3000 EURO PER PERSON
500 EURO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
What an ideal spot to settle in for a week and become one of the locals. An easy 2-hour train ride from Rome and you’ll find yourself in Viterbo, the ‘City of Popes,’ the seat of papacy for 24 years, thus earning itself this embellished title.
Viterbo is situated to the south of the Tuscan regional limit and with Umbria over the hill to the east. This is the center of a red wine wonderland with a history dating back more than 800 years when the Etruscans settled this land. This lively city is what we call home for the week of hiking and exploring.
Our lodging will be in one of many restored palaces or medieval towers built into the city walls, located on a cozy plaza with cafés, shops and restaurants at your fingertips.
Each day, after breakfast we’ll meander the historical trails of Lazio, visit wineries, explore ancient tunnels excavated by the Etruscans thousands of years ago and just kick back and enjoy the Dolce Vita.
All hotels, breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners with wine, van support w/ healthy snacks are included in the tour price.
PRIVATE tailor-made trips are available upon request. Please ask us for details.
Itinerary
Day 1
You’ll be greeted by your Spanish Steps team in Italy at 12:00 pm at the Porta Romana Train Station in VITERBO.
Viterbo is two-hours by train from the center of Rome or from the Fiumicino Airport FCO. Let us know if you’d like us to arrange a private shuttle service, otherwise the train will get you there.
After we check into our hotel, we will celebrate our upcoming adventure by savoring lunch on one of the lively piazzas in this historical city. We’ll partake in the local passegiata by visiting the monuments of Viterbo and later regroup at the hotel to chat about the upcoming week.
Dinner will be at 7:30 at one of the many gourmet trattorias in the city center.
Day 2
Un caffè per favore to start the day! After breakfast, we’ll lace up our walking shoes and head back to Bomarzo, this time to explore the Santa Cecilia cave settlement and an ancient Etruscan “Pyramid”. The total walk today will be approximately 10- kilometers of forest, riverbeds, ancient paths and mysterious monuments carved into the rock thousands of years ago. Once back in Viterbo, you’ll have free time to explore the town before we gather again for dinner.
Day 3
This morning, a short drive takes us to the slopes of Monte Cimino where a mini geology lesson takes place. A challenging yet enjoyable walk through a chestnut and beech forest will lead us to the top of the mountain, where giant boulders shaded by the UNESCO Natural Heritage Forest reveal the volcanic origins of this whole area. Back in Viterbo, we are free to wander around town or just spend a beautiful afternoon sipping a cappuccino or a glass of wine and enjoy the Italian lifestyle before regrouping for dinner.
Day 4
We’ll join our hostess, Valeria, in the breakfast room to fuel up for an active day on the trail! Prepare yourself to travel back to the Renaissance period as we explore the sacred forest of Bomarzo. More than 20 enourmous statues were sculpted in the forest based on creatures that adorned medieval cathedrals. These 16th-century figures are made from the grey peperino rock formed into an imaginary zoo figures, sinister carvings, and mythical engravings.
Once back in Viterbo, we’ll be free to wander in the town’s historical center and dine together in a restaurant right in the medieval quarter.
Day 5
After breakfast, get ready for a day dedicated to Italian cuisine and wine. Just outside of Viterbo is the little-known town of Canepina, but well-known for its homemade pasta, local wine and hemp! Hemp was big business as far back as the 11th-century when this crop was cultivated to make rope and fabric for sails on ships. Later, under the guidance of an enologist we’ll sample the local reds, whites and a cool glass of bubbly spumanti. We then move into the kitchen for a demonstration of how the local ‘mamas’ roll the pasta dough to form a mouthwatering “maccaroni,” the typical Sunday pasta, smothered in a delicious, homemade sauce.
In the afternoon, it’s back to Viterbo where we explore history from a different perspective- underground! We’ll wander beneath the city into a world of tunnels and cellars that the Etruscans carved way back when and that were later used as bomb shetlers during WWII.
Day 6
We drive to one of the most amazing sites of the province: Valle dei Calanchi, a mini-Canyonlands where we begin our hike to Civita di Bagnoregio, a place of only 11 residents perched high on a decaying precipice. This “island in the sky” is semi isolated from the rest of the valley because of the geological features and of the loose soil that makes up the peak it sits on. The main access to the hilltown is by a narrow bridge. We, on the other hand, climb to the hamlet via the smugglers trail where we enter through a hidden gate near a tiny chapel dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. We’ll meander the tiny streets before crossing the modern bridge that leads us to the main village.
