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

About this tour

Full-day trip from Florence to the heart of Umbria: Orvieto and Assisi. Local guide in Assisi and access to the basilicas of Saint Francis and Clare included

Let’s head to the heart of Umbria and explore the medieval town of Orvieto and the city of Assisi, which lies at the foot of Mount Subasio.

Orvieto rises on a tuff cliff and perfectly combines history, art and natural beauties. Marvel at the grandeur of the gothic architecture of the Duomo, whose facade is enriched by precious mosaics and sculptures that will take you to another world. Don’t miss the chance to visit also the inside of the church, with its colorful stained-glass windows and one the most famous frescoes of Luca Signorelli (please, note that the entrance ticket to the Duomo is not included in the price of the tour).

Another major attraction of Orvieto is Saint Patrick’s well: a true engineering masterpiece designed to provide a reliable water supply during sieges. Access the depths of the well with the two helical ramps and find yourselves right into another dimension (please, note the entrance tickets to the well are not included in the price of the tour). Get lost among the narrow alleys, explore the local squares and enjoy the typical medieval architecture of the buildings. Don’t forget to browse around the numerous artisans’ workshops: take the chance to bring home a unique artifact to remember forever the time spent in Orvieto.

After some free time, you will get back on our fully-fitted GT Coach and head to Assisi: one of Umbria’s most fascinating borgo. Assisi is the city of the Saints: Saint Francis and Saint Clare. It lies on top of a hill, once called Hill of Hell, “Colle dell’Inferno”, since it used to be the burial site of those who were condemned to death. They then changed its name to Hill of Paradise once they set the first stone of the Basilica of Saint Francis.

An expert local guide will lead you through the secrets of the city while you walk through its steep winding alleys. You will then enter the famous Basilica of Saint Francis, home to some of the best preserved frescoes painted by Giotto, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Cimabue. You will then enter also the Basilica of Saint Clare, one of the first followers of Saint Francis and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies. After the guided tour, you will have some free time to go shopping in the local small stores or to just chill in the main square, sipping a good coffee.

The last stop of the trip before eventually going back to Florence will be the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels: a majestic church built on top of the Porziuncola, a smaller church where the Franciscan movement originally started.