
Roundtrip from Spina to Cortona and Umbertide

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RouteXpert Catherine De Groote RouteXpert
Last edit: 12-11-2022
No motorized traffic is allowed in the historic towns. It is best to park your motorcycle on the edge parking. We received the following tip from the police: if you do not park your motorcycle within the blue-lined parking spaces, you can park for free. The local roads are in bad condition. Different speed limits apply to this. This varies from 30 km/h to 70 km/h.
You will explore the region to the north and east of the beautiful Lago Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy. Castel Rigone, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Cortona, Umbertide... will have no more secrets for you after this trip. These are towns that are worth a visit, especially for those interested in a bit of culture. The landscape is partly flat, but in the north you get a winding road through the hills shoved under your wheels. The secondary roads are not always in good condition but this ride deserves 5 stars.
Animation
Verdict
Duration
11h 37m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
187.73 km
Countries


Passignano sul Trasimeno
Refueling is possible after 20 km.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Miracoli is located just outside the walls of Castel Rigone - a small hamlet of Passignano sul Trasimeno - and is one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Umbria. The building was given the title of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli in 1494 and was a place of protection against the plague. The structure is built entirely in sandstone: the squat bell tower was rebuilt in 1851, after the collapse of the previous one in 1531. The sanctuary has a Latin cross plan, with a single broad nave; on the left wall you can admire the frescoes of the Perugian school from the sixteenth century. In the right arm of the transept, in a small chapel in blue-grey sandstone, is a wooden crucifix. In the apse you can admire the painting of the Epiphany, made by Domenico Alfani. In the chapel in the left transept, also in blue-grey sandstone, there is a picture of the Madonna and Child, dated to the end of the 16th century.
A few kilometers further you have a beautiful view of Lake Trasimeno. Lago Trasimeno (Lake Trasimeno) is one of the largest lakes in Italy. It has an area of 128 km2, making it the fourth largest lake in the country. A notable feature is that it is completely enclosed. This means that water is added via a number of small streams and rivers, but there is no 'exit'. Fortunately, it can get quite warm, so that water also evaporates and the level remains fairly constant.
When entering Pissagnano you can park in the spacious parking lot on the lake where you can take some nice pictures. Here you also have a beautiful view of the fortress that sits above the city. For a visit to the fort, it is best to park in the parking lot further away.
The fortress currently consists of the ruins of the old original construction: the square walls, a semi-destroyed tower and the northern part of the medieval castle, with the triangular tower.
The origin of the fortress dates back to the Lombard period (5th/6th century), but the square walls were probably built between 820 and 850. In 1187 the fortress passed under the chapter of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Perugia). Shortly afterwards, in 1202, the extension works began. It was thus transformed into a real fortified castle, able to defend the Perugian territories on the Tuscan side. The surrounding houses were incorporated into the walls. During the Middle Ages, the castle of Passignano changed hands several times. But it is especially after the war between the Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal State (1479) that its appearance underwent numerous changes. Many towers were destroyed and countless houses damaged. It was not until 1778 that part of the castle was demolished to allow better passage for the carriages. Between 1816 and 1817, the Papal government decided to demolish the entire complex and ordered that the material taken from the towers and walls be used to raise the street level.
An ideal lunch stop is at restaurant L'Oasi della Pizza. You can enjoy a tasty pizza in a typical Italian atmosphere. All pizzas are freshly made and there is a wide choice.
In Cortona is a beautiful museum with Etruscan art. The Museum of the Etruscan Academy and of the City of Cortona is housed in Palazzo Casali, one of the oldest and most historic buildings in the city, displaying some of the most extraordinary masterpieces of the Etruscan civilization in over 2,000 square meters of exhibition space. You will find the extraordinary Etruscan chandelier, the collection of bronzes, the small but important Egyptian section, the photo collections, the beautiful eighteenth century library.
The new museum is also the welcome and information point to access the Archaeological Park of Cortona with its 11 archaeological sites in the historic center and in the area, in particular the burial mounds of Sodo, the tanella Angori and the tanella di Pitagora.
After the town you turn right to the church of Santa Margherita. On the site of the present church there was a small church built by the Camaldolese monks in the 11th century and dedicated to San Basilio. The church was damaged during the sack of Cortona in 1258 and rebuilt in 1288 by Santa Margherita. Santa Margherita lived here in a back room of this church until her death in 1297. She was buried in the church of San Basilio. Immediately after Margherita's death, the Cortonese built, next to the small church, a larger church to a design by Giovanni Pisano and in 1330 they transferred the saint's body. Since then, the church was more simply called Santa Margherita.
The fortress of Girifalco di Cortona a little further away was built in 1556, on the highest point of the town, by the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de Medici.
The fortress was built on what were the ancient structures of the same fortress in Etruscan, Roman and Medieval times. The building has a trapezoidal shape with four large bastions and remains a fine example of military architecture from the sixteenth century .
After its reconstruction in modern times, there is no news of battles that have taken place around it. In reality, as for all other fortifications of the Aretino, the fortress remained virtually unused.
Recently restored, it is now home to temporary exhibitions and open to visitors. From the top of the tower it is possible to admire a beautiful panorama of Cortona and the whole Valdichiana.
From here the road winds through the wooded hills towards Umbertide.
In the historic center of Umbertide stands the mighty tower of the medieval fortress designed in 1374. It was completed in 1389. The building consists of a massive square tower over 100 feet high and three other smaller crenellated towers. The base is made up of thick walls and there are once said to have been gates with drawbridges.
In 1521 Pope Leo X entrusted the custody of the fortress to the higher authorities of Fratta (the ancient name for Umbertide) for seven years and this was extended by Clement VII for another ten years. During this century it also became the seat of a papal military garrison and the defensive equipment was significantly expanded.
It is possible to enter the building through a single door from Piazza Fortebracci; the other door, now broken down, was toward the palace.
During the renovation, elements were discovered that helped identify parts of the complex that were thought to have been lost: an old stone staircase, found in the first room of the fortress, on the first floor, and a hatch discovered on the ground floor, under 1.5 meters of ground, used for access to the underground spaces.
Currently, the city government has allocated several rooms of the fortress for use as a Contemporary Art Center.
Opposite the fortress is the collegiate church of Santa Maria della Reggia. It is a majestic building with an octagonal plan on the outside and a circular inside. Construction started in 1559 and lasted 4 years. Sixteen columns separate from the wall support the entablature on which the 40 m high dome rests. Behind the main altar is a 15th-century fresco of Gubbio influence depicting the Madonna and Child and two saints; above the organ gallery is the Transfiguration of Niccolò Circignani, a signed and dated work (1578).
This Collegiata became the sanctuary of motorcyclists in central Italy. The Madonna della Reggia, former patron saint of the city, is in charge of protecting motorcyclists. This is symbolized by a votive lamp where a centaur, symbol of the motorcyclist, turns towards the sky. The work was created by the Pietralunghese artist Alberto Alunni. At the entrance of the church is a sign 'Santuario dei motociclisti'.
You can relax on the spacious terrace or inside the cozy café Giardino where you can enjoy delicious coffee and pastries.
Via Strada Statale 728 it goes south to Perugia. Beyond the hustle and bustle of the city, there is one last opportunity to refuel. From there it is only 13 km more to the holiday home.

