Umbra—the “green heart of Italy”—beats to an unhurried rhythm of hill towns, olive groves, and stone lanes scented with truffle and woodsmoke. Set your home base in Terni to visit your son and explore the region by short, scenic train rides. This 7-day itinerary blends family time with handpicked excursions, Umbrian cuisine, and a few memorable bucket-list moments.

Terni, founded by the Romans as Interamna Nahars, is known worldwide as the city of Saint Valentine. Nearby, the thundering Cascata delle Marmore—engineered by ancient Romans—spills into a lush gorge, while placid Lake Piediluco and the Roman city of Carsulae complete a trifecta of nature, water, and history. Within an hour, you can be gazing at Giotto frescoes in Assisi or tasting Sagrantino in Montefalco.

Practical notes: Trains are frequent, affordable, and the easiest way to move between Umbrian towns. Many historic centers have ZTL car zones—park on the outskirts if you’re driving. Expect hearty Umbrian dishes: strangozzi pasta with truffles, grilled sausage, porchetta, lentils from the Sibillini foothills, and Sagrantino and Grechetto wines.

Terni

Industrial edge meets old-stone Italy in Terni, with lively cafés, a compact center, and heartfelt local hospitality. Come for Saint Valentine’s Basilica, the Roman-made Marmore Falls, and a gateway location perfect for day trips across Umbria.

• Top sights: Cascata delle Marmore, Basilica di San Valentino, CAOS (Centro Arti Opificio Siri), Lake Piediluco boat rides, and the Roman ruins of Carsulae.
• Why base here: Direct regional trains to Spoleto, Orvieto, and Foligno (for Assisi/Perugia) keep logistics simple so you can maximize time with your son.
• What to eat: Strangozzi al tartufo, umbricelli all’amatriciana, lentil soups, cinghiale (wild boar), and torta al testo flatbread stuffed with prosciutto or sausage and greens.

Where to stay in Terni: Browse central apartments and family-friendly stays near Corso Tacito or the train station: VRBO – Terni stays | Hotels.com – Terni hotels

Getting there and around: - Fly into Rome (FCO or CIA), then take a train to Terni. Search flights: Omio – flights (to/from Europe). - Rome Termini to Terni by Regionale: ~1h10–1h30, usually €9–€14 one way. Check schedules: Omio – trains in Europe. - Buses also connect Umbrian towns if trains are infrequent: Omio – buses in Europe.

Day 1: Arrival in Rome → Terni, first stroll and dinner

Morning: Fly into Rome. If arriving from outside Europe, consider a midday landing to ease your transfer.

Afternoon: Train from Rome Termini to Terni (~1h15–1h30; ~€9–€14; buy via Omio trains). Check in, refresh, and enjoy a gentle walk along Corso Tacito to Piazza Tacito.

Evening: Keep it local tonight so you can catch up with your son. Order strangozzi al tartufo and a carafe of Umbrian red at a traditional trattoria in the historic center; end with gelato artigianale and a passeggiata through the pedestrian lanes.

Day 2: Marmore Falls and Terni’s art and faith

Morning: Espresso and a warm cornetto at a café near Corso Tacito, then head to Cascata delle Marmore by local bus or taxi (15–20 minutes). Walk Trail 2 and Trail 3 for the best spray-kissed viewpoints; bring a light rain jacket.

Afternoon: Return to Terni for a leisurely lunch—try torta al testo stuffed with sausage and cicoria. Visit the Basilica di San Valentino, then explore CAOS, a repurposed steelworks turned contemporary arts hub with rotating exhibits.

Evening: Aperitivo hour: order an Umbrian spritz with local nibbles (olive ascolane, salumi). For dinner, sample grilled meats and lentils, or keep it simple with a pizza al taglio and a local craft beer.

Day 3: Orvieto day trip — Gothic splendor and underground secrets

Morning: Train Terni → Orvieto (~45–60 minutes; ~€6–€9 via Omio). Ride the funicular up to the old town and meet your guide for a deep dive into the cathedral and the city below.

