Tour de Forks is pleased to collaborate with Slow Food to present a special 7 day/6 night escorted tour to discover Umbria, the "Green Heart of Italy". The starting point is Orvieto and Todi, then follows the tracks of St. Francis in Assisi, moves to Perugia with its Etruscan walls, 16th century palaces and chocolate factories, Spoleto, where the "Festival of the Two Worlds" is held, touches the shores of the Trasimeno Lake, and much more.

Participants will have the unique chance of sampling several Slow Food Presidia products - high-quality, traditional foods and beverages and other local delicacies from Slow Food recommended quality producers, such as: baby Pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil of Montefalco, Mazzafegato sausage, natural yeast breads of the villages near Spoleto, extra virgin olive oil of the Spoleto area, and fresh produce of the Umbertide Slow Food Earth Market

Day 2: Orvieto, Todi
Morning visit to Orvieto, and a tour of the city, including the Duomo Gothic Cathedral and a visit to the Palazzo del Gusto, head office of the Enoteca Regionale of Umbria. There will be a guided tour and wine tasting of Umbrian wines accompanied by some local fare. Before heading off there will be a short visit to the Adriano pastry shop to try the best of Orvieto's typical cakes and desserts, including chocolates made with chillies and saffron. An afternoon visit to Todi, a medieval town, where you can discover monuments and craftshops including the Macelleria Fraolini (butcher) that produces traditional salamis and roast pork with oven baked breads. A visit to the Caseificio Montecristo (cheese producer) in Pian di Porto to sample the baby Pecorino cheeses made with fresh milk. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 3: Assisi, Bevagna, Montefalco
Morning guided tour of Assisi, including the Basilica of St Francis and a quick stop off at the Forno dei Fratelli Sensi bakery in the heart of the town which offers home produced Umbrian specialities. Continue on to Bevagna, an ancient medieval town. Free time to discover the town. On to Montefalco, another town situated on top of a hill, offering spectacular views over the Umbrian countryside. Visit the city and taste the famous Sagrantino, a new DOGC wine. Visit the ancient olive groves - over 3,000 trees - belonging to the Romanelli family to discover the different plant varieties and the techniques used in the production of the extra virgin olive oil, along with a tasting. A break at the Azienda Rosati, to buy the locally produced cold cuts including Capocollo, dried sausages and salami, as well as traditional cakes (which change according to the season). Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 4: Perugia, Citta di Castello
A morning visit to Perugia, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hill top towns in Italy. A visit to the Perugina chocolate museum, famous for its Baci Perugina chocolates. Stop off at the historical Pasticceria Sandri pastry shop and the Bottega delle Erbe Aromatiche with over 6,000 different herbs. Afternoon departure for Citta di Castello, in the Tiber valley; a tour of the city and the Fratelli Giulietti Salumifico to sample the local salamis including the Mazzafegati (Slow Food Presidium). Visit to the Il Girasole grocery store: a classic grocery shop specialising in salami, cheese and typical local cakes and desserts and a Slow Food Presidia business. Back to Perugia and dinner with the dishes of the traditional Umbran cuisine at the Osteria La Lumera. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5: Spoleto
Departure for Spoleto and a tour of the city. Stop just outside the city for a treat at two tiny villages in the Umbrian hills. The first stop is at the Leonardi bakery which specialises in natural yeast breads; visit and sample the fare. The second is the Castello di Poreta; visit and sample the extra virgin olive oil. In the afternoon, return to Foligno and walk through the old town centre stopping at the Central Bar for a top quality ice cream with some amazing and original flavours such as the Sagrantino wine one. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 6: Solomeo, Lake Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago
Departure for Umbertide, a wonderful old city where there will be a guided tour of the Slow Food Earth Market and a lesson on the season's vegetables, fruit and local produce, followed by lunch at the Trattoria Nonna Gelsa, located in the countryside near Umbertide. Transfer to Gubbio, yet another important small city that defines the ancient Umbrian civilisation. Gubbio is famous for the Corsa dei Ceri, which takes place annually on the 15 May. Back to the hotel where there will be a tasting of a selection of local wines.

Day 7: Departure Farewell! Early morning collective transfer for the Rome airport. Arrival at the airport at 10.00 hrs.

Hotel: Historical Residence Alla Posta dei Donini 4*, Perugia.