At the end of our trip we will have four days to enjoy Assisi, Civita, Orvieto and Montepulciano.
We are considering staying in Assisi and renting a car to tour about.
Thoughts? Any other favorite towns to see in that area? Should we split our days and stay in two towns?
Thank you.
I think Assisi could make a very nice base. It is a bit over an hour -- maybe 90 minutes at most -- to Montepulciano and also to Cività di Bagnoreggio. Makes for a couple of long-ish days in the car, but better than having to pack and move spending 2 nights in each of 2 places. Not sure what parking is like as we seldom drive.
Also cute and close by is Spello (8 miles from Assisi). We stayed there for 5 nights once and used it as a base to explore Umbria.
I agree with Laurel. I would also visit Trevi, a hilltop town surrounded by olive groves. Pick up some olive oil soap at the Olive Museum, or one of the shops in the main square.
Nearby Perugia is adorable, a university town that always has some kind of festival going on, great food, lots of Roman and Etruscan era artifacts, and a terrific hilltop town square. Less than 15 minutes from Assisi.
Excellent tips. Thanks very much.
I prefer a slower pace, so would probably base in Assisi and enjoy it, with optional day trips to nearby Spello and Spoleto, easily done by train or even taxi. I haven't been to Perugia but I've heard from more than one friend that it's kind of "meh", esp. compared with other nearby options.
I would add Gubbio, Montefalco, Bevagna, and Foligno to the afore mentioned towns. All within 30K of Assisi as the crow flies.
Panicale, Paciano and Collipino are delightful and off the gringo trail.
I stayed in Assisi last month and easily could be a base for day trips. I am returning there end of August and plan on doing day trips as well. We stayed in a B&B which I highly recommend. We will be returning there as well. Enjoy your trip http://www.castellopetrata.com/
This will be year #13 for me in Assisi as a Director of the music festival "Assisi Performing Arts" so I'm a bit biased. During the day there are always plenty of tourists but only on a couple of streets - anything with direct access to the Basilica San Francesco. The rest of the medieval city is waiting to be explored and appreciated. It's quiet, peaceful, plenty of amazing views both up and down. The art, history, architecture are truly inspiring. The churches are filled with beauty and history. The Roman and Etruscan ruins under the city are well worth exploring. In the evening the tourists are gone and the city is bathed in soft lights. That's the perfect time to just "be" in this very special atmosphere. This is a very safe and friendly city. Feel free to wander anywhere.
Orvieto, Spello, Siena, Lake Trasimeno, Perugia, Gubbio, Spoletto are all within easy reach. For me, the evenings are for Assisi though.
If you're there between July 4 and 19 come to one of our concerts - plenty of chamber music, opera, sacred, and Broadway.
Many thanks!
