique fungus is both fascinating and educational, and the bond between the truffle hunter and their dog is something you’ll always remember. This activity is engaging and fun. To conclude, a walk through the medieval village of Nocera Umbra is recommended. End of services.