After spending one night in Assisi, I'm planning on going by train to Orvieto and spending one night there. It doesn't seem like I have enough time to see Orvieto and Civita in one day. I'm seeing a gap in the train schedule (I went to Trainline)... seems like I would have to choose between leaving Assisi at around 7:40 am or 11:40 am in order to keep it to only one change of trains.
I wonder if it would be better to stow my bag at Orvieto as soon as I get there, and head for Civita and see Orvieto later on. Or should I do it the other way around... Orvieto first, then Civita. Rick says Civita is best in the morning or late. Maybe I should skip Civita altogether and just concentrate on Orvieto? Not crazy about having to catch a 7:40 AM train out of Assisi.
After Orvieto, I'm headed for Sorrento which is a long trek so I wouldn't really have time that morning to see more of Orvieto. I've been to Italy before but not to any of these places. I'm following the itinerary in Rick's guidebook which says to go from Assisi to Orvieto/Civita and sleep one night in Orvieto. But I don't see how you can go from Assisi and see both Orvieto and Civita in the same day and then overnight in Orvieto. Or it it just that Rick's an early bird and catches that 7:40 worm?
Posted by
9058 posts
We visited Orvieto while on a tour a few weeks ago and loved it. Haven't been to Civita.
You can see the main sites in Orvieto in 5-6 hours. Don't miss that city it is awesome.
Posted by
Washington DC
29199 posts
Although it's nice to eliminate or at least minimize rail transfers, the two-transfer 9:09 AM departure from Assisi is faster than the one-transfer options. In the absence of mobility challenges, I'd choose that one to avoid an insanely early wake-up call. But then, I am not an early-morning person.
Orvieto has a lot of worthwhile sights, in addition to being an attractive environment for aimless wandering.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, California, USA
188 posts
I'm not a morning person either. Thanks for the advice about going for the two transfer option at a more decent hour.
Posted by
214 posts
spent three nights in orvieto last April....could definitely have seen the main highlights in one day, but we spent more like one and half days wandering and exploring fully. we did an ebike trip to civita (full day) from orvieto. you really don't need more than two hours there, but I would consider it crowds/time of year...if its a very busy time of year maybe stick to just orvieto. we loved both, but orvieto was my children's favorite part of our trip -- which included Venice Florence and Cinque Terre. If I ever get back I will visit more of Umbria...