This itinerary takes you across the Appenines, through some of the most spectacular scenery in this part of Italy, to Urbania and Urbino and back via Cagli. It is one of the longer tours, approximately 197 km, much of it on winding mountain roads, and we advise you to make an early start and allow the whole day.

At 8.30 leave Bastia Creti, turn left at Spedalicchio and follow the valley road Niccone. From there you follow the signs to Citta di Castello, which is about 25 km from our base and should take about half an hour. There you turn right towards Fano, and the road starts to climb up into the Appenines.

The first stop is at Apecchio, a hill town high in the mountains, which is a further 25km from Citta di Castello.

After a break for coffee and a stroll round the town, you continue towards Fano.

After another 12km you arrive at Piobbico, a very pretty little town right in the heart of the Appenines. There you turn towards Urbania and Urbino, following a breathtaking mountain gorge with forested slopes and rocky peaks towering above a winding road.

From Urbania the countryside becomes rather gentler, with lovely rolling hills, and you should reach Urbino (which is 92 km from our base) by about 11.30. In Urbino there is a spacious car park with a lift to the old town. There you will visit the Palazzo Ducale, one Italy's most beautiful Renaissance palaces, which was built for Duke Federico da Montefeltro, the ruler of Urbino between 1444 and 1482. There will also be plenty of time for lunch and a look around the rest of the town.

At around 15.30 you set off on the return journey to Bastia Creti. Follow the Fano road to Fermignano, (roughly 8km from Urbino), turn right towards Perugia and Roma, and follow the superstrada for a short distance until it ends at Acqualagna.

From there follow the signs for Cagli, which is about 143 km from our base and you should arrive at about 16.15. (Cagli, which is built on a roman town and has a dramatic mountain setting, is well worth a closer look if you don't mind a slightly longer day). From there follow the road for Gubbio, which takes you back through some more wonderful mountain scenery.

After 155 km you will arrive at a roundabout outside Gubbio. Turn right towards Umbertide, go straight through Umbertide on the main road and turn left at Niccone which takes you back to Bastia Creti, arriving at about 17.00.