genius loci travel srl

Walking, Cycling and Kayaking Italy with the specialists

Genius Loci Travel does not offer holidays to all destinations worldwide, but specialises in one single country, Italy. This means that we at Genius Loci Travel know every single spot of this country, better than any other operator and that we can design the perfect walking or cycling holiday for you in any place around Italy, from the Alps down to Sicily. You will see, Italy offers the wealth of a whole continent in one single country!

Genius Loci Travel , the real Italian specialists for walking & cycling , offer unsurpassed walking tours , cycling trips and hiking vacations , directly, to clients worldwide.

• Independent Self-Guided Walking Holidays
• Small Group Walking Adventures
• Drive & Hike, Walk & Discover
• Self-Guided Cycling Tours
• Small Group Cycling Tours
• Sea Kayak Tours along Italy's Coast

Unique carefully selected itineraries, the best authentic accommodations & local cuisine , and a full immersion in the natural beauty & local culture combine for an active holiday just right for everyone.

We pride ourselves in the personal attention we give in all aspects of the tour planning , the preparation of route notes & maps , the careful selection of your accommodation and the service we give all our holiday clients.

Tours on this web site have been selected to appeal to all tastes and levels of fitness.

Whether you are keen walker or want a stroll with a view and some good food, we have the right vacation for you!

Explore Italy with the Specialists!

Walking , Cycling and Kayaking is the best way to see and know our country.

We live here, we did it and we have selected the best spots for you!

Hiking and Walking in Italy

Independent does not mean unsupported, though! On independent tours it is nice to know that our local staff is always available, and just a phone call away.

One of the strengths of Genius Loci Travel is the design of each tour. A Genius Loci independent walking tour  takes you along carefully selected routes, making sure that you see the best that each area has to offer, with an optimal mix between walking & sightseeing, culture & nature.

According to the area, on some tours the focus is more the hiking, on others the cultural aspects. But all our tours provide the best possible mix between culture & nature. Not one single day is the same on our walking tours!

Type of tour

Our tours find the right balance between continuous walking routes and those that are centrally based. Usually you change accommodation about every 2/3 days on our tours. This avoids the hassle of having to change hotel every day, while allowing you to follow a continuous route through the area, without having to travel each day to the start of your walk

On our independent tours, you are free to follow the trail at your own pace. We transport your luggage, so you don’t need to carry much more than your camera, water and perhaps a picnic lunch. You can leisurely enjoy your walk knowing that your baggage will be waiting for you at your next accommodation.

Each of our tour programmes is flexible, you can normally start your walk on any day during the season, and you can add on extra days where and when you desire, for resting or sightseeing, as well as to opt for tour extensions in nearby areas.

N.B. Please note that on some of our trips you will occasionally need to carry overnight gear (e.g. when staying in a mountain hut). On some tours, when you are a based at two or three walking centres, you may need to personally transfer your baggage, on public transport, between different centres.

Walking or Trekking ?

Most of our holidays are relatively relaxed walks, seen as a means of discovery, not a goal in itself . We like to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of variety during our travels. Some areas – like the Dolomites – invite more challenging walking, others allow for easy strolling.

The walking is not only fun, it is also generally the best way to discover the place we are visiting. Is there a better way to sense the silence and isolation of the Amalfi Coast, than walking along the wonderful trails, suspended between the sky and the sea? How can you enjoy Mount Etna more than by walking, almost by yourself, over a crater’s rim? And what about a full immersion in the superb Tuscan countryside?

We strongly believe walking is the ideal pace to meet people, absorb the countryside and make fascinating personal discoveries. Trains, ferries and all kinds of local transport are also used to vary the pace and perspective of your travels. The key difference between a Genius Loci holiday and most mainstream holidays is that you immerse yourself more in the destination, get to know special places and local people.

We are proud of our selection of accommodations. As stated by some of our clients: one of our strengths lies in the careful selection of the right accommodation for the type of tour, the type of clients and the type of area. Not the obvious places, but small, well-situated, often family-run places, with a personal welcome. Our accommodations are often small hotels, but can be wonderful Bed & Breakfasts ( yes, this is the Italian word! ), as well as agriturismo’s, rural accommodations, which are often real countryside relais . All are chosen for their accessibility to the trail and for the warmth of their welcome. Many are located in historical buildings or placed in exceptional spots. All give you the feeling of being truly in Italy, and not in just another hotel anywhere in the world. All represent the best price/quality ratio the area offers and they all employ local people.

