The basilica of St. Francis is covered in the greatest Gothic frescoes in the world
Francis’s story is told below, with the handy visual aid of Giotto’s fresco cycle in the upper church. But suffice it to say that Assisi’s grandiose, gorgeously embellished Basilica di San Francesco is an incongruous memorial to a man who preached and lived an utterly simple life—one of poverty, abstinence, and renunciation of worldly goods in search of greater spirituality.
The basilica’s implacable bulk rises like a force of nature from the rock of the mountainside, and the first sight of it as you approach the town from the valley is stupefying.
The person responsible for this edifice was one of Francis’s right-hand men, the Cortonan disciple Brother Elia. For all his spiritual devotion, Elia remained much more worldly than Francis. In fact, it was probably Elia’s tireless marketing and promotion of the Franciscan order, coupled with papal encouragement (which had political motivations of its own), that ensured the longevity of the Francescani.
With the basilica he built in 1230 to house Francis’s recently sanctified bones, Elia was basically sending a public-relations message: Here was a man so holy he needed not just one but two churches, stacked on top of each other, to honor him. The bi-level basilica enjoys an odd marriage of form and function as one of the world’s focal points of both high art and intense spirituality.
It moves the devout to tears and art lovers to fits of near-religious ecstasy.
THE LOWER CHURCH
Entered through a Gothic portal under a Renaissance porch on Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco (the lower of the two squares abutting the church), the basilica’s bottom half is a low-ceilinged, extremely dim cryptlike church. It’s full of masterpieces of the early Sienese school of painting, but they’re poorly lit, mainly by beautiful but unfortunately not very transparent stained-glass windows, many of which are as old as the church itself.
There’s a 1422 fresco of the Madonna Enthroned with Saints by Eugubian master Ottaviano Nelli just past the tiny decorated chapel on the left as you enter, plus some fine Gothic tombs along the right wall. At the opposite end of this hall, past the nave, is the Cappella di Santa Caterina (usually closed), frescoed by Andrea de’ Bartoli with scenes from the Life of St. Catherine (1367).
The nave was the first part of the church to be frescoed, with the Passion on the right wall and Life of St. Francis on the left—all of them damaged when the side chapels were built and all painted by the mysterious but talented master named, because of this job, the Maestro di San Francesco. The first chapel off the nave on the right was decorated in 1574 by Dono Doni with the Life of St. Stephen.
Across the nave, the first chapel on the left is the Cappella di San Martino, frescoed with that saint’s life by the Sienese genius Simone Martini (1312–15). Martini amply displays both his penchant for boldly patterned fabrics—not unusual in an artist from a textile center—and his mastery of the medieval forms and themes of late Gothic Sienese painting. The scene on the right wall, St. Martin Is Knighted by Emperor Julian, sums up the chivalric medieval ideal perfectly: the ceremony of a king strapping on a knight’s sword and a squire slipping on his spurs; the noble sports of the hunt and falconry; and the love of good music and singing of the bel canto. The portrait of Julian, by the way, is probably accurate; Martini based it on the official profiles stamped on Roman coins from the emperor’s era.
Halfway up the nave on either side are stairs descending to the crypt containing the venerated stone coffin of St. Francis surrounded by the graves of four of his followers. This crypt was lost until the 19th century, sealed up by canny Brother Elia to keep rival Perugians from stealing the saintly remains. Up in the nave again, beyond the stairs on the left wall, is a cantoria tricked out with cosmatesque colored marbles. Above it is a niche with the remains of a Coronation of the Virgin (1337) and other frescoes by Giotto’s talented disciple Puccio Capanna.
Across the nave again, the middle chapel on the right side has 17th-century decorations, but the Cappella della Maddalena next door, the last chapel on the right, was frescoed with the Life of St. Mary Magdalene by Giotto and his assistants (1303–09). For two of the more dramatic scenes—the Raising of Lazarus, where bystanders dramatically cover their noses at the stench of Lazarus’s rotting flesh, and a Noli Mi Tangere where Christ appears almost to hitch up his robes as he scurries from the Magdalene’s touch—Giotto borrowed the compositions from the same scenes he’d recently finished in his fresco cycle for Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel.
In the left transept’s barrel vault and on its walls, early Sienese master Pietro Lorenzetti left one of his masterpieces. A 1320 cycle of Christ’s Passion ends with a huge and colorful, but sadly damaged, Crucifixion, and on the wall is a touching and dynamic Deposition, featuring a gaunt Christ and whimpering Marys.
The barrel vault of the right transept was originally frescoed in 1280 by Giotto’s master, Cimabue, but only his Madonna Enthroned with Four Angels and St. Francis survives, containing what has become the most popular portrait of the saint. This panel sticks out like a sore thumb amid the early 14C frescoes on the Childhood of Christ painted by Giotto’s assistants under his direction—though the master himself apparently took his brush to the Crucifixion scene.
Beneath the Cimabue fresco is the tomb of five of Francis’s original followers, above which Pietro Lorenzetti frescoed their portraits.
To the left of the door and on the end wall are half-length figures of the Madonna and seven saints (including St. Clare) by Simone Martini.
Giotto’s assistants also frescoed the large Cappella di San Nicola beyond the transept’s end according to the master’s plans. (Giotto may have dabbled directly in the triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints Nicholas and Francis.) One of Francis’s famous brown habits is sometimes displayed here.
