Description
This Assisi and Orvieto day trip from Rome trades the capital's traffic for a long drive up the Tiber Valley and two hill towns of central Italy. The day lasts around twelve hours, with transport and local guides included, so you only have to watch the countryside change from the window.
The first stop is Orvieto, a small town of Etruscan origins. Its 14th-century cathedral is the reason to come, a masterpiece of gothic architecture. The road then runs through hills of olive groves and vineyards, in a region known for quality wines, and the group sits down to a lunch of traditional local dishes.
After lunch the route follows the shore of Lake Trasimeno towards Assisi, which lies at the foot of Mount Subasio and is known as the birthplace of St Francis. A guided walk takes in the Church of St Clare, the Townhall Square with the People's Palace and the Roman Temple of Minerva, and the Basilica of St Francis near the old city walls, whose frescoes date from the 12th to the 14th century. The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the body of Carlo Acutis rests, is also on the list.
- Orvieto's cathedral
- Lunch with local dishes
- Guided walk in Assisi
- Basilica of St Francis
The group is back in Rome in the evening. Churches enforce a dress code, so cover knees and shoulders. Hotel pickup and drinks are not included, and the tour does not suit people with mobility impairments.