Day 7
Today we head over to the local hot springs pool for a well-deserved soak. The Monumental Pool, a two thousand square meter swimming pool, is filled with thermal waters from a nearby spring coming in at 58°C (135° F), a true force of nature.
A steam bath, fueled by the same source, is located in a natural cave producing vapor that boasts healing properties for the skin, the respiratory tract, joints and metbolism.
If you’d like to indulge in one of the spa treatments, you can choose between a long list of massages, mud baths, facials, ayurvedic treatments and more. This is an extra cost and must be reserved in advance.
We’ll regroup one last time for a farewell dinner and a toast to ourselves over a glass of wine.
Day 8
All great things come to an end as we say goodbye to our hosts and guides at 11:00. We’d be happy to book you additional nights in Viterbo or help arrange special transportation to Rome.
* This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals, and spontaneous side trips.
** You will see the number of kilometers and elevation mentioned with the daily description. We are flexible in the amount you personally walk. We have the van to assist in whatever amount you would like to walk on this pilgrimage.
*** This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
FAQs
How many miles do we hike per day?
We average between 10 – 12 kilometers on our Hiking days. The other days are dedicated to sightseeing, tastings, and exploring the beauties of the region. We encourage people to ride in the van if feeling fatigued. Most pilgrims walking the trail independently walk 25 kilometers a day with a heavy pack. With Spanish Steps, we have the luxury of a fully supported van which carries our baggage and carries us the extra mile when needed.
What kind of hotels do we use?
We use 3 and 4-star hotels and family run farmhouses (Agrituismo). We have the pleasure of staying at the same hotel for the whole week.
Is there WIFI at our hotels?
Our hotels nearly always have free WIFI available although it is often just in the lobby/public areas. We generally stay at historical properties, which often have thick walls, so WIFI rarely works in the rooms.
How many meals are included?
All continental breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners (wine and water included). At times, we may need to eat in a café on route. If you have any dietary restrictions, be sure to let us know what they are before the start of this trip. All other meals are at your own expense. Expect to pay around 16 Euro for lunch, 30 Euro for dinner in a restaurant.
How does one get to VITERBO?
- Plan to fly to Rome.
- The railway service is effective and reliable in Italy. On the railway web page (also in English) you can easily plan your trip and buy tickets online (recommended): www.trenitalia.com/en/html.
- A train ride from Fiumicino (FCO, Rome’s main airport) to Viterbo takes about 2 hours. Fiumicino airport station is located within the airport area, reachable on foot from all terminals, plan on at least 30 minutes to find it, check and reach your platform, board the train.
- If you wish to travel with a private driver, please contact us in advance and we can help you arrange your trip.
What kind of equipment should I pack?
The hikes are not fancy. I will supply you with an equipment list of basic items to pack. You are limited to one bag weighing 30-lbs and a one-day pack to hold items such as your camera, rain gear and water bottle. Hiking boots will be your most important piece of equipment and we recommend packing them in your hand luggage or wearing them during flight. Please be sure they are well broken in and that you have proper socks before arriving in Italy. Please bring hiking poles with you if you wish to use them.
How do I access spending money/how much should I bring?
Most expenses are already built into Spanish Steps trips, lunches are a separate expense. Most people travel with an ATM card. Money machines are everywhere in Italy but be sure you know your PIN number before departing the US. Do not bring traveler’s check or US dollars. Most banks will turn you away.
Should I leave a gratuity for our guides?
Our guests often ask for guidelines on tipping tour guides. For an 8-day tour, a tip of around 80-100 Euros per guest for each guide is appropriate if you are pleased with their service: or about 10 Euros per day, per guide.
What is the average age of the group?
The average age of the hiker on a Spanish Steps tour is 50 years old during the spring and fall months but younger during the summer months. Most trips are a mix of a 40/60 ratio of men to women. I have taken school groups where the age range is 13-20 years old. With an eager heart and a mind full of curiosities, any age is able to walk our trails.
What is the terrain like?
The trails are well marked with yellow arrows and the scallop shell tile. There are some long, slow climbs through farming ares but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We walk along a lot of secondary farm road, paths through vineyards, beech and chestnut forests and old country roads.
Is there a single supplement?
Some people would like to be matched with a roommate. I can’t guarantee a match but will try to place you with someone if there are any requests. The price of the single supplement is 500 EUROS per person.
Can you provide references?
We would be delighted to share with you some references of former clients who have walked with us. If you would like to contact any former Spanish Steps participants, let us know by calling us. Check out our Customer Comments on our website at www.spanishsteps.com. Buon Viaggio!
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