On the whole and for these reasons we try to avoid chain and big name hotels. Many of our hoteliers are walkers themselves and take an active and helpful interest in our clients’ progress. Most of the places we have been using for years and we have a good working relationship with the owners. On most of the tours you will find that accommodations will vary somewhat within the hospitality quality grades, which adds a touch of character to the region or the country that they are passing through.

• Response Rate: 100%
• Response Time: 3 hours

Company Overview

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies
• Email Address Verified
• Phone Number Verified
• No of Employees 15

Genius Loci Travel

• Number of tours 3
• Age range 18-99
• Founded year 2001
• On 21 Jun 2019
• Lili Laberge
• From Canada
• On 20 Jun 2019
• On 18 Jun 2019
• From Luxembourg
• On 07 Jun 2019
• Barbara Hauter
• On 29 May 2019

Genius Loci Travel – the leading Italian specialist for walking, cycling & kayaking tours ! Genius Loci Travel is a fully-licensed Italian tour operator, operating under EU law. It was founded in 2001 as one of the first Italian tour operators specialized in walking & cycling tours. Nowadays, there are many new outfitters, but be aware that the internet and social media have enabled many small, often inexperienced companies to look very impressive. Our knowledge of Italy and experience in organising tours are a guarantee for our clients! Starting back in 1999 we have developed many walking tours & cycling trips, among which the first walking tours along the Amalfi Coast (when the ‘Path of the Gods’ was still unknown). In the beginning we worked mainly on behalf of other specialized tour operators, in the UK, France, Germany, Australia and The Netherlands, on behalf of whom we developed some of the most successful walking tours ever – in terms of numbers, but also of clients’ satisfaction! While continuing to do that, we now also handle private clients who can book one of our self-guided tours directly (which we can customise), or on behalf of whom we can also organise tailor-made bespoke group adventures. For almost two decades, Genius Loci Travel has handled thousands of satisfied clients. Genius Loci Travel S.r.l. is registered in Italy, Business Register No. 32136. Our registered address & head office is: Via Antonio Rotondo 5, 84127 Salerno - Italy.

Destinations

• Amalfi Coast & Campania

Why book with Us

Our Commitment to You: Responsible & sustainable tourism All our trips are run as ‘responsible’ and ‘sustainable’ as possible— socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. Quality Genius Loci Travel neither aims to offer the most luxurious tours, neither the cheapest. But, we do give the best value for money. Compare our tours & prices to those of other outfitters (and check where we stay and what is included). Satisfaction We started to sell our tours directly upon demand from our customers and still rely very heavily on word-of-mouth and repeat custom for our bookings. Our clients know that we give them the best holiday experience possible. Financial security We provide complete financial security for all our clients and adhere to all regulations concerning the safety of our clients’ money. Feedback At the end of every trip, we provide our clients with a questionnaire that we ask to fill in. Our clients’ feedback is used to continuously improve the quality of our holidays (or maintain the quality of our ‘perfect’ tours). Exclusivity We specialise only in Italy and are able to offer a more extensive programme of walking and cycling tours than anyone else in our country. Many of our tours are ‘originals’, designed & developed by our staff members. These are meticulously researched routes across many of the most inspiring parts of Italy. Often imitated, never equaled!

Tours and Holidays by Genius Loci Travel

• Best Price Guarantee
• Hassle-free booking
• No booking or credit card fees

Via Francigena: Walk from Lucca to Siena

Paestum & the Cilento National Park

The Heart of the Cilento National Park

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Independent Cycling Tours from Genius Loci Travel Pedal at your own Pace

Genius Loci Travel also offers a wide range of independent cycling tours , featuring the most beautiful regions of Italy, with plenty of choice for all ability levels and all seasons, from gentle cycling breaks to rewarding biking holidays .

