We’ll be in no rush to leave our palatial surroundings and with our shortest and least challenging day ahead of us, there really is no need to hurry. But leave we must and once back on the bikes we will be amply rewarded as we travel deeper into the heart of Umbria. There is only one significant climb today but it is an important one as it marks the natural watershed between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian and signals the halfway point of our journey. Once over the climb, the quiet country lanes continue to coax us onwards through yet more beautiful scenery as we make our way towards Assisi, UNESCO World Heritage site and the heart of a region that many consider to be the spiritual centre of Italy. As we approach Assisi we’ll stop to admire the majestic San Francesco Abbey which dominates the hillside overlooking the town.