The Rocca of Umbertide

Basilica of Santa Margherita - Cortona
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Umbria
About this region
Umbria ( UM-bree-ə, Italian: [ˈumbrja]) is a region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the River Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Apennine Peninsula. The regional capital is Perugia.
The region is characterized by hills, mountains, valleys and historical towns such as the university centre of Perugia, Assisi, a World Heritage Site associated with St. Francis of Assisi, Terni, Norcia, Città di Castello, Gubbio, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, Castiglione del Lago, Narni, Amelia, Spello and other small cities.
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The region is characterized by hills, mountains, valleys and historical towns such as the university centre of Perugia, Assisi, a World Heritage Site associated with St. Francis of Assisi, Terni, Norcia, Città di Castello, Gubbio, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, Castiglione del Lago, Narni, Amelia, Spello and other small cities.
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8 tours in the Umbria holiday region
Umbria is a region with green, gently rolling hills, mainly covered with vineyards and olive groves, but there are also many fields of wheat, sugar beet, tobacco and sunflowers. This region is also called the green heart of Italy, has a mild Mediterranean climate so that the summers are dry and sunny. Umbria is characterized by ancient walled hill towns with steep streets that bear witness to a rich cultural history. Be pleasantly surprised by this region, where culture and nature are in perfect balance.
Highlights of Umbria are undoubtedly Assisi, Spoleto, Orvieto, Perugia, Gubbio, Todi, Cortona, Umbertide. There are also numerous fortresses in the region such as Montefiascone, Tentennano, Radicofani, Rocca del Leone and Gualdo Cattaneo, which can be seen from afar due to their high location. Civita di Bagnoregio is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and the parks of Monte Subasi and Monte Cucco offer fantastic views of the beautiful surroundings. Very nice to drive along is Lake Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy.
Highlights of Umbria are undoubtedly Assisi, Spoleto, Orvieto, Perugia, Gubbio, Todi, Cortona, Umbertide. There are also numerous fortresses in the region such as Montefiascone, Tentennano, Radicofani, Rocca del Leone and Gualdo Cattaneo, which can be seen from afar due to their high location. Civita di Bagnoregio is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and the parks of Monte Subasi and Monte Cucco offer fantastic views of the beautiful surroundings. Very nice to drive along is Lake Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy.
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