Assisi

Neighborhood tours

Escape Italy's busy capital for one day on this trip to Assisi and the Umbrian hill town Orvieto. On this tour, you will unveil the religious architecture of Umbria (such as the famous Cathedral of Orvieto) and discover the wines and local products of Tuscany. Leaving Rome in a northerly direction and driving along the Tiber Valley, reach Orvieto as your first stop, a small town of Etruscan origins where you will stop to admire the magnificent 14th century cathedral, a masterpiece of gothic architecture. The tour continues through the green Tuscan Hills covered in olive groves and vineyards. This is the land of some of Italy’s best known D.O.C. (quality controlled) wines, which include Orvieto, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcin. Afterwards, enjoy lunch, consisting of traditional local dishes. In the early afternoon you will continue your journey and drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno. Finally, reach Assisi, which is located at the foot of Mount Subasio. Assisi is famous for being St. Francis' birthplace. You will see the Church of St. Claire, St Francis’ birthplace and his childhood home, the Townhall Square. Around the Townhall Square, you will see the People’s Palace and the Roman Temple dedicated to Minerva. One highlight of the tour will be the visit of St Francis’ Basilica, located close to the ancient city walls, with its magnificent frescoes painted between the 12th and 14th centuries. You will reach Rome around 19:30/20:00, where you will be dropped-off in the vicinity of your hotel.

Assisi, the birthplace of San Francesco, stands atop of a hill, overlooking a valley covered by vineyards. Enjoy a panoramic guided tour along the winding streets aboard an Ape Calessino, following in San Francesco and Santa Chiara’s footsteps, to discover the historical and artistic treasures of this roman and medieval town. The tour departs from the historical town center or you can enjoy a free pick-up from your hotel aboard a vintage Ape Calessino. The driver will show you St Clare Basilica from the outside, the roman and medieval main square "Piazza del Comune", San Rufino cathedral, medieval Rocca Maggiore with a superb view overlooking the valley and the majestic Saint Francis Basilica.  Due to technical problems, if you want to book the tour for 3 people please contact the Asisium Travel Agency by email or by phone

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.

Download our informative Exclusive Digital Audio Guide to enrich your visit at Assisi’s most famous site. Discover everything about the Upper and Lower Basilica, the House of the Tomb, as well as the crypt of St. Francis. Learn all about the masterpieces contained within including pieces by Cimabue and Giotto, and frescoes by Giotto. Learn fascinating stories about the façade of the upper Basilica, with its stately portal adorned with double doors and a large rose window framed with symbols of the evangelists that dominate Assisi’s skyline. Interestingly, this façade does not rest on the walls of the lower Basilica and did not suffer any damage as a result of the 1997 earthquake which caused extensive damage inside, destroying artworks by Giotto and Cimabue which have to date been only partially, albeit masterfully, restored. With our Exclusive Digital Audio Guide, you will discover the most fascinating masterpieces Cimabue, Giotto, Pietro Cavallini, Jacopo Torriti were involved with and at a later time also the Sienese painter Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. Once inside, you will be able to see frescoes by Giotto, considered to be one of the most important painters of the Middle Ages and the inventor of perspective. Please note that the Basilica is free to visit. This experience isn't a ticket entrance, but a digital audio guide so you can learn and appreciate all the masterpieces inside one of the most magnificent Churches in the world.

Explore Assisi on a walking tour with a guide who will tell you about the history, art, and local traditions of one of the most famous hill towns of Italy. Meet your guide and head to the ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheater, which was later put to use in the Middle Ages as a quarry for stone to build local houses. See how the amphitheater later was turned into a private neighborhood. From this vantage point, the view of the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle is one of the best in the city. Continuing along narrow alleys and through medieval squares you’ll reach the Cathedral of Saint Rufino Cathedral, the Basilica of Saint Claire, and Piazza del Comune, the main city square. At the square you’ll see the Minerva temple, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in Italy. It is surrounded by imposing medieval government buildings. The tour then continues on to the Saint Francis Basilica, which is well known for its 13th and 14th-century frescoes created by Italian masters of the time, including Giotto.

Explore Assisi on a smartphone tour. Learn about iconic landmarks like the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, the Basilica di Santa Chiara, and the castle of Rocca Maggiore. Download the app and start your self-guided adventure. Use the navigation function to easily find sights and photo hotspots. Stroll along planned routes and immerse yourself in the history and culture of this ancient town. View the UNESCO World Heritage site where Saint Francis died at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. See where Saint Clare's remains were found at the Basilica di Santa Chiara. Admire the 800-year old stone castle of Rocca Maggiore. Tune in to the audio commentary to hear about tourist attractions. Start or pause your tour whenever you wish. Have the freedom to design your own schedule.

Explore the birthplace of St. Francis on this private guided walking tour of the historic city, and learn more about one of Italy’s most famous patron saints. Explore the oldest part of the city to admire Roman ruins that have been perfectly integrated into medieval houses, and are still lived in by locals. Go to Assisi Cathedral, dedicated to Rufinus of Assisi, and see the ancient stratifications of the church where Francis was baptized. Then, go to the Basilica of Saint Francis, the sumptuously decorated 13th-century double church built in his honor. Take an interactive and immersive guided tour of the church and the life of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan religious order, which will be anything but dry and dusty.

Picnic in the vineyards of a family farm and wine producer, located just 875 yards (800 meters) from the Basilica of Saint Francis, one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. The Mencarelli family has been producing fine wines and extra virgin olive oil for decades, and on this 2.5 hour lunch tour you will walk through their deep green vineyards, and learn about the wonderful world of Umbrian wines. A guided wine tasting of 5 wines makes you know the production. All around will be blue sky, ripe grapes, dusky olive groves, and centuries-old oak trees. Armed with a complimentary map, stop at information boards to learn more about wine and viticulture. Then, under the veranda of the vineyards, a picnic basket will be waiting just for you! Enjoy a glass of SAIO Assisi wine and sample typical Perugia bread, with extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, cured meats from the Subasio Mountains, traditional Umbria Torta al Testo (a salty cheese bread), and Umbrian cookies. All wine glasses, place mats, plates and cutlery will be provided.

Begin your tour with pickup in Assisi city center, then drive to the countryside to discover an organic family winery, old vineyards and olive groves, and a local balsamic vinegar facility. Through this expeirence, you will learn the real difference between organic and conventional farming and the products of organic farms. During your visit, see where balsamic vinegar and wine is made, from the pressing machines to the aging room and the bottling machine. After the visit, relish a guided tasting of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and 5 different organic wines paired with hot bruschetta, a selection of typical cheeses and salami, and homemade biscotti with the sweet wine. While you enjoy your wine, you will be able to gaze at the breathtaking views of the Valley of Assisi. The tour concludes with drop-off in Assisi city center.

Your journey will stretch along Assisi Old Town. The local guide will make you plunge into Assisi's history by following the steps of personages who made the town famous worldwide: Saint Francis and Saint Clare along with other great personages of history, left marks that all still clearly visible today. Discover how Roman remains blend perfectly with Medieval architectures, as it happens with the facade of the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Sense the powerful sacred aura Assisi is enveloped in, thanks to an intriguing narration.