A doorway in the right transept opens onto the chapter house, housing a 1340 Crucifixion by Puccio Capanna and a horde of Franciscan relics. These include a patchwork moth-eaten tunic, shirts and slippers, one of only two surviving letters signed by the saint, the rock on which his head rested in his coffin, a staff presented to him by the Sultan of Egypt (after Francis proved his holiness, or at least impressed the Sultan, by walking over hot coals), and the “Rule of the Franciscans” sent to Francis by Pope Honorius II in 1223.
Stairs lead up from the lower church’s two transepts to the upper level of a 15C cloister. More stairs lead from here to the upper church, but you may want to take a minute to zip through the gift shop and the treasury. Its best works are a 15C altar frontal, a Flemish tapestry of St. Francis, and a 1290 silver chalice with an enameled portrait of Pope Nicholas IV.
Beyond the treasury is the Mason Perkins Collection of paintings by Lorenzo Monaco, Taddeo di Bartolo, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Pier Francesco Fiorentino, among others (closed at press time).
THE UPPER CHURCH
The tall, light-filled Gothic interior of the upper church is a striking contrast to its downstairs neighbor. Though its best to start with the lower church (so you can view the art chronologically) you could also enter the upper one through the plain medieval facade with its double portal (common in pilgrimage churches) and large rose window behind a small grassy park called Piazza Superiore di San Francesco.
However, I’ll assume you’re coming up from the lower church and begin with the oldest frescoes in the upper church, those in the transept.
The choir is lined with early 16C inlaid stalls, including a papal throne—the only one outside the Vatican. Above them are large frescoed scenes whose weird photo-negative quality is the result of oxidation in the pigments. As with most of the frescoes in this church, no one can agree on the attribution of these works. Some hold the Vasari opinion that Cimabue did them all (with the help of assistants) in 1277; others allow him only the masterful and dramatic composition of the Crucifixion and pin the others on his Roman assistants (Jacopo Torriti, Rustici, and possibly Pietro Cavallini).
By 1288, the artist or artists had moved on to the upper register of the nave, filling the top half of the left wall (standing at the altar and facing the main entrance) with stories from the Old Testament and the upper-right wall with scenes from the New Testament.
Among Cimabue’s assistants working here was a young Giotto, who’s now given credit for the two red-heavy scenes in the second bay of the left wall depicting Isaac Blessing Jacob and Esau Before Isaac.
The lower register of the nave, with 28 scenes of the Life of St. Francis, is what most art aficionados have traveled here to see: the frescoes of Giotto. These frescoes were fully restored in 2002, five years after the earthquake that shattered them. Again, there were probably assistants at work here, and there’s strong evidence that one pupil, the anonymous Maestro di Santa Cecilia, finished the final four compositionally crowded scenes and may have touched up the first. But most of the attempts to find some additional unknown master can be written off as mere iconoclasm—everyone from Giotto’s contemporaries to Vasari to many modern-day art historians accepts Giotto as the primary author of the cycle.
Here is the story those frescoes tell.
Francesco (Francis), the son of a wealthy local cloth merchant and his Provençal wife (hence the derivation of his name: "That French Kid"), spent much of his youth carousing, drinking, gambling, and going off to wars with his buddies—he even spent a year stewing in Perugia’s dungeons as a prisoner of war. Restless and bored, the youth began to suspect there was more to life.
The frescoes pick up the story (at the transept end of the right aisle) as Francesco’s initial glimmers of saintliness begin to appear. The first few frescoes illustrate the traditional background for the saint’s beginnings (I’ve described only the most important ones here):
- (1) Francis is honored by a simple man, who lays his cloak in the mud for the future saint to walk on—you can tell it’s Assisi because of the Temple of Minerva in the background.
- (2) Francis gives his mantle to a poor man (typical first sign of saintliness).
- (4) Francis, while praying in front of a crucifix (now in Santa Chiara) in the ruins of the church of San Damiano, hears the cross speak to him. It charges him to “go and repair my house, which as you can see is falling into ruin.” The church is obviously falling apart, and Francis went on to take the command both literally, fixing the place up, and figuratively, reforming the spirituality of his fellow man.
- (5) Francis renounces his father’s inheritance, taking off all his clothes and returning them to Dad.
- (6) Pope Innocent III dreams the Lateran basilica, cathedral of Rome, is on the verge of collapse when a poor little man (Francis) arrives to shore it up with his own shoulders. Finally...
- (7), Francis and his small band of followers journey to Rome, where the pope, for political reasons, approves the Franciscan rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience and gives the pilgrims papal approval to wear monastic tonsures and preach in public.
The rest of the frescoes focus primarily on the miracles of Francis, including the exorcism of some demons from the pastel buildings of a medieval Arezzo.
In a later scene, Francis creates the first Christmas crèche—Francis’s humble, earthy views show here, as he ensures the farm animals and faux rustic setting become an integral part of the Nativity. On the entrance wall is perhaps the most famous and charming of the scenes, where Francis preaches to the birds.
Francis taught that, because God was present in all life, everything from the animals to the trees to the smallest bird is worthy of love and respect.
Francis was quite the talented poet as well, and his flower-child attitude shows through his most famous composition, a beautifully simple poem and prayer to the elements called “Canticle of the Creatures,” or “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” (you’ll see copies of it everywhere around town). Also don’t miss the scene on the right wall where Francis, praying on Mt. Verna in 1224, is visited by a heavenly seraph who imparts to him a singular honor, the stigmata of Christ’s wounds.
Although later saints were also blessed with the stigmata, Francis was the first, and the miracle pretty much cinched his sainthood.
