Heart of Umbria: explore the mystic towns of Orvieto and Assisi

This tour is perfect for those of you looking for a unique, meaningful, and truly unforgettable day! Meet your friendly and history-loving tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will depart shortly! During your journey south towards Cortona, your guide will share some interesting information about this gorgeous, hilltop town. The drive will take about 1.5 hours.

Upon arrival, take a look out the window to find the stunning first views of Cortona, artfully resting on the hills of Southern-most Tuscany. This small town is most famous for being the location of Audrey Well’s film, “Under the Tuscan Sun,” filmed in the early 2000’s. Other than its pop-culture fame, this town is extremely historic; in fact, it was originally built by the Etruscans! Your guide will lead you to the main piazza of the square, and you will have two hours to independently explore. Enjoy the picturesque streets filled with flowers, the stunning views of the rolling hills and green valley, and the lovely medieval-Tuscan architecture. Your guide will be happy to give you recommendations on what to visit in the town, where to take pictures, or the best places to sip on a coffee!

Next, you will cross the regional border into Umbria, heading to the mesmerizing town of Assisi. Filled with white buildings and incredible churches, the town also naturally overlooks the green, beautiful valley below. Assisi is known as one of the most sacred places in Italy, as it is the home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Before learning more and discovering the city, you will have an hour of free time to indulge in a delicious lunch wherever you would prefer. Assisi is known for its fragrant truffle pastas, hearty vegetable soups, herbed meats, and nut and dried fruit crostini desserts.

Next, meet your professional walking guide of the city. As you explore the natural beauty and medieval alleyways, your guide will share fascinating information about Assisi. Take a step back in time, as you explore the ancient architecture and walk down the same cobblestone streets in which Saint Francis walked generations ago. The tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, then head through the main square of the city to the ancient Roman Temple of Minerva, then to the birthplace of Saint Francis, and finally to Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi. Your guide will bring you inside both of the churches, so you can discover the innate beauty, timeless art, and extreme sacredness throughout the city and its churches.

Your walking tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, dedicated to Saint Clare. Outside of the Basilica, your guide will point out the interestingly colored materials - the church is decorated in white and pink striped marble from a mountain near Assisi. You will also notice the belltower, which is the tallest in Assisi. When you walk inside the church, you may discover there is an unexpected emptiness - the church has only one aisle. Your guide will explain that although it once was decorated by intricate frescoes, these were all lost through time. Beneath the church, you can find the tomb of Saint Clare. For a woman who helped and influenced so many, this Basilica is a beautiful memorial. Entry is included.

Your guide will next lead you to Basilica di San Francesco, not only one of the most important religious sites in the city, but also in the entire country of Italy. Your guide will explain that it is the oldest Gothic church throughout the country, built above the tomb of Saint Francis. The church technically consists of two parts - a lower church and upper church. In the lower half, you will find the incredibly sacred tomb of San Francesco, as well as important frescoes by Cimabue and Simone Martini. The upper part of the church allows a heavenly light to glow upon ancient frescoes painted by Giotto. These colorful 28 frescoes depict the life of the Saint, forever representing a vivid celebration of life. It is said that the Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi has the best collection of art of any church in Italy. After exploring the inside of Basilica di San Francesco, your guide will lead you to exit onto a green lawn overlooking the skyline of Assisi. Entry is included.

After discovering the most of Assisi, you will head about ten minutes away to the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is located about two and a half miles (four kilometers) from the city center. Your guide will lead you into Santa Maria degli Angeli, but it is actually more famous for another much smaller building inside - “Porziuncola.” This very small, stone chapel once housed Saint Francis and his followers, and it is where he started the Franciscan order. Now, you will see the Porziuncola has been decorated in Gothic style frescoes, glorifying the small building. Enjoy some time to appreciate the beauty and importance of “Porziuncola.”

Did you know that Lake Tresimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy? Before heading back to Florence, the bus will make a final stop at the enchanting town of Passignano sul Tresimeno, which overlooks the natural lake. Enjoy thirty minutes to discover the medieval alleyways of this hidden gem - in the naturally beautiful landscape of Tuscany, it is backed by an ancient, medieval fortress, and boasts the comfort of a lake-front town. Your guide will be happy to point you in the right direction of the best viewpoints for photos.

After a day of fascinating sightseeing, beautiful landscapes, and plenty of photos… It will be time to return to Florence. Hop back onto the comfortable coach bus, and the drive will take about 1.5 hours. You will arrive back in the early evening.