On horseback

The off-road stretches, such as compact, fairly even paths, mule tracks and dirt roads, are suitable for horse riding tours. Horse riding is not only excellent exercise to train your body and mind, but above all, it is also a pleasure, a moment to enjoy nature following a few itineraries.

• Between fortresses, alleyways and breathtaking views
  Starting from Località Gabbiano (Assisi), you’ll ride along minor roads towards the holy town. You’ll follow roads lined with olive groves until an unmade road takes you to Porta Cappuccini, the north-east entrance gate to the town of Assisi. It used to be known as Porta Sant’Antonio (the Abbot), built to replace the one destroyed by Piccinino’s troops. Giovanni Joergensen may also have often passed through here on his walks towards the Eremo delle Carceri and Mount Subasio.
  
  From Porta Cappuccini you’ll ride up towards Rocca Minore or Rocchicciola: a fortress commissioned in 1367 by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz to guard and defend the town. The inner courtyard houses a church with a Crucifixion painted by Matteo da Gualdo.
  
  
  
• The itinerary continues down to Porta Perlici, built in the 12th century almost where Via Perlici comes to an end. The district around Porta Perlici is well-known not only for its ancient houses and for the still visible Roman layout, but also for several interesting places to visit, including the Roman Amphitheatre and the Roman Theatre. As you ride along the itinerary, you’ll be able to glimpse Assisi’s alleyways until you finally reach Rocca Maggiore, the fortress that overlooks the town.
  
  
• Discovering Mount Subasio
  A gravelled road begins from Località Gabbiano (Assisi) and rises through a wood of hornbeam and oak trees beyond an area of level ground, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the town of Assisi and Mount Subasio’s southern slope.
  
  When you reach Località la Baita, you can stop at Madonna della Spella (Spello) to allow the horses and yourselves to rest in this perfect place.
  From here you can admire Mount Pale overlooking the plateau of Colfiorito and Gualdo Tadino. After your rest, you can take different woodland paths on your return to the stables.
  
  
• Enchanting panoramas
  Starting in Località Gabbiano (Assisi), the ride follows wide, grassy sheep tracks uphill; as you skirt round the hill, Madonna della Spella (Spello) appears and you continue uphill to a height of 1,200 metres.
  
  Follow the signs to Mortaro Grande placed on large stones every 200-300 metres and from here you can enjoy an impressive view of the sinkhole and the magnificent panorama.
  Continue towards Località gli Stazzi through pastures where you may meet many wild horses. You can take a rest here.
  After the break, descend slightly towards the Stazzi refuge hut and continue to follow the path that crosses a tiny valley to reach Sassopiano with its breathtaking viewpoint.
  Continue halfway up the hill past Fonte Bregno and then descend to the starting point.
  
  

For further information, please contact:

Claudio Fabrizi from the Associazione Nazionale Turismo Equestre, telephone: +39 075 8064280.
Giovanni Raspa from the Associazione Cavalcata di Satriano, telephone: +39 328 3869464.
Francesco Rafoni from the Circolo Ippico San Giorgio, telephone: +39 339 3930460.
Giovanni Bastianini from the Società Ippica Foligno, telephone: +39 335 492129.