After a life spent traveling as far as Spain, Morocco, Egypt, and Palestine to preach simplicity and a return to kindness and the basics, Francis died near his hometown in 1226.
Within two years, he was made a saint, and in 1939 St. Francis was proclaimed the official patron saint of Italy.
Itinerary
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Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The building is characterized by the execution of the whole body with pink and white bands of Subasio stone and majestic climbing arches supporting the two sides of the church. The interior is structured like the upper Church of St. Francis with a single nave ending in a transept with a polygonal apse. Here too a gallery goes around the perimeter, however, contrary to St. Francis, at the height of the capitals of the pillars.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is a church, of Roman Catholic rite, located in Assisi, in the hamlet of the same name. It was built on a project by Galeazzo Alessi and with interventions by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola starting from the second half of the sixteenth century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Carrani Tours, Rome, Lazio
Carrani Tours
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gray Line - I Love Rome, Rome, Lazio
Gray Line- I love Rome, Lazio
Duration: 20 minutes
Leave Rome and travel north by air-conditioned coach, following the River Tiber toward Tuscany. After roughly 1.5 hours on the road, youll arrive in the gorgeous town of Orvieto. Seemingly sprouting out of the volcanic rock on which it stands, the hilltop town boasts a history that dates back to Etruscan times.
Stretch your legs and walk around the town, seeing highlights like the 14th-century Orvieto Cathedral a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a glistening façade of stained glass, mosaics and sculptures. Soak up Orvietos charms and admire the countless churches that are scattered around its center.
Return to your coach and travel through the rolling hills toward Umbria Tuscanys lesser known but just as captivating neighbor. Stop for lunch on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, and then continue to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Assisi.
Famed as the birthplace of Italys Catholic patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, the sleepy little town documents all the highs and lows of his life. On a walking tour, see the stall where he was said to be born, his childhood home, and the spot where he pledged his life to his vocation. Hear of the towns other, lesser-known saint, St Clare, who became one of St Francis first true followers. Visit the Convent of Santa Chiara, which is dedicated to her, before heading to Assisi's Basilica di San Francesco for a tour.
Other Assisi highlights include the town hall square, Piazza del Comune, with its turreted palace-- Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. Admire the Roman Temple of Minerva and then return to your coach for the journey south.
Before your tour ends, enjoy a final stop in the town of Santa Maria degli Angeli to see its beautiful basilica a 9th-century church where St Francis reportedly worshiped. Head back to Rome and finish your tour at the start point in the early evening.
Itinerary
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Stop At: Rocca di Passignano, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Be captured by the emotions of the natural scenery of the lake immersed in the green of cane thickets and surrounded by hills covered with olive trees, by a harmony emanated from old fabrics of the city of rare beauty, by the serenity generated by the powerful beauty of the spiritual places. Crossing the Tuscan countryside, the first town we meet is Passignano sul Trasimeno, a small medieval hamlet with city walls and a beautiful fortress, a famous tourist resort and a magical location to viewpoint onto the enchanting lake and islands.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After this visit, you proceed through evocative landscapes until you reach the hill on which the ancient city of Perugia rises. Evidence of its Etruscan origin is preserved in the travertine walls and in the well located in the village centre. Perugia is one of the popular Italian cities of art, with a beautiful square in which you can admire real architectural jewels like the superb Palazzo dei Priori (1293-1443) and the splendid Cathedral (1345) placed beside the Loggia (1423), and one of the masterpieces of sculpture with an invaluable artistic value (13th century), the elegant Fontana Maggiore (1275).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The excursion continues until reaching the beautiful places where the patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis of Assisi (1181- 1226) lived, worked and died. On a lowland at the foot of Mount Subasio, the hill on which Assisi rises we first visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built around as a protection of the famous little church of the "Porziuncola", where Saint Francis acknowledged his vocation and founded the Order of the Minor Friars. In this place, even Santa Chiara began her monastic life. Here you can also see the "rosebush without thorns", which continues to grow only in this magic place and that, according to a legend, originated from the contact of the Saint with a thorny bush
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After the lunch break, you reach the centre of Assisi. Here you will have free time to explore this beautiful and magic place. Breathe the special atmosphere of serenity and joy that this city emanates and you will understand why the delegates of the main religions in the world have chosen it as symbol of Peace
Please note that the order of the visits may change
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
An intact piece of the Umbrian Countryside a place of harmony and silence at the foot of the great Basilica of St Francis of Assisi; a walk through this landscape becomes an inner journey - one that inspired Michelangelo Pistoletto to create a stunning work of land art.
This is a woodland under Fai protection.
Through a gateway in the wall surrounding the square of the Basilica Superiore in Assisi you enter in a narrow path that leads to a wide valley floor, at the foot of the city centre. This is no ordinary excursion; rather, it is an ongoing, peaceful discovery, a new form of pilgrimage into history and into the sacred, through 64 hectares of nature, amid wooded tracts, cultivated fileds, walls of pink stone, clearings and olive groves - a 64 hectare plot that years of neglect had reduced to a dumping ground, but which FAI has now salvaged in its entierity.
Meeting point with the guide at 10.00 am at Basilica Superiore di San Francesco in Assisi.
Starting of walking tour .
Making your way now into the woodland, surrounded by hornbearn , juniper, maple and downy oak, you come first to the Bed of RiverTescio and, next to it, you can see the evidence of a microcosm inhabited by Benedictine nuns in the 13th and 14th centuries: a convent ( now home to the FAI information point) ; the Romanesque church of Santa Croce; a mill that was operational until the early 20th century ( now a Trattoria serving meals to visitors ); the remain of hospital that treated the diseased and passing pilgrims; and an ancient 14th - century tower erected to defend and early factory.
