UMBRIAN ADVENTURE - ITALY

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Enjoy the best that Italy has to offer; outstanding food, fun and varied riding in a glorious setting and hosts that welcome you like long lost friends.
This riding centre was founded more than 20 years ago and has carved a reputation as one of the best-run riding establishments in Umbria. In a panoramic setting, surrounded by woodland and overlooking mountains and valleys on all sides, the stables are the perfect antidote to the stress and strains of everyday life.

The centre is a family venture in the best Italian tradition, headed by two brothers, Agostino and Giancarlo Bevilacqua and helped by their four children, all expert riders, and their wives Giuliana and Clara, who are amazing cooks! Clare, a British ex-pat who has been living in Italy for a number of years, is on hand to guide trails and be your point of contact.

Explore rolling mountains, hidden valleys and medieval hill villages in this unspoilt corner of Umbria, where time has stood still. Take a day ride to a nearby swimming pool to soak away those aches and pains, and during the summer months experience the magic of a night ride lit by fireflies. There is excellent riding available for experienced riders. Either tuition, with show jumping as a specialty, or endless rides in all directions to explore the surrounding countryside are available. Beginners and novice riders can also receive lessons appropriate to their level as can children.

For those wanting to explore further on this riding holiday, the stables are just 13 km from Spoleto, a Roman, medieval and Renaissance jewel and a great place to spend some time for riders and non-riders alike. The larger towns of Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto and Todi are all within easy reach as are many of the vineyards of the region. Only a short drive or train ride from Rome this holiday is also perfect for a short break in the Eternal City at the start or end of your holiday.


*Enjoy 3 free lessons during your stay for all bookings in 2012*

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights Short Break: 5 days/4 nights Ride price detailed prices price promise From: 2012: Programme A - Umbrian Adventure £945/€1,119/$1,519 2012 short break: double pp £659/€779/$1,059 Departure dates 2012: 7, 14 Apr; 5, 19 (FULL) May; 16 Jun*; 21 Jul*; 18 Aug*; 15 Sep; 13 Oct. Short Break: 21 Mar; 18 Apr; 23 May; 20 Jun; 25 Jul; 22 Aug; 19 Sep; 17 Oct Dates on request for groups of 4 or more. *Summer Adventure itinerary will run for groups of 4 or more Approximate riding time per day 3-6 hours, optional rest day Riding ability required all levels catered for Group size 2-10 Meeting point (getting there) Rome airports (FCO, CIA) Spoleto or Perugia train stations. Transfer Included from Spoleto train station. This is an easy 2 hour train trip from Rome. Transfer time from Spoleto is approximately 15 minutes. Car transfer from Perugia is €100 per car each way for 1-4 people. Car transfer from Rome is €200 per car each way for 1-4 people. Car rental is also an option. Flight guide London - Rome return from £50 with RyanAir. London - Perugia from £50 with RyanAir. Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise: 2012: £129/€149/$205 2012 short break: £99/€119/$159

SAMPLE ITINERARY - UMBRIAN ADVENTURE

There are several different riding programmes available. Please advise which you would like when booking.

Programme A for experienced riders
This programme is available for experienced riders on each date except that those marked with a * may have the Summer Adventure Itinerary. Please see the itinerary below. Riders should be able to trot and canter and manage varied terrain, including some reasonably steep slopes.
In warmer months, and in times of a full (or nearly full) moon, it may be possible to replace a full day ride with a memorable Night Ride up onto the mountain of Monte Acetella. Riders are met by the stables' jeep, and served a camp-fire supper as they scan the skies for shooting stars. The return leg of the journey takes place by the light of the moon. Lessons can be substituted for trail riding where one hour of lessons is equivalent to 2 hours of trail riding.

Programme A for Beginner Riders
This programme is available for beginner riders on each date except that those marked with a * may have the Summer Adventure Itinerary. Please see the itinerary below. The week involves walking and some trotting and less time in the saddle than the experienced programme, though it does build up to two full day rides and one that is slightly shorter.
It is suitable for people who are relatively new to riding, including beginners, and the pace can be adapted according to ability. In warmer months, and in times of a full (or nearly full) moon, it may be possible to replace a full day ride with a memorable Night Ride up onto the mountain of Monte Acetella. Riders are met by the stables' jeep, and served a camp-fire supper as they scan the skies for shooting stars. The return leg of the journey takes place by the light of the moon. Lessons can be substituted for trail riding with about one hour of lesson time being equivalent to 2 hours of trails riding.

Programme B - Umbrian Summer Adventure Programme
This special summer itinerary involves an optional night out camping on Day 2 where you will be served a 3 course meal on top of the world! Those not wanting to camp will be driven back to the stables and brought back after breakfast the next day. Please see the complete itinerary here.
This itinerary takes place on the dates with a * in the dates section above. A minimum of 4 riders are required for this programme; if this is not met the standard Umbrian Adventure (beginner or experienced) programme will run.
There is also the option of the Night Ride, detailed above.

Extra riding lessons with expert tuition in show jumping or flatwork are available on all holidays priced at €25 per hour payable locally.

Along with the horses, the beautiful food and warm hospitality from your hosts makes this ride very special; multi course lunches and dinners are lovingly homemade and use the freshest ingredients meaning no one goes hungry here! Enjoy antipasti, soup, organic meats, pasta and of course beautiful desserts whilst sitting with the family chatting about your day, and of course washing it all down with good quality wine from the region. There is also a wine tasting session during one of the rides.