These tours, also often called ' self guided' tours ', offer the best selection of cycling routes in Italy, which you can do with whom you want, at the pace you want, at the time you want. You are the guide! With our detailed road book, including maps and route notes you will be able to find any route. A Genius Loci independent cycling tour takes you along carefully selected routes through an area, making sure that you see the best of this area, avoiding the busier roads and with the optimal mix between cycling & sightseeing. Choose from the best selection of tours around Italy. According to the area, on some tours the focus is more on the real biking, on others on the cultural aspects of the area. Not one single day is the same on our cycling tours! Check out our great offer of Cycling Tours & Biking Trips in Italy !

Why a cycling tour with Genius Loci Travel ?

Our tours are the right balance between continuous routes and centre-based tours. Usually you change hotel about every 2/3 days on our tours. This avoids you to have to change hotel every day, while on the other hand you can follow a continuous route through the area, without having to do the same road several times.

As you are travelling independently, you are free to follow the route at your own pace. We transport your luggage on to the next hotel on the days you move to a different place, so you can enjoy your 'light' ride, knowing that your baggage will be waiting for you at your next night's accommodation.

Moreover: independent cycling does not mean unsupported cycling ! In case you need help, technical assistance can be provided on any place along the route. And our staff is always only a phone call away !

© Genius Loci Travel, 2011

Genius Loci Travel

Guided , self-guided.

Home » Genius Loci Travel

Genius Loci Travel is a local tour operator based in Salerno offering self-guided and guided walking, cycling and kayaking trips throughout Italy. As their name implies, Genius Loci wants visitors to experience the true soul of Italy. They do this by incorporating often overlooked villages and less-crowded alternatives while still covering the beautiful areas that people want to see. We especially love their active commitment to sustainable practices and the fact that they hire people with backgrounds in conservation, rural development and other academic fields. Founded by a Dutch engineer living in Salerno, this is a company that practices what it preaches and one we are happy support.

Wallet Friendly

Visit website, local operator.

• Local Choice

Review of Genius Loci Travel Website

Genius Loci Travel’s site could use some modern updates but it shows the personality of this company and provides all of the important details. We love that they offer several translations of their site (English, German, French, Dutch and Italian). You can browse trips by type (small group, independent, walking, cycling, kayaking, drive and hike, luxury boutique lodging). You can also browse by scenery (alpine, coastal, countryside). We used their Search box to find “centre-based” trips. They have a lot of options so it’s a bit overwhelming. Hopefully someday they can revamp their site to add more search filters, but in the meantime we suggest taking your time to peruse or contact them directly for help in choosing. Each itinerary includes detailed trip notes, difficulty level, meals included, photos and options for shorter/longer variations.

This quote from their site perfectly sums up their focus on creating a quality trip, rather than worrying about a perfectly polished online presence…

We continue to prefer to spend money on research, rather than on marketing! Genius Loci Travel

Things to like about Genius Loci Travel

• Trusted company with 20+ years in business; member of Adventure Travel Trade Association
• Guides are certified, led by people who live in that region and come from a variety of academic backgrounds
• Offers original itineraries designed by people who know the region and actively maintain the routes
• Impressive coverage for all regions of Italy but most especially of southern and central interior regions
• Covers Via Francigena pilgrimage
• Route notes are detailed and include GPX files, maps and updates on trail conditions 
• Special attention made to lodging with options for customizing for the client
• Recognized by several national authorities and within the travel industry for their sustainable practices
• Offers discount vouchers to return customers and a FREE tour for you if you bring 6 or more friends
• Provides custom trips for group travel or that focus on special interests
• Trips include breakfast and luggage transport; some include dinner

Large walking holiday companies have been contracting trips with Genius Loci Travel for years, which says something for their quality, and now you can book directly with them and keep those travel dollars local. For all these reasons and more, Genius Loci Travel earns our Local Choice for Italy. For different itineraries and small-scale guided hiking in Italy, see Maremma Safari Club which also earns our Local Choice for Italy.

Route Types

• Center-based hiking
• Inn to inn hiking

Destinations include

Great choice for.

• Those who value carefully selected accommodations as much as they value the itinerary
• Anyone seeking walking or multi-activity holidays in Italy
• Travelers seeking to book directly with local tour operators with a solid reputation for responsible travel
• Those seeking customized group travel (families, hiking clubs, work retreats, etc.)