Climbing to the top of the tower is worth the effort, since it will allow you to admire fully the "third Paradise" a piece of land art by renowned artist MIchelangelo Pistoletto , which takes the form of 121 olive trees arranged in a double row to form three large, tangential circles ( of which the central one is the largest) , and featuring a 12- meter - high pole to symbolize the union between heaven and earth. You are invited to make your way around the serpentine path between the rows, becoming in the process a part of this work, which encourages you to reflect on the potential for peaceful co-existence between mankind and nature, here symbolized by the third sphere - the third paradise - of the title.
Lunch pic - nic in a dedicated area. At your arrival you will find the box lunch with typical Umbria products ( optional lunch in a restaurant with supplement)
At the end , you will start the visit of one of the most famous churches of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.with your guide.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Place of burial of St. Clare preserves the Crucifix of San Damiano that spoke to St. Francis. Even in the days of mob fascinates by its simplicity and mysticism that emanates.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cattedrale di San Rufino, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Place of the Baptism of San Francesco as well as one of the most fascinating Romanesque churches in Umbria. Its facade is a book yet to be interpreted for the quantity and quality of the fantastic figures that adorn it!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The beauty as a mirror of the soul that here rests his gaze on the works of Cimabue, Simone Martini, Lorenzetti and Giotto that talk to us about the relationship between St. Francis and Christ.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The official biography of Saint Francis painted by Giotto and the shop is read as an open book through which to know the life and works of the Saint who has "refounded" the medieval Church. One of the absolute masterpieces of the art of all time and UNESCO patronage as the whole city of Assisi.
Duration: 30 minutes
Assisi, the place of the birth of the Franciscan Order, has been closely associated since the Middle Ages, with a universal message of peace and tolerance even to other religions or beliefs.
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Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Assisi, a medieval city built on a hill, is the birthplace of Saint Francis, closely associated with the work of the Franciscan Order. Its medieval art masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue and Giotto, have made Assisi a fundamental reference point for the development of Italian and European art and architecture. After Saint Francis and Saint Clare died, churches were built in their honor. The Church of Saint Francis, called the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is famous as his burial place. It is also famous for the fresco paintings on the walls and ceilings. Many visitors go to Assisi on pilgrimage. Assisi is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000.
Duration: 4 hours
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Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
Orvieto Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Orvieto; Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and situated in the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy. Formerly the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Todi, it has been since 1986 that of the Diocese of Orvieto-Todi.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a Papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. With its accompanying friary, Sacro Convento, the basilica is a distinctive landmark to those approaching Assisi. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000.
Duration: 2 hours
Requirements: suitable for everyone; we recommend a minimum age of 6 years
Approximate duration: 4h (flight duration 1 hour)
Departure at 6:30 a.m.
Hotel pick up / drop off service upon request for a fee.
Other languages available for a fee.
Itinerary
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Pass By: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
We'll enjoy a stunning view of the entire Assisi Valley: Assisi, Montefalco, Spello, Perugia, Lake Trasimeno ... just to name a few !!!
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Stop At: Palazzo dei Priori, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After your pick up in Florence, you will first reach Perugia, the marvelous top-hill city surrounded by ancient Etruscan walls, famous for its beautiful historic center but also for its savory chocolate.
You will discover the ancient city of Perugia, one of the popular Italian towns of art with its variety and quality of historical and medieval testimonies. It has an Etruscan origin, preserved in the travertine walls and in the well located in the village center, including the Etruscan Arch monumental city gate and Porta Marzia, ancient Etruscan gate, leading to the city from the south side. Admire the beautiful square in which you can find real architectural jewels like the superb Palazzo dei Priori (1293-1443). the main civic building, a nice and imposing Palace, with its pink gothic style windows and ornate portal, the splendid Cathedral (1345), and one of the masterpieces of sculpture with an invaluable artistic value (13th century), the elegant Fontana Maggiore (1275). This Fountain, a true symbol of the city, was created at the end of the 13th century to provide a water output to the medieval aqueduct. Finally you will be impressed by the Rocca Paolina, a fortress built up at the command of Pope Paul III; it covers an attractive underground itinerary through a distinctive medieval district, where the noble mansions of Perugias lords once were.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Then enjoy the drive to Assisi, a small town of immense beauty and spiritual significance, where the patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis of Assisi (1181- 1226) lived, worked and died. On a lowland at the foot of Mount Subasio, the hill on which Assisi rises you can visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built around as a protection of the famous little church of the "Porziuncola", where Saint Francis acknowledged his vocation and founded the Order of the Minor Friars. In this place, even Santa Chiara began her monastic life. Here you can also see the "rosebush without thorns", which continues to grow only in this magic place and that, according to a legend, originated from the contact of the Saint with a thorny bush. Breathe the special atmosphere of serenity and joy that this city emanates and you will understand why the delegates of the main religions in the world have chosen it as symbol of Peace
You will have the chance to admire its remarkable beauties, such as the Piazza del Comune, the Rocca Maggiore and the famous Basilica of St Francis with frescoes and paintings by Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto.
After this visit, you will comfortably proceed with your transfer to your final destination in Rome.
Duration: 2 hours
Itinerary
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Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
Our English speaking driver will pick you up directly at your hotel at 7.30 am for your day trip to the cities of Orvieto and Assisi. This day trip allow you to visit two cities that are not in the usual itinery of a tourist.
