Umbria, nicknamed “the green heart of Italy,” offers with the Assisi-Spoleto greenway one of the country’s most pleasant family routes: a former railway line converted into a cycle path, away from all traffic, between two UNESCO World Heritage towns.
A former railway route through the Umbrian countryside
From Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis famous for its basilica, the path follows the former Ferrovia Centrale Umbra alignment toward Spello, a medieval village of pink stone, then Foligno, before continuing via Trevi and Campello sul Clitunno to Spoleto. The gradient, inherited from the original railway profile, stays almost flat along the entire route.
A few short, lit tunnels punctuate the final stretch approaching Spoleto, adding a touch of adventure kids enjoy without any real difficulty.
Getting the ride right with the family
At around 50 km total with barely 150 m of cumulative elevation gain over the whole route, this path suits a full-day outing or, for younger children, a partial out-and-back between Assisi and Spello. Since the path is entirely separated from traffic, it’s suitable for kids cycling independently from age 6-7.
When to go
The ideal period runs from April to October. Spring brings especially green countryside and pleasant temperatures for a family ride; Umbrian summers can get hot around midday, though without reaching southern Italy’s temperatures.
Good to know
Assisi, a major Umbria tourist destination, offers a wide choice of accommodation, with several stations along the route (Spello, Foligno) letting you take the train back without having to cycle all the way to the starting point.