along the apennines: abruzzo & umbria
APRIL 2027
DR MARY JANE CUYLER
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
Explore the heart of Italy, from the spectacular mountains of the less-visited Abruzzo region to the Middle Ages in Umbria and a rich Roman legacy
OVERVIEW
The Apennines are the backbone of Italy. Their relative inaccessibility sets them just beyond the well-worn tourist track and has allowed for the preservation of local gastronomy, customs and even languages.
This itinerary explores Italy’s mountainous heart. Commencing with the birthplace of Ovid in Sulmona, we uncover ancient Rome’s gradual dominance of the region and explore mountain hermitages, ruined fortresses and medieval towns. We follow ancient superhighways for sheep and admire some of central Italy’s most outstanding landscapes.
In Umbria, we encounter the great changes of the Middle Ages, from St Francis’s new spirituality in Assisi to the revolutions in art and architecture it drew from Cimabue, Giotto, Piero della Francesca and Perugino. We gain a deep perspective on the Etruscan culture in Orvieto and Tarquinia, and visit one of Italy’s largest and little-known Roman archaeological sites. There is time at leisure in hill towns such as Spoleto and Orvieto, to join the Italian passeggiata and enjoy a gelato far from the crowds of Rome or Florence.
A highlight of the tour is the food and wine of these proud and distinctive regions, from pasta, such as Abruzzo’s spaghetti alla chitarra and Umbria’s strozzapreti, to the fine red wines of both regions. The program is rounded out by the expertise of tour leader Dr Mary Jane Cuyler, a Classicist and archaeologist.
TOUR LEADER
Dr Mary Jane Cuyler is an archaeologist and Latin scholar with extensive experience working on excavations in Greece and Italy. She is best known for her work on Ostia, ancient Rome’s harbour city, where she served as the field director for excavations at the ancient synagogue for more than a decade. With an MA in Classical Archaeology from The University of Texas at Austin and a PhD from the University of Sydney, Mary Jane has also worked as a tour guide for both small group and university tours.
"Mary Jane often went out of her way to ensure we had the best experience possible" – Kay S, Turin, Genoa & the French Riviera, May 2025
Highlights
Go beyond the tourist trail in Abruzzo, a region of spectacular mountains, medieval villages and proud traditions
Understand Italy’s ancient past at a wide variety of archaeological sites, from Roman Carsulae to Chieti’s Capestrano Warrior
Explore medieval art and architecture, with Cimabue and Giotto in Assisi and in Abruzzo’s remote mountain hermitages
Admire Renaissance art far from the crowds: Filippo Lippi, Piero della Francesca, Signorelli and Perugino
Encounter the Etruscans, with a full day in Tarquinia’s sites and outstanding museum
Enjoy the best of Italian regional gastronomy, including handmade pasta, fine red wines and Abruzzo’s famous mare e monti
Questions?
Get in touch with us by telephone or email: