New Year in Italy - Miraculous Umbria

Saturday 28 December 2024 - Thursday 02 January 2025

(5 nights)

From £1475

Magnificent Umbria & its delights await

Imagine if you will… walking into a walled Italian hillside village, not finding a regular Italian town with a story, but global blockbuster, famous throughout the world for art, painters, history, architects, churches not to mention the birth place and home to one of the most famous and renowned Saints, Francis (1181–1226) who set a traditional way of life still carried out globally today and strongly felt throughout Umbria.

Well, you are definitely not off to San Francisco, California, or the Vatican to meet Pope San Francesco, but you are off to celebrate and party the New Year in Umbria, Italy! Get your medieval fancy dress costumes ready as we head this year for the very first time to Assisi.

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Your holiday includes

  • International Flights
  • 5 Nights Bed & Breakfast Ensuite 
  • City Tax 
  • Wifi In the Hotel 
  • Welcome Aperitivo on Arrival *depending on arrival times & first evening meal at hotel wines and water ½ bottle per person.
  • Total 5 *Meals combination Lunch or Dinners water & wines (half bottle per person).
  • New Year Day Traditional Italian *Lunch 
  • 2 Professional Guides in Assisi Half Day Tours 
  • Entrance tickets & Group tours in Perugia National Galleria https://gallerianazionaledellumbria.it/en/
  • A Private Aperitivo in the National Galleria hosted by the Director 
  • Exclusive *4 Course New Year’s Eve Gala & Disco Wines and Water One Bottle of Wine Per Person 
  • Private Aperitivo and tour in a Medieval Castle
  • Exclusive Traditional Umbrian Flag Throwing Event 
  • Wine Tasting and Olive Oil Tasting with Light Nibbles 
  • All Private Transfers Throughout 
  • Hosted by WingsItaly

Your holiday extras

  • Single supplement if required
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Some meals & drinks
  • Personal extras

Within the walls of Assisi there's an explosion of history which you immediately feel and touch, housing one of the most beautiful Basilica, St. Francis, it is not only massive, it is set on 2-levels, consecrated in 1253 and as your host Claire Dymond Managing Director of WingsItaly says “they went completely mad with paintbrushes painting the entire Basilica in fabulous frescoes portraying the life of St. Francis“.

On this exclusive New Year adventure Spice Escapes and WingsItaly will help you to get under the skin of real Umbria by showing you Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio (the world largest Christmas tree*) and, of course, a few surprises thrown in. Umbria is also renowned for its lip-smacking local produce, salami, cheeses, truffle, wine and olive oil - simple traditional Italian cuisine done very, very well!

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Location & Itinerary

Places we visit

Assisi

Assisi is an elegant hill town dominated by the beautiful Basilica of the St Francis complex, which includes a Franciscan monastery, 2 churches perched on the green hillside, overlooking the landscape of Umbria. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site that has attracted pilgrims and tourists from around the world for centuries.

As you wander through the flower-hung streets with dedicated local guides you will learn the amazing story of how St Francis came to be so highly revered across the world from his early life as the extremely rich and spoilt son of a silk merchant to a Saint .

You will have free time to explore the old-world town with its shuttered stone houses and vibrant history, full of typical cafes and restaurants for you to explore and given the location of your hotel you can pop in to Assisi anytime at your own leisure.

Perugia 

Rising from the countryside is another beautiful hillside town in a jumble of medieval buildings, Umbria’s capital Perugia offers an enchanting blend of history, culture and huge energy. Perugia is approx. 20 to 25 minutes transfer from Assisi.

The tower of the 15th-century San Domenico Basilica stands tall above the city’s centro storico, while across town lies the historic University of Perugia

Rocca Paolina fortress is one of the city's top attractions, offering miles of underground passages and an impressive history entwined with revolt and war. From acclaimed museums to ancient churches, Roman ruins and rambling streets to spacious piazzas, the city is an oasis of authentic Italian sights and sounds, full of cafe bars and of course the famous Italian chocolate “ Baci Perugina “

You will visit Piazza IV Novembre and the surrounding areas and to make it even better, you will have a personal exclusive experience only available through Spice Escapes and WingsItaly, a private group tour of the world famous Umbrian National Gallery, set within the magnificent Palazzo dei Priori - the Director of the museum warmly greets you with a personalized tour, fun and informal, learn the history of Father Christmas and more, the most splendid of Italian art works and then followed by a private aperitivo in the Museum. 

Gubbio

Famous for the world largest Christmas Tree, in the Guinness Book of Records, on Mount Ingino, soaring behind the town of Gubbio. https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/-/the-gubbio-christmas-tree-the-world-biggest-christmas-tree

Specifically the tree is made of approx. 700 luminous lights of various types and colours, is over 750 metres high and occupies an area of 130,000 square metres. Furthermore, it has its roots inside the walls of the medieval city and reaches as high as the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo thanks to its star, located on top of Mount Ingino.

It is also famous for the Bargello Fountain, an example of Umbrian Gothic architecture: a well-preserved fourteenth-century building housing a crossbow museum and the headquarters of the Crossbow Society in nearby. 

