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

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Discover Orvieto and Assisi: Dive into Umbria’s art, nature, and history with a local guide. Explore medieval streets and historic landmarks.

Duration: 11 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Florence - 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 Assisi, your guide will share some interesting information about this gorgeous, hilltop town. The drive will take about 1.5 hours.
Assisi - 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.
Assisi - 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.
Basilica di Santa Chiara - 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.
Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d’Assisi - 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.
Santa Maria degli Angeli - 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.”
Orvieto - Let’s continue this incredible journey to discover the beauties of Umbria region! The first stop of our adventure will be the city of Orvieto. Although it is not well known abroad, this town perched on a tuff cliff and that perfectly combines history, art and natural beauties, is one of the most fascinating Italian villages.
Duomo di Orvieto - 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).
Pozzo di San Patrizio - Another major attraction of Orvieto is Saint Patrick’s well: a true engineering masterpiece designed to provide a reliable water supply during sieges.
Florence - 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.

What's Included

Entrance fee to St Francis’ Basilica
Free time in Orvieto
Journey by fully fitted GT Coach
Assisi tour with professional guide
Entrance fee to Santa Maria degli Angeli Church
Expert multilingual escort
Entrance fee to Santa Chiara Church

What's Not Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Additional Information

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. A daily excursion to the gems of the Umbria region: a deep dive into art, nature, and historic towns. Let’s roam around in Orvieto’s streets and fall for its glorious past: take your time to admire the Duomo or to visit its landmarks. Enjoy the chill atmosphere in Assisi while your local guide will tell you everything about the city of the Saints.

Entrance into churches requires a strict dress code. We cannot be held responsible for entry denied due to improper dress. Please make sure your shoulders and knees are covered
English and Spanish are always guaranteed. In order to confirm the excursion in Italian, Portuguese or French a minimum of 4 pax is required

Location

Piazzale Montelungo

TOURS & NEWS KIOSK AT PIAZZALE MONTELUNGO BUS TERMINAL Located at 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Look for our staff wearing a FUCHSIA CIAOFLORENCE JACKET and holding a CIAOFLORENCE CLIPBOARD!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.1

(234 Ratings)

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Tricia_e

Sep 5, 2024

Would definitely recommend - This tour company is very organised and professional. They made the check in process east and they are easy to find in there bright pink tops. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find the right spot. We did a visit the day before because we were a bit nervous we wouldn’t find it but it was very easy. The tour guide Maria Angela was so welcoming and knowledgeable she definitely made the day. Always had interesting facts about the areas we were travelling through and visited. It was a long day but it went smoothly and quickly because we were always kept engaged. The driver Richardo was fabulous and we felt very safe. I loved the tour and I was very impressed with Orvieto and Assisi. I would recommend be prepared for a 12 hour plus day and have some lunch in Orvieto are my tips

Review provided by Viator

Edessa_j

Aug 31, 2024

Heart of Umbria - We arranged a Day Tour Trip: Heart of Umbria to discover the enchanting towns of Orvieto and Assisi through Viator. The tour was organized by Ciao Florence Tours. Our guide, Julian, along with our driver, Oswaldo, were fantastic! Julian provided us with fascinating historical insights about both Orvieto and Assisi. Sarah, our local guide, did an excellent job sharing the history of St. Francis of Assisi. Although it was a long day, Julian ensured we followed the itinerary to maximize our experience. Oswaldo was a careful driver and a true gentleman, assisting passengers as they exited the van. It was definitely a worthwhile investment!

Review provided by Viator

Paradise60616386511

Aug 15, 2024

Amazing day visiting Assisi and Orvieto! - It was a wonderful spiritual and historic experience visiting these towns in the beautiful region of Italy! Cecilia made this experience a memorable one! She was knowledgeable and very articulate. We highly recommend this One Day tour. Thanks to Giovanni we felt safe and relaxed during the hours on the road.