Norcia and Castelluccio day trip from Spoleto or Perugia or Assisi
A day trip to Norcia and Castelluccio from Spoleto, Perugia or Assisi: Norcia's walls, the butchers and truffle shops of Corso Sertorio, Piazza San Benedetto and the basilica being rebuilt, then up to the Piano Grande and the village of Castelluccio. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Norcia and Castelluccio in 1 day
Day 1
Mura di Norcia
Medieval walls that ring the whole town in an oval, entered through old gates, with a pleasant walk around them.
Corso Sertorio (norcineria pork butchers and truffle shops)
Main street of the norcinerie, pork butchers' shops hung with hams and salami, where truffles and lentils are sold too.
Historic centre of Norcia (Piazza San Benedetto)
The town square with the statue of Saint Benedict, born here, and the town hall, still busy with cafes and shops.
Basilica of St Benedict
Basilica on the site of Saint Benedict's birthplace; it collapsed in the 2016 earthquake and was rebuilt, reopening for worship on 31 October 2025.
Piano Grande
Vast high plain under the Sibillini mountains that flowers in early summer in waves of red, yellow and blue.
Castelluccio
Small village on a hill above the Piano Grande, badly damaged in 2016, with cafes and shops now in temporary buildings.
Watch: Norcia and Castelluccio
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is needed for this day. Norcia is about 50 minutes from Spoleto through the Valnerina and about 1 h 30 from Perugia or Assisi. Castelluccio and the Piano Grande are about 30 km further up a mountain road from Norcia.
Staying in Spoleto or Perugia or Assisi? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Norcia and Castelluccio
Late June to mid-July is the time for the flowering of the Piano Grande, the busiest weeks of the year. May and September to October are quieter and good for walking, with mushroom and truffle season in autumn. In winter the high plain is cold and often snowy, and the road can close.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Norcia and Castelluccio on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Norcia and Castelluccio on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Norcia and Castelluccio on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Norcia and Castelluccio
- Norcia is still recovering from the 2016 earthquake: the main square, the walls and the shops are open, while the basilica and several churches are being rebuilt.
- Shopping on Corso Sertorio is part of the visit: try the cured hams, salami and black truffles that Norcia is known for.
- The road to Castelluccio climbs to about 1,450 metres; bring a jacket even in summer, and in winter check that it is open.
- The flowering of the Piano Grande usually peaks from late June to mid-July; weekends then are crowded, so arrive early.
- Eat lentils from Castelluccio, grown on the plain below, in the village's restaurants, now mostly in temporary buildings.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of St Benedict: Starlight~commonswiki, Public domain
- Castelluccio: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Norcia (Piazza San Benedetto): Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piano Grande: Dick Pountain, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