In the square Largo Bargellois there is a sixteenth-century fountain that according to legend allows you to get permission to be a “madman”. Tradition says If you make 3 rounds around it and are sprayed & baptized – with its water, in the presence of the inhabitants of Gubbio, you can apply for some kind of crazy honorary citizenship, for which you get a certificate. But be careful: a resident of Gubbio must be present and must spray you, e.g. baptize you with water.! Then you are officially Mad! 

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Travel & Stay

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Oasi Sacro Cuore

As always Claire of WingsItaly inspected several hotels in Assisi for this adventure finally settling on this simple monastery hotel owned by the Roman Catholic Church and this will be your base for this adventure.

Whilst the hotel and the bedrooms are comfortable and extremely clean, it’s important to stress that all the bedrooms are of a simple monastic style, you will not find luxury toiletries or Egyptian sheets, however you will find a warm welcome, friendly staff, a feel like home atmosphere and a small bar. It’s the perfect location to explore Assisi and only 5-minute walking distance to the walled entrance of the city.

The Hotel is set in beautiful gardens, it is perfectly situated and its full of happiness, the staff and team following the warmth and traditional simple values of Francis.

Following are some useful links about your accommodation, please take some time to fully appreciate your accommodation for this holiday.

https://www.ospitalitadiocesana.com   video

https://www.oasisacrocuoreassisi.com pictures

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=28a9d84c3b887bed&rls=en&q=assisi+%2Boasi+del+sacro&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCgNT2peyEAxX-BNsEHRMRCqUQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=907&bih=561&dpr=1

Whilst WingsItaly and Spice Escapes will have exclusivity of this hotel, please remember it is a simple hotel used by Friars during their pilgrimage to Assisi, for those who been to Villa Lomellini in Oltrepo Pavese it’s a similar atmosphere, however, here there is a dedicated small bar area. The hotel consists of the main complex and in addition there is a secondary wing attached to the main complex, access is directly through the hotel under cover. All the bedrooms are the same with a simple ensuite. The first book will be housed in the main complex of the hotel.

NB - New Year Eve Party please note its approx. a 40-minute transfer by coach to the location for the New Year’s Eve Party, there will be one transfer there and back.

This adventure is unique, you’re staying at a monastic centre in the heart of Assisi with strong links to its history. Whilst there is a strong sense of Pilgrims coming to 13th-century town of Assisi, worshipping St. Francis, this adventure as always is about real Italy, you don’t have to be religious at all to enjoy Umbria, its medieval cities are one of Italy’s most enchanted gems.

 As Claire says -

 ‘“I like to think of our adventures as doing as the locals do by understanding their way of life and what they value, by these cultural experiences it provides everyone a chance to expand their perspectives, fuel their curiosity and encourage them to get outside of their comfort zone by connecting with an idea, person or activity that is new to them, hopefully creating wonderful memories “

If you are looking for an unforgettable trip full of adventure, excitement and surprises this is for you….. If you’re looking for an experience staying in a comfortable hotel experiencing the traditional life of the Umbrian people with local wines and foods then we can’t wait to see you!

Provisional flight information

28/12/2024 London Gatwick to Rome Dep: 0920 Arr: 1250

02/01/2025 Rome to London Gatwick Dep: 1735 Arr: 1915


28/12/2024 Manchester to Amsterdam Dep: 0555 Arr: 0815

28/12/2024 Amsterdam to Rome Dep: 0940 Arr: 1155

02/01/2025 Rome to Amsterdam Dep: 1715 Arr: 1950

02/01/2025 Amsterdam to Mancherster Dep: 2145 Arr: 2200


28/12/2024 Birmingham to Amsterdam Dep: 0615 Arr: 0840

28/12/2024 Amsterdam to Rome Dep: 0940 Arr: 1155

02/01/2025 Rome to Amsterdam Dep: 1715 Arr: 1950

02/01/2025 Amsterdam to Birmingham Dep: 2100 Arr: 2115


28/12/2024 Edinburgh to Amsterdam Dep: 0555 Arr: 0825

28/12/2024 Amsterdam to Rome Dep: 0940 Arr: 1155

02/01/2025 Rome to Amsterdam Dep: 1715 Arr: 1950

02/01/2025 Amsterdam to Edinburgh Dep: 2145 Arr: 2215

Manchester, Birmingham & Edinburgh flights are indirect

Checked in luggage allowance 23kg

Availability & Pricing

Build Your Quote
FlightsPrice
Own flight without transfers£1135.00Sold Out
London Gatwick£1475.00Available
Birmingham£1705.00Available
Edinburgh£1735.00Available
Manchester£1735.00Available
AccommodationPrice
Place in a double room (must be for 2)£0.00Sold Out
Place in a twin share room£0.00Sold Out
Place in a twin share room (female only)£0.00Available
Place in a single room£200.00Available

Not enough spaces left for you? Click here to join the waitlist

Passport validity

For UK passport holders your passport must be:

  • Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Travel Insurance

Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.

 Global Health Insurance Card

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.

Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.

NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!

The latest FCO travel guidance for Spain

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy


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