Your tour is private therefore if you wish to have a stop on your way from Rome to Orvieto, just ask to our driver.
Your first stop is Orvieto. Here you will meet a private guide that will be with your and your family for 2 hours to visit the medieval city. Your private guide will accompany you through a walk in the city stopping at the main highlights and giving you information from the meeting to the end of the tour. Each question you have, don't hesitate to ask!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
With your private driver you will depart to go to Assisi where you will have free time.
For lunch: ask to your driver a very good place where to eat local dishes and taste particular flavors of Umbria. Then, you will have the chance to visit the city strolling on its alleys.
In mid afternoon, meet our private driver to come back to Rome.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Colosseum and Vatican Tours by Italy Wonders, Rome, Lazio
Enjoy your city tour with Colosseum and Vatican Tours by Italy Wonders
Itinerary
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Stop At: Assisi Jewels, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Spend your morning in Assisi a real jewel home place of S, Francesco.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Visit this beautiful church during the guided tour
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Guided tour inside the Basilica of S. Francesco
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Perugia Tourist Office, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Free time in Perugia
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Fontana Maggiore, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Chocolate tasting in a local place in Perugia center
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Free time in Perugia
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Chocostore, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Chocolate tasting in Perugia with practice test to let you create your chocolate
Duration: 40 minutes
Pass By: Via dellAcquedotto, Perugia, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Enjoy the walk on the waterway and admire the picturesque views
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Pass By: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Travel into Assisi Valley in a carriage pulled by two magnificent horses.
Stop At: Assisi Jewels, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Experience a wine tour and tastings at a bio winery. Enjoy the relaxed pace while learning of the biological philosophy of the vineyards.
Duration: 2 hours
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Pass By: Duomo di Cortona, Cortona, Province of Arezzo, Tuscany
Visit Cortona, an enchanting village at the borders between Toscana and Umbria
Stop At: Rocca di Passignano, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Enjoy breathtaking views of Trasimeno Lake
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Enjoy the suggestive Church of Santa Chiara, the starting point of your guided tour in Assisi
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
One of the most beautiful churches in Italy, home to Giotto's breathtaking frescoes
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The enchanting church where St Francis died
Duration: 15 minutes
Itinerary
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Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
One of the most important churches of Assisi, with a marvellous white and pink marble facade
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
One of the most beautiful Basilicas of Italy, it's an incredible masterpiece of art and architecture. What is more, it hosts one of the most important cycles of frescoes painted by Giotto, one of the greatest Italian painters and innovators of our history
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Centro Storico, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Assisi, where every stone emanates a bright aura, the undisputed home of St. Francis and St. Clare. Once in Assisi, you will have time to admire the town's two most famous churches, its quaint streets and alleyways and a bizarre church built over a Roman temple.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Duomo di Cortona, Cortona, Province of Arezzo, Tuscany
Featured in Audrey Wells romantic movie Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona is a hilltop town rich in Etruscan relics, Medieval buildings and Renaissance works; in addition to being filled with many interesting things to see, it is also a fantastic place to stop for a glass of wine or take a pleasant walk with breathtaking views over Lake Trasimeno.
Duration: 2 hours
Visit: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Collect your video guide and explore all areas of the complex, one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the world. The entire building is made up of three superimposed churches linked to different phases of construction: the crypt with burial function, the Lower Church which is linked to the Umbrian Romanesque and the Upper Church, in French Gothic style. After collecting your video guide, you'll start the tour from the Lower Basilica, where you can admire the fresco barreled vault of the apse and down in the crypt, relics of St. Francis. The visit will continue in the Upper Church, where you'll admire Cimabue's frescoes, decorating the transept, the choir and those of Giotto, that tell of St. Francis' life from the aisle walls. Take a complete tour with 54 different listening points. Listen to over an hour of audio content and make use of the provided map to identify interesting features inside the sanctuary.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: DriverinRome Transportation & Tours, Rome, Lazio
During this Day tour excursion from Rome you will have the chance to travel to real Italy, far away from the modern highways and large cities, in the heart of the Umbrian countryside, where small ancient villages are waiting to be discovered. One of them is Assisi, an oasis of art, architecture and spirituality and the home of Saint Francis, one of Italy's most beloved saints.
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
.Leaving Rome in a northerly direction, you will cross the valley of the Tevere, passing by typical medieval villages such as Deruta, Todi e Perugia before arriving in Assisi. Here you will start your walk through the narrow streets of the village to see the church of Santa Chiara, containing the remains of Saint Clare, a follower of Saint Francis and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, and then on to see the house where St. Francis was born and spent the first years of his life.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
All roads will take you to the Basilica of San Francesco. This grandiose and gorgeously embellished Basilica is a rather incongruous memorial to a man who preached and lived a simple life of poverty, abstinence, and renunciation of worldly goods in search of greater spirituality.
It is however, one of the world's most wonderful encounters between religion and art. Unique paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto, have made the Basilica of St. Francis a fundamental reference point for the development of Italian and European art and architecture.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli where you can see the Porziuncola Chapel, the place from where the Franciscan movement started, and the site where St. Francis died in 1226. Driving back to your hotel, revel in the memory of the day coming to its end.