Other activities: Fancy a half day white water rafting experience? Available on all riding holidays as an alternative to a half day ride this excursion costs €50 payable locally. The stables will transport you for for free to enjoy a fun descent on the beautiful River Corno. Each boat is manned by expert guides and this activity is suitable for all ages, from 5 to 75, as it is safe and relatively gentle rafting (though exciting enough to feel you have done something adventurous!). Wet suits, lifejackets and helmets are provided but bring along a towel and swimming costume.

In summer months, the hosts may offer to take guests to Castelluccio di Norcia for a truly unforgettable day ride. This is a suspended mountain plateau in one of Italy’s loveliest national parks, about one hour’s drive away. We visit and ride through lakes where there are wild horses and foals and canter over the spectacular mountain plain, which is covered with wild orchids and narcissi. Horses are taken by horsebox and guests by jeep. Supplement payable locally to cover transport €80.

Wine tasting: Guests who are interested will be taken to a local enoteca for a memorable session tasting Umbrian wines and sampling the excellent local olive oil on bruschetta. Supplement payable locally €15.

Show Jumping and Dressage Combo
At the riding centre there are excellent facilities to enable this special Show Jumping tuition and trail riding combination to take place. Please click on the link above to see the dedicated webpage for this holiday. In addition to the invaluable lessons you will also have the chance to ride out and explore the beautiful surrounding countryside. Beginners and novice riders can also receive lessons appropriate to their level as can children.

2012 Short Break

Day 1
Arrive Spoleto. Pick-up at train station and transfer to stables. Three-course dinner with wine is served in the clubhouse. Accommodation in comfortable chalets.

Day 2
We start off with a half-day ride that takes us through the grounds of a magnificent 600-hectare private estate called La Tenuta dello Schioppo, but known locally as Il Parco delle Farfalle, the Butterfly Park. There are wide avenues perfect for cantering for those who want to, and trotting for those who don’t, and splendid views of mountains, valleys and hill villages in all directions. In a woodland glade a huntsman's table has been fashioned out of local chestnut wood, and this will be the stopping place for an aperitif. We ride back for lunch at the clubhouse with a free afternoon to relax or go exploring in nearby Spoleto (transport can be provided at reasonable cost). Alternatively you can have a free one-hour lesson with a FISE (BHS equivalent) instructor, doing flatwork or jumping, depending on your level.
Dinner is served in the clubhouse.

Day 3
Pianella is the destination for this day-long trek of 5-6 hours (35 kms), a gloriously peaceful spot in the heart of the Umbrian countryside. To get there, we ride through woods and trails and down into a hidden valley where we pause to admire the exquisite little village of Castagnacupa, whose old stone houses have all been recently restored. From here we ride past a beautiful Romanesque church and into more woodland before reaching the shady meadow where we will have lunch, tying the horses to a post and rails and sitting on wooden tables and benches thoughtfully provided for picnickers. After lunch we head on through the old village of Pompagnano, close to Spoleto, and back over the hills via Catinelli, a village poised spectacularly on a rock outcrop and home to just two people, an old man and a woman who can often be seen tending to their animals.

Day 4
Today’s ride is a spectacular one, and great fun too. The terrain and scenery is very varied during the 35 kms and 5-6 hours that riders will spend in the saddle. Winding through woodland trails we come to the hamlet of Torrecolla before passing a delightful stone church and heading along some wider paths. Then it's time to begin the long but gentle climb up to Monte Fionchi, a huge alpine meadow at the top of a 1300 metre high mountain, where riders can refresh themselves with a drink from an ice-cold mountain spring. A leisurely picnic lunch will be served in a meadow close to another lovely Umbrian country church, the Chiesa di Sant'Antonio. The return leg takes us through the wild and staggeringly beautiful Valnerina, past abandoned villages stuck to the side of the mountain, through other inhabited hill villages and back to the stables.
Dinner will be served in the clubhouse.

Day 5
Breakfast and departure.

*10% discount for groups of 4 or more on the short break*

NOTES - UMBRIAN ADVENTURE

Ryanair flies to Rome frequently as does Easy Jet. A transfer is available from there or Spoleto is an easy 2 hour train journey from there. Alternatively car rental is a good option. Once at your destination transport can be arranged to and from Spoleto (13km) and other nearby places for a modest charge. A hire car is a good idea if you wish to explore the area in the afternoons and evenings, whilst not in the saddle.

The Umbrian Summer Adventure programme will run with a minimum of 4 riders. If this minimum number is not reached the normal Umbrian Adventure programme will run instead.

In summer months, all guests will have access to a swimming pool located in a picturesque village 5 mins drive from the stables. Transport can be provided. There will be a modest charge, payable locally. There is an optional day ride with a stopover for a fantastic lunch served near the pool, and the afternoon spent in the pool before riding back in the early evening. This will take the place of one of the other scheduled day rides. It’s been a great hit with all who have done it so far. Again, a modest supplement (€15) is payable locally.


Please note that there is no child discount if they ride out with the adults. Children under 12 have a separate riding programme but can be transported to the various lunch spots to meet their parents for lunch.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
The trip price includes all meals, a reasonable quantity of wine and liqueurs and canned soft drinks with meals;accommodation with en-suite shower, toilet and bidet; horses, tack, qualified English speaking guide and round-trip transfers from Spoleto train station. Single supplements will not be charged if you are willing to share with another guest of the same sex.
For price details click here

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transport to and from Spoleto from the UK. Guests should bring a small quantity of Euros for personal expenditure or extra drinks from the bar outside meal times. Tipping is not expected on the premises. Excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary are not included. If show jumping, riders must pay for a permit on-site which costs around €15 (plus copy of medical certificate).

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