Featured experience: Best Orvieto Private tour with Duomo and Underground

Afternoon: Lunch ideas: Trattoria del Moro Aronne for hand-rolled umbrichelli and cinghiale; Montanucci for a refined dessert and coffee in a historic café. Stroll the tufa lanes, peek into artisan ceramic shops, and visit a panoramic viewpoint over the Paglia Valley.

Evening: Train back to Terni for dinner with your son. If you’re not too full, split a plate of pecorino with honey and truffle and toast with a glass of Orvieto Classico.

Day 4: Assisi — frescoes, Franciscan spirit, and stone lanes

Morning: Train Terni → Foligno → Assisi (typically 1h30–1h50 with a change; ~€9–€13 via Omio). Walk or bus up to the Basilica complex for a guided visit.

Featured experience: Small Group Tour of Assisi and St. Francis Basilica

Afternoon: Lunch near Piazza del Comune—Trattoria Pallotta for seasonal Umbrian plates or Osteria Piazzetta dell’Erba for modern riffs on classics. Visit Santa Chiara, then amble to the upper town for views from below the Rocca Maggiore.

Evening: Return to Terni. Share a simple home-style supper: bruschette with new-season olive oil, grilled salsicce, and a light Grechetto white.

Day 5: Montefalco & Bevagna — Sagrantino wines and medieval lanes

Morning: Take the train to Foligno (~45 minutes; ~€5–€7) and a short taxi to Montefalco, or book a small-group day focused on vineyards and villages.

Featured experience: Umbria Wine Lovers Tour | Montefalco & Bevagna (Small Group)

Afternoon: Pair Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco with salumi, pecorino, and bruschette at a winery. In Bevagna, wander intact medieval streets and the artisan workshops. Dining ideas: L’Alchimista in Montefalco for house-made pastas; Osteria del Podestà in Bevagna for rustic, slow-cooked meats.

Evening: Back to Terni for an easy dinner—torta al testo on the go or a bowl of chickpea soup with rosemary and good bread.

Day 6: Perugia heights and a sunrise balloon over the valley

Morning: For an unforgettable start, lift off in a hot air balloon over Assisi and the Valle Umbra (pick-up typically near Assisi/Perugia; early start).

Featured experience: Balloon Adventures Italy: Assisi–Perugia flight

Afternoon: Continue to Perugia by train (Assisi/Perugia to Perugia Centrale ~20–30 minutes) and ride the MiniMetrò up. Coffee and a pastry at historic Pasticceria Sandri; lunch at Osteria a Priori for regional cheeses, legumes, and seasonal contorni. Stroll Corso Vannucci, the Fontana Maggiore, and the underground Rocca Paolina.

Evening: Return to Terni by train (~1h45 with a change in Foligno; ~€10–€14 via Omio). If it’s summer, keep an eye out for outdoor concerts and festas in the squares.

Day 7: Spoleto morning, Carsulae or lake views, and departure

Morning: Train Terni → Spoleto (~25–30 minutes; ~€4–€6). See the Duomo with its golden façade and Filippo Lippi frescoes. Walk up to panoramic viewpoints of the Ponte delle Torri (best admired from outlooks near Piazza Campello).

Afternoon: Lunch options: Ristorante Apollinare for refined Umbrian cuisine or Il Tempio del Gusto for creative local dishes. Return to Terni to pack, then, time permitting, detour to Carsulae’s Roman ruins or sit by Lake Piediluco before your afternoon train to Rome for onward flights (check Omio trains and Omio flights).

Evening: Airport-bound this evening or tomorrow? Share an early farewell aperitivo—Sagrantino if you loved the reds, or a crisp Grechetto—and start planning your next Umbrian chapter.

Optional Add-Ons (swap into any day):

• Orvieto to Civita di Bagnoregio by e-bike with lunch: dramatic tufa landscapes and traffic-free riding. Small Group E-bike Experience from Orvieto to Civita with Lunch

  

With Terni as your base, you’ll balance family time with frescoes in Assisi, Gothic art in Orvieto, a soaring balloon over the valley, and the thunder of Marmore Falls. Umbrian flavors and train-linked day trips keep travel easy and delicious—perfect for a loving week visiting your son.