Duration: 30 minutes
Roman bridge - aqueduct called Ponte delle torri, which is one of the symbols of the city of Spoleto, so you cannot leave before crossing it! Due to its rich past history, it is still possible to admire also impressive towers, theaters and amazing churches. The tour is operated wit a comfortable air-conditioned sedan/minivan Mercedes.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After meeting your english speaking driver, you make the way to Umbria Region: The trip takes long about 2 hours 30 minutes to reach Assisi, your first destination: As the birth place of one of Catholicisms most venerated saints (one of the two patron saints of Italy), Assisi is a town with religion very close to its heart. Visitors shouldnt be surprised to see monks in long brown robes roaming the streets or bands of pilgrims walking the country roads surrounding the town. Pilgrims have been coming to Assisi, Italy since the 13th century to venerate St. Francis, who was born and buried here, but you dont have to be religious to enjoy the beauty of this postcard-perfect town. Framed by the long, undulating hills of Umbria and the forests of Monte Subasio, Assisi is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world and one of Italys most spell-binding gems. Overmore, Assisi isnt just home to UNESCO World Heritage sites, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The entire town basks in this coveted status because of its plethora of art and historically significant buildings, like the Basilica di San Francesco. The basilica, in particular, has such a collection of frescoes and paintings that it rivals many art museums. According to the UN, The town has a singular importance for its role in the diffusion of the Franciscan Order and for its continuity of a city-sanctuary from its Umbrian-Roman origins to today.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Spoletosfera, Spoleto, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After visiting Assisi, you will meet the driver again to go to the second location of your excursion: Spoleto, which is among the most important artistic and cultural centres of Umbria. Due to its rich past history, it is still possible to admire many palaces, towers, bridges, theaters and amazing churches. This city was also the setting of a famous Italian TV series, Don Matteo! Well, be prepared for unforgettable panoramic walks, peaks and troughs, being the city centre rising on the slopes of SantElia hill. Walking through the historic centre just after the city walls, you will find the Roman Theatre, dating back to the 1st century A.D., currently used for concerts and shows. It is connected to the Archaeological Museum of Spoleto, which will guide you through the history of the town. Between Via del Municipio and Via Saffi rises the Roman House, a building dating back to the 1st century A.D. In addition to the beautiful floor mosaics, its rooms still keep the typical layout of ancient patrician houses. Another symbol of the Roman age is the arch Arco di Druso e Germanico, which dates back to 23 A.D. and gives access to the ancient forum Foro di Spoleto. North of Spoleto you can also admire the complex of the Roman amphitheater.
Furthermore, you can walk the bridge, which is one of the symbols of the city of Spoleto, so you cannot leave before crossing it! Of course, if youre afraid of height just look at it from afar! Actually, this Roman bridge-aqueduct is 80 meters high and 230 meters long!
Duration: 2 hours
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
This bright and spacious basilica consists of a single four-bay nave with cross-vaulted ceiling bordered with patterns of crosses and leaves, a transept and a polygonal apse. The four ribbed vaults are decorated alternately with golden stars on a blue background and paintings.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Temple of Minerva is an ancient Roman building. It currently houses a church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.
The temple was built in the 1st century by will of Gnaeus Caesius and Titus Caesius Priscus, who were two of the city's quattuorviri and also financed the construction.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chiesa Nuova, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Erected in 1615 on the remains of a building believed to be the home of St. Francis. The buildings architecture design is from the Renaissance period. The façade, built of brick, is divided by four pillars supporting a Doric entablature, with attic gable, above which rises a hemispherical dome.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Clare is a church dedicated to and contains the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, known today as the Order of Saint Clare.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Umbria Con Me Day Tours, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Official Assisi Tour Guides
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Umbria Con Me Day Tours, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
We will meet each other and start our walking tour of Assisi exploring its old Roman Ruins. We will see remains of the local Roman Amphitheatre and the beautiful Minerva Temple, which has one of the best preserved facades of Italy.
During our tour you will also experience the athmosphere of a medieval Italian hilltown by visiting local handicraft shops (pottery, carvings, embrodery, . . . ) and having a walk through typical little alleys. The focus of our tour there will be the Basilica of Saint Francis with its magnificent frescoes by Giotto (13th - 14th C. ), one of the most important artists of Italy in the Middle Ages.
After a lunch break (not included) we will move to Spello which is another really authentic hilltown of Umbria famous for its by flowers decoreted little streets. In Spello you will also enjoy Renaissance art by Pinturicchio a 15th Century painter who has also worked in the Vatican in Rome.
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Clare is a church dedicated to and contains the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, known today as the Order of Saint Clare.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chiesa Nuova, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Erected in 1615 on the remains of a building believed to be the home of St. Francis. The buildings architecture design is from the Renaissance period. The façade, built of brick, is divided by four pillars supporting a Doric entablature, with attic gable, above which rises a hemispherical dome.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Temple of Minerva is an ancient Roman building. It currently houses a church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.
The temple was built in the 1st century by will of Gnaeus Caesius and Titus Caesius Priscus, who were two of the city's quattuorviri and also financed the construction.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
This bright and spacious basilica consists of a single four-bay nave with cross-vaulted ceiling bordered with patterns of crosses and leaves, a transept and a polygonal apse. The four ribbed vaults are decorated alternately with golden stars on a blue background and paintings.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Centro Storico, Spello, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Spello is another really authentic hilltown of Umbria famous for its by flowers decoreted little streets. In Spello you will also enjoy Renaissance art by Pinturicchio a 15th Century painter who has also worked in the Vatican in Rome.
Duration: 2 hours
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Centro Storico, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Meet the guide at 10:30am and visit the old Roman ruins of the local amphitheater, which was reused in the Middle Ages as a quarry for stones to build local houses. You will see how the amphitheater was turned into a private neighborhood. From there, the view toward the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle is one of the best in the city.
