La fioritura: The 'flowering' of Umbria & Assisi

Set in the heart of Italy and often overlooked by its more famous neighbour, Tuscany, Umbria is a relatively undiscovered region which, as a result, retains much of its old-world charm. With its steep wooded valleys, wildflower meadows and remote upland villages, Umbria is host to some of Europe’s most captivating scenery and it is here that we will photograph the annual floral display known locally as La Fioritura or The Flowering.

Each year, for just a short period, high in the Apennines, surrounded by the towering Monti Sibilini mountains, lentils are grown on the stony plateaus of the Piano Grande, Piano Perduto and Piano Piccolo. Being a small, delicate white flower and therefore tricky to keep track of their development, poppies and cornflowers are sown as indicators in the pesticide-free soil and when they finish flowering the lentils are ready to be harvested. Genius! Interspersed with other 'spontaneous' wildflowers including ox-eye daisy, vetch, viper's bugloss and common spotted orchid, the result for as far as the eye can see is a multicoloured, explosive patchwork! It truly is a wonderful sight Understandably, during this time it's extremely popular among sightseers and with the plains closed to vehicles over the weekend, we will visit during the week both in the morning and evening when it is considerably quieter.

HIGHLIGHTS
Incredible mountain, forest and floral scenery
Small group of just 6 photographers
4 nights in lovely rural accommodation
2 nights in Assisi
Riot of wildflower colour
Exclusive lavender garden sunrise access
Landscape and macro photography
Charming hilltop villages
Minibus transportation
Photographic tuition
Image appraisals

DRIVER AND CO-GUIDE
With overseas tours requiring a minibus, I don't do the driving. My focus is on taking care of the day-to-day running and tutoring, which takes up enough energy without doing all the ferrying around, too! It's also a much safer way of working, particularly when dealing with Italy's winding mountain roads. I'm therefore extremely pleased to announce that my good friend, Dirk, will, once again, be both assisting me and acting as the driver for this tour. Residing in Finland as a wilderness guide and professional driver, those of you who have previously attended my tours will know how capable he is and what great fun he is to be around. I can assure you that you will be in very safe hands! 

During this landscape and flower photography workshop in Italy, aside from photographing the fioritura, we will explore the Valnerina or Little Valley of the Nera, which, until the construction of a 4km tunnel in 1998, was relatively inaccessible. This 'forgotten corner' is regarded as being the most beautiful part of Umbria, and we will wind our way through spectacular scenery and pass through stone-built villages perched precariously, high up on hillsides. 

We will also visit the nearby walled town of Norcia, famous throughout Italy for its speciality pork and wild boar butcher shops - the 'Norcineria'. And, finally, to round off a week of inspiring landscape and flower photography in Italy, two nights will be spent in the enchanting town of Assisi - the birthplace of Saint Francis. With several previous early starts and late finishes, the intention here is to give you the chance to explore, wind down and take in the Italian culture. Of course, there will be opportunities for photography, including night shoots of Assisi and the Basilica and the nearby beautiful lavender and sunflower gardens. But, ultimately, aside from meeting for meals and shoots, the time will be your own. I sense a sigh of relief! 

The consequences of the earthquakes of 2016 and 2017 severely damaged many of the region's towns and villages (including Norcia) and completely devastated the plateau's hilltop village of Caselluccio di Norcia. Signs of the earthquakes are still very much in evidence, with restoration ongoing. The resilience of the residents, shopkeepers, hoteliers and restaurateurs is clear to see, and I am excited to introduce you to them and the remarkable beauty of Umbria.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
While in Assisi, I have arranged for an exclusive dawn/sunrise shoot in a beautifully landscaped lavender garden, just 10 minutes from our accommodation. The mercury rises rapidly at this time of the year, and with our visit from 05.30-07.30, not only will we be shooting during the coolest part of the day, but the light will be at its most magical with mist and dew very much a possibility.

At a cost of just €35 per person, I am sure you will agree that this represents excellent value for such a unique experience. Please note that payment is to be made in cash on the day and is not included in the tour price.  

FLOWERING
While we are undoubtedly visiting during the peak flowering season, climate change has introduced an element of unpredictability, and so, therefore, we cannot guarantee that the floral display will be at its best or, indeed, even evident. That said, one thing remains certain: you will be captivated by the breathtaking landscapes, medieval villages, exceptional cuisine, and rich culture of this remarkable region.

ARRIVAL
Luggage arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport can be a rather drawn-out process, often taking up to an hour. This delay has, in the past, significantly impacted our ability to arrive at our accommodation in good time. Therefore, it is a condition of the trip that you arrive in Rome at least the day before and make your way to the Arrivals area by 10.30am for pickup. This is the perfect opportunity to visit Rome for a few days or, if you prefer, you can just stay overnight in any of the numerous nearby hotels and guest houses, which are less than 10 minutes away. 

FINALLY...
Thank you for considering this tour. Should you have any questions, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm here to help and ensure that you have a wonderful week filled with inspiring photography.