Established in 2001

last reviewed March 17, 2023

• Multi-Activity

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Genius Loci Turismo

Location & Hours

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Via Antonio Rotondo 5

84127 Salerno

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About Genius Loci

Meet Your Hosts

Genius Loci is owned and operated by the Tacconi family, a bilingual and bicultural Umbrian-American family. It is the result of Michael and Maurizio’s painstaking restoration of an 1880s farmhouse in which the antique stones and bricks, hand-hewn oak beams and terracotta floors have been brought back to their original splendor. The operation of Genius Loci is very much a family affair, with Michael, Mary and Maurizio all taking part in making the Inn your welcoming “home away from home.”  They all share the hobby of photography and nearly all of these website photos are theirs.

Meet the family below!

Michael was born and raised in Umbria.  He graduated from Connecticut College in European history before completing a program in International Hotel Management. He worked for years in Hospitality in the States and Italy before becoming actively involved with the Genius Loci restoration. He brought his vision in creating the look, welcoming atmosphere, and relaxed feel of the Inn, also working with Mary on the decorating. As manager, he brings his professionalism, personal vocation, and experience…along with his charisma.

Mary was born and raised in California and graduated from UC in Art History before marrying Maurizio and moving to Umbria. She collaborated with Michael on the decorating, is in charge of Reservations, conducts the Gourmet Tastings, and Wineries and Ceramics Tours. She is the author of a popular cookbook, “At the Table, Time Stands Still”. Mary enjoys sharing her unique expat perspective with guests.

Read Mary’s blog HERE .

Maurizio, a true Umbrian, studied at the University of Rome and has a lifetime of experience in business and construction. While he considers the restoration of Genius Loci his crowning achievement, he also actively oversees the Genius Loci vineyards and olive groves, making our Genius Loci wines and our extra virgin olive oil.

Mar , who graduated from Williams College and received her Ph.D. from Yale, is a professor of musicology at Penn State. Her teaching and research focus mainly on the music and art of medieval and Renaissance Florence as well as that of Venice in the 1600s. Mar is at Genius Loci for short stays in the summer.

OUR LOCATION

A Country Inn | Bevagna, Italy

Situated atop a sprawling vineyard,  Genius Loci  captures the essence of Umbria. It celebrates an unspoiled and timeless landscape with its historical architecture, panoramic pool, breathtaking views and friendly hospitality.

Genius Loci  is two hours from Rome, Florence, a convenient one hour and 10 minutes to the Tuscan towns of Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino and no more than 30 minutes to most of the major sites.

HOW TO FIND US

Google Maps

To find us on Google Maps, it is sufficient to enter Genius Loci Bevagna . You can also simply click HERE .

Arriving from the north by car

• Take the A1 Highway towards Rome.
• Exit at Valdichiana and continue towards Perugia, Assisi, Foligno.
• Take the exit marked Foligno Nord/Bevagna.
• Go straight all the way to Bevagna.
• After Bevagna continue uphill towards Massa Martana.
• After a mile and a half, watch on the left for the gravel entrance road sign Monti Martani 23-25
• If you plan to use a GPS when driving, use the following coordinates to locate  Genius Loci : N42° 54.462’ E012° 36.697’

Arriving by plane

• The closest airport is the Sant’Egidio Airport in Perugia.
• From there take the E75 towards Assisi, Foligno.
• Go straight all the way to Bevagna. After Bevagna continue uphill towards Massa Martana.
• After a mile and a half, watch on the left for the gravel entrance road sign Monti Martani 23-25..
• If you are arriving in Rome’s Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci Airport, use the “Arriving from the South by car” directions. Your trip will be approximately two hours.
• If you are arriving in Florence’s Peretola Amerigo Vespucci Airport, use the “Arriving from the north by car” directions. Your trip will be approximately two hours.

Arriving from the south by car

• Take the A1 Highway towards Florence.
• Exit at Orte. Continue towards Terni, Spoleto, Foligno.
• After a mile and a half, watch on the left for the gravel entrance road sign Monti Martani 23-25.