Through narrow alleys and medieval squares you will reach Saint Rufinos Cathedral and Saint Claire's Basilica. From there, you will get to the main city square, Piazza del Comune. At the square you will see one of the best-preserved Roman temples in Italy Minerva's temple which is surrounded by imposing medieval government buildings.
The tour will then head down to the Basilica of Saint Francis which is world-famous for its 13th-14th century frescoes by the best painters of Italy at that time. Among those, the most famous is Giotto.
Come to Assisi and explore with a guide the history, art,and local traditions of one of the most famous hill towns of Italy.
Duration: 3 hours
Pass By: Cattedrale di San Rufino, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Assisi Cathedral, dedicated to San Rufino (Rufinus of Assisi) is a major church in Assisi.
Stop At: Chiesa Nuova, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Chiesa Nuova.
The Chiesa Nuova is a church in Assisi, Italy, built in 1615 on the site of the presumed birthplace of St. Francis, the house of Pietro di Bernardone. It was then called Chiesa Nuova because it was the last church to be built in Assisi at that time.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of St. Clare of Assisi, realized with the typical pink stone extracted from the quarry of the Subasio mountain, contains precious frescos dating back to the period from the XIIth to the XIVth century.
In the chapel on the right, along the unique nave of St. Clare of Assisi, finishing in transept and polygonal apse, you can admire the Crucifix which, according to tradition, would have invited St. Francesco in the church of St. Damiano in order to "reset up the Church"
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
If the solemn and dark lower basilica invites penance and silence, the upper church soars into the sky, airy and bright.
In a Gothic style with French influences, the nave has four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept and apse.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the basilica of St. Francis was built under the direction of Brother Elias, vicar general and architect of the order, starting in 1228, just two years after the saint's death, as a place designed to receive his remains.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Temple of Minerva is an ancient Roman building in Assisi, Umbria, central Italy. It currently houses a church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.
Duration: 15 minutes
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Umbria Con Me Day Tours, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Meet the guide at 10:30am and visit the Basilica of Saint Francis which is world-famous for its 13th-14th century frescoes by the best painters of Italy at that time. Among those, the most famous is Giotto.
From there, you will get to the main city square, Piazza del Comune. At the square you will see one of the best-preserved Roman temples in Italy Minerva's temple which is surrounded by imposing medieval government buildings.
The morning will then head down to the old Roman ruins of the local amphitheater, which was reused in the Middle Ages as a quarry for stones to build local houses. You will see how the amphitheater was turned into a private neighborhood. From there, the view toward the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle is one of the best in the city. Through narrow alleys and medieval squares you will reach Saint Rufinos Cathedral and Saint Claire's Basilica.
After free time for lunch, in the afternoon you will explore Sanctuaries and Franciscan Sites outside Assisi by driver and guide.
Your tour will start with the visit of EREMO DELLE CARCERI . Carceri is a metaphoric name given to this place which is nowadays an impressive old Franciscan friary built in 15th C. on the mountain slopes. It incorporates the grottoes were Saint Francis used to do retreat. From there you will also enjoy one of the most stunning views over the below Umbrian Valley.
After the hermitage you will be taken to the sanctuary of Saint Damiano which is the place of Saint Francis vocation. There it happened the vision of the cruicifix advising Francis to fix his church. It was the starting point of Francis new experience as a friar on the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Your tour will take you as last to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels which protects under its gigantic dome the tiny Porziuncola. This is the very little chapel where Francis and his first companions founded the Franciscan community and also the place where Saint Francis passed away.
The tour will end at 6:00pm.
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Superiore di San Francesco d' Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
This bright and spacious basilica consists of a single four-bay nave with cross-vaulted ceiling bordered with patterns of crosses and leaves, a transept and a polygonal apse. The four ribbed vaults are decorated alternately with golden stars on a blue background and paintings.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Temple of Minerva is an ancient Roman building. It currently houses a church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.
The temple was built in the 1st century by will of Gnaeus Caesius and Titus Caesius Priscus, who were two of the city's quattuorviri and also financed the construction.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chiesa Nuova, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Erected in 1615 on the remains of a building believed to be the home of St. Francis. The buildings architecture design is from the Renaissance period. The façade, built of brick, is divided by four pillars supporting a Doric entablature, with attic gable, above which rises a hemispherical dome.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Basilica of Saint Clare is a church dedicated to and contains the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, known today as the Order of Saint Clare.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Eremo delle Carceri, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
It's located 4km away from the center of Assisi. The white building nestles in a quiet lane surrounded by mountains. This is the hermitage of the Carceri where St. Francis and his followers were praying and meditating. "Eremo" means hermitage in Italian
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: San Damiano, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
San Damiano is a church with a monastery near Assisi, Italy. Built in the 12th century, it was the first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare, where Saint Clare built her community.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Built on a grandiose scale, the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli is the seventh largest Christian church. Its magnificence may be at odds with the simplicity preached by St Francis himself but the flocks of pilgrims coming to visit the primitive Porziuncola chapel and the Cappella del Transito called for a building that was able to accomodate the faithful.
