Valfabbrica: Medieval Centre, Trails and Palio

Valfabbrica sits on a hill above the Chiascio River valley. The town brings together medieval architecture and named hiking and mountain biking routes, as well as an annual festival. These themes can help you decide whether to set aside time during your stay for the historic centre, a particular trail or the Palio.

Medieval Town Centre and Art History

Valfabbrica’s medieval historic centre is known as “Pedicino”. It preserves two tall towers and substantial sections of the town walls. These surviving features give an impression of the town’s fortifications. The Torre medioevale di Valfabbrica is about 18 metres tall and was built in the 13th century as part of the castle’s defences.

The remains of the Porta del castello di Valfabbrica can still be seen today in Via San Sebastiano. From the piazza, follow Via Castellana to reach them. This provides both a named starting point and a specific route to the tower remains for a walk through the historic centre.

Another historic landmark is the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta di Valfabbrica. It was founded in the early Middle Ages and was a strategic possession in the Assisi area of the important Abbey of San Silvestro di Nonantola. A distinctive feature of its art history is the late-13th-century fresco “Compianto sul Cristo morto” (Lamentation over the Dead Christ), considered the only example of the “School of Cimabue” in Umbria.

The Church of San Sebastiano is located within Valfabbrica Castle. Originally built as a medieval chapel beside the castle tower, it also became the town museum in December 2023. If you are planning a museum visit, check visiting arrangements in advance. This keeps the historical context separate from the practical planning of a visit.

Choose Trails by Destination and Length

The northern stage of the Via di Francesco runs from Valfabbrica to Assisi and is about 22 kilometres long. Two circular routes, each about 6.7 kilometres long, are also described. The Valfabbrica–Barcaccia circular route starts at the Valfabbrica fountain, follows the Franciscan Way to the village of Barcaccia, and returns along the same route. The stated distance therefore includes both the outward and return journeys.

The return route to Pioppo, also about 6.7 kilometres long, starts in the town centre. It follows the Franciscan Way to the entrance to the Forre del Rio Grande and returns from there. Although both circular routes are given the same approximate total distance, they have different destinations: one goes to Barcaccia, the other to the entrance to the Forre del Rio Grande. The Forre del Rio Grande route ends below the Cascata di S. Francesco waterfall.

Mountain biking routes start right in Valfabbrica’s town centre. They include paved sections, gravel tracks and more challenging stretches. When choosing a tour, you can take the different surfaces and more challenging stretches into account.

Palio and Giostra d’Italia

The Palio di Valfabbrica is a ten-day historical, cultural, social and gastronomic festival. Its final day falls on the first Sunday in September each year. The “Giostra d’Italia” is also held on that day. It includes the Corsa degli Anelli, Corsa del Saracino and Scontro Diretto competitions. The festival therefore combines a longer programme of events with a clearly specified closing day and several competitions. If you would like to plan your trip around the Palio, check the date of the relevant edition.

If you are looking for a hotel in Valfabbrica, its historic landmarks, varied trail destinations or the Palio can give your stay a specific focus. The approximately 22-kilometre stage to Assisi and the two circular routes of about 6.7 kilometres offer different distances and destinations, so you can choose a route based on these details.

Discover more destinations: Bonsciano, Porchiano, Carbonesca, San Giovanni Del Pantano, Panicarola, Montepennino, Fiore, Montone.

For the wider travel guide: Perugia.