Arriving by train

• The closest train station is in Foligno.
• From Foligno train station, you can take a taxi or rent a car.
• For more information on trains, please consult  www.trenitalia.it

TOURS & TASTINGS

Wineries Tour     |    Gourmet Tasting     |    Deruta Ceramics Tour

Discover all that Genius Loci has to offer.

Our Classic Doubles

The Classic Doubles are normally-sized, beautifully-appointed and furnished and feature lovely lateral views of the surrounding countryside.

Our Deluxe Doubles

The Deluxe Doubles are extra-spacious, beautifully-appointed and furnished, suite-like rooms with magnificent, sweeping views and comfortable sitting areas.

Our Apartment

This self-catering apartment is available with or without daily breakfast at the Inn and every-fourth-day housekeeping services.

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Experiences

Gourmet Tasting

Wineries Tour

Ceramics Tour

Wine and Oil Lovers’ Club

Reservations

Rooms & Rates

Our Location

(+39) 3356890023

(+39) 3349597099

[email protected]

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Are you looking for a different and unusual trip? Do you want to make a new tourist experience? This is the mission of GENIUS LOCI: to enhance tourism related to industrial heritage, discovering and enhancing museums, ecomuseums, business archives, old industrial factories and agritourism companies. Genius Loci proposes to discover "the know-how of a place" to remain fascinated by its traditional and artisan productions of excellent quality preserved and handed down from generation to generation to this day. For real passinate but not only. Discover the itineraries inside the portal..

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Itineraries

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• Medals Genius Loci
• Getting Started Guide
• The Salevian
• Our Ambassadors
• Ambassadors

Genius Loci in short

What genius loci.

The medals Genius Loci are a tool for promoting local heritage , both physical and digital.

For each location:

• Sustainable signage ( 316L stainless steel medal )
• Un digital space dedicated (webapp)

The content is created by the institutions owning the medals (cities, tourist offices, associations, etc.) Genius Loci SA, as developer of the tool, does not create the content.

What problems do you solve?

Europe welcomes more than 700 million visitors  each year, it represents more than 50% of global tourism.

What are they looking for? What makes Europe so unique: its History and Heritage! castles, historic towns and villages, palaces, cathedrals or churches, without forgetting its exceptional natural sites and its cultural and intangible heritage.

More than 500 European sites are also classified as the Unesco list . The Colosseum, Mont Saint Michel…

One of the major problems is that these sites, as exceptional as they are, concentrate the majority of mass tourism to the point of over-tourism… However in Europe there are more than 200000 towns, villages or localities which are full of treasures to be valued and which are largely unknown .

In the age of slow tourism, we want to invite international and indigenous tourists to travel less far, but more in depth. Thanks to our international network of connected Medals revealing in detail the secrets of our regions.

For cities, tourist offices and communities, Genius Loci offers an alternative to tourist signs adapted to today's world: digital, economical, collaborative and sustainable.

Genius Loci it is a new discovery experience, which combines Heritage and Innovation. Our vision? Make it the best tool for promoting Heritage on a large scale.

What is your business model?

B2B2C. Our customers order medals from us and set up their own promotion project. The final beneficiary is the visitor or tourist who will discover our medals in context which will enrich their experience of discovering a region.

who are your clients?

Heritage architects, Cultural mediators, Museum curators, Art restorer, Art historians, Archaeologists, Urban planners, City architects, Museographers, Historians, Geographers, Cultural organizations and institutions, Ministries, Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC ), Private or public foundations which work for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, Tourist offices, Municipalities, Heritage preservation associations.

Who are your investors?

As a spin-off of Design Sprint Ltd , Genius Loci SA is still 100% owned by Steph Cruchon et Egle Cruchon . For future capital openings, we plan to prioritize state investors and family offices who not only demonstrate a genuine interest in our sector, but who also share our strategic objectives.

Genius Loci TO: CHE-350.985.984 https://zefix.ch/en/search/entity/list/firm/1542222

How does it work?

Towns or villages order a stock of medals

Immediate location activation and easy content creation

Installation at the place of interest with two screws

Visitors scan the medal. Immediate access

Content is automatically translated into more than 10 languages

Access to attendance statistics

Travel closer and deeper.

Genius Loci promotes slow tourism adapted to today’s world . Our generations are learning to travel differently. Spend more time in the same region and discover less touristy places.

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