Duration: 1 hour
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Welcome Italy - Day Tours, Rome, Lazio
Pick up from the hotel/accomodation
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
An interesting visit to St. Francis Basilica with his early Renaissance master-pieces by Giotto and Cimabue and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The mystic town of Saint Francis, sill surrounded by its ancient walls, built on the green slopes of Mount Subasio, with its colourful houses of ink stone. Narrow streets, flower decked balconies and noble palaces provide beautiful views for memorable pictures (do not forget your camera). An interesting visit to St. Francis Basilica with his early Renaissance master-pieces by Giotto and Cimabue and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
tour continues to Orvieto, where you can admire the magnificence of its Gothic Cathedral a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a glistening façade of stained glass, mosaics and sculptures. Soak up Orvietos charms and admire the countless churches that are scattered around its center. Head back to Rome and finish your tour at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Enjoy a day away from the bustle of Rome, in a one-day tour of Umbria, one of the most picturesque regions of Italy. Rich in vineyards, olive groves, and the hillside villages, the most famous site in the region is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Assisi. Upon arrival in this mystical place, knowing St. Francis, walk inside the ancient walls. Built on the green slopes of Mount Subasio, the colourful houses of ink stone. Narrow streets, flowered balconies, ornate palaces and offer great views. A highlight of your time in Assisi will be the visit to the Basilica of San Francesco to see the Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. After lunch, continue to Orvieto to admire the magnificence of the cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with glittering facade windows, mosaics and sculptures. Enjoy the charm of Orvieto, and admire the many churches scattered around its historic center. Return to Rome for a hotel back in the early evening.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
visit of the cathedral
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
visit of the cathedral
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Eremo Delle Carceri
Visit of the Eremo
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
Visit of The Duomo
Duration: 1 hour
After crossing the Tiber river, you will get to Orvieto.
After visiting Orvieto, your private driver will continue driving through vineyards and ancient villas until you arrive to the city of Assisi. Very well known after Saint Francis, the city has a lot of attractions. You will get to know the history and secrets of Assisi with a private tour guide during 2 hours, where you will visit the Basilica of Saint Francis (entrance included) and Saint Claire, from where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Umbrian countryside, as well as the old city center of Assisi.
The tour has a duration of 10 hours in total.
Driver is not a official tour guide and cannot leave the vehicle unattended
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Santa Chiara
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica inferiore di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
St Francis Assisi
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
Orvieto Cathedral
Duration: 1 hour
Itinerary
Day 1: Rome - Tivoli - Marmore Falls - Spoleto - Assisi
Stop At: Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore, Terni, Province of Terni, Umbria
The most famous and beautiful of the Italian falls
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Duomo di Spoleto, Spoleto, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The Cathedral and symbol of this amazing town.
Duration: 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 star hotel in the old Medieval town of Assisi, in a standard or superior valley view room.
Day 2: Assisi - Perugia - Todi - Assisi
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The tumb and the main church in the world dedicated to the patron saint of Italy.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Centro Storico di Todi, Todi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Beautful little town up on a hill.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 star hotel in the old Medieval town of Assisi, in a standard or superior valley view room.
Day 3: Assisi - S. Maria degli Angeli - Gubbio - Città di Castello - Assisi
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Porziuncola, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
The place where Saint Francis used to pray and died.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Cathedral (Duomo di Gubbio), Gubbio, Province of Perugia, Umbria
On a top of the hill which dominates the town and the valley.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 star hotel in the old Medieval town of Assisi, in a standard or superior valley view room.
Day 4: Assisi - Orvieto
Stop At: Duomo di Orvieto, Orvieto, Province of Terni, Umbria
Masterpiece of Gothic art in Italy.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Tips
San Francesco, like many other churches throughout Italy, has a strict dress code: Entrance to the basilica is forbidden to those wearing shorts or miniskirts or showing bare shoulders.
You also must remain silent and cannot take photographs in the Upper Church.
You may visit church for Mass on Sunday morning (before 2pm), but purely touristic visits at this time are frowned upon.
Useful Italian for sightseeing
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Where is?... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the museum | il museo | eel moo-ZAY-yo |
| ...the church | la chiesa | lah key-YAY-zah |
| ...the cathedral | il duomo [or] la cattedrale | eel DUO-mo [or] lah cah-the-DRAH-leh |
| When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
| When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
| Closed day | giorno di riposo | JOR-no dee ree-PO-zo |
| Weekdays (Mon-Sat) | feriali | fair-ee-YA-lee |
| Sunday & holidays | festivi | fe-STEE-vee |
| ticket | biglietto | beel-YET-toh |
| two adults | due adulti | DOO-way ah-DOOL-tee |
| one child | un bambino | oon bahm-BEE-no |
| one student | uno studente | OO-noh stu-DENT-ay |
| one senior | un pensionato | oon pen-see-yo-NAH-toh |
Basic phrases in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
| thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
| please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| yes | si | see |
| no | no | no |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
| I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
| That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
| Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
| Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
| Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
| When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
| At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
| Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
| Today | oggi | OH-jee |
| Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
| Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
| a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
| Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
| Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
| Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
| Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
| Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
| Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
| Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
| January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
| February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
| March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
| April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
| May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
| June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
| July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
| August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
| September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
| October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
| November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
| December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| 1 | uno | OO-no |
| 2 | due | DOO-way |
| 3 | tre | tray |
| 4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
| 5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
| 6 | sei | say |
| 7 | sette | SET-tay |
| 8 | otto | OH-toh |
| 9 | nove | NO-vay |
| 10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
| 11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
| 12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
| 13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
| 14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
| 15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
| 16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
| 17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
| 18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
| 19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
| 20 | venti | VENT-tee |
| 21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
| 22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
| 23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
| 30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
| 40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
| 50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
| 60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
| 70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
| 80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
| 90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
| 100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
| 1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
| 5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
| 10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).
