We will be leaving Rome by train and want to stay in Umbria for up to 4 nights. We will rent a car after a day in whatever town we use as a base. We can then drive to see Civita di Bagnoregio, Spoleto, Assisi, maybe Peruguia. Is Orvieto the right choice as a base? We will later be going up to Tuscany area for another 4 nights, so don't need to think about those yet. We want to be somewhere with good restaurants that you can walk to and in a town, not in the country where we would have to drive to town every night to eat (and drink wine).
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1506 posts
We recently returned from Italy and spent 4 nights in Orvieto and 5 in Assisi. We loved both towns and can't really offer you an opinion on which would be best. One consideration might be parking. We didn't have a car and didn't pay attention to parking but do remember that in Orvieto the owner of B&B Magnolia (Serena) told us that there was free parking not far. Not sure about the parking situation in Assisi. Both towns are beautiful, walkable, and with good restaurants. You probably can't go wrong with either but hopefully you'll get more advice from other posters.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15165 posts
With a car you can stay pretty much anywhere, but Assisi is closer to many towns you might want to visit (Assisi, Spello, Gubbio, Spoleto, Perugia). Since you are coming from Rome and also want to visit Orvieto and Civita I would do the following:
Leave Rome by train and alight in Orvieto.
You won't need a car to visit Orvieto, so on the day of arrival stay without a car and find a hotel for one night.
The next morning rent the car in Orvieto (car rental companies are near the station) and head out to Civita. Spend a few hours to visit Civita, then drive up to Assisi which will be your base for the next 3 nights.
From Assisi you can visit Assisi itself and also the towns aforementioned.
Parking in Assisi is outside the historical center (there are several lots, not sure if some are free). Years ago I stayed at a hotel at the edge of the historical center that had its own parking, so it was free. From there I could walk to the historical center of Assisi or drive out to the other towns. I don't remember the name now, since it's been a long time ago. I'll take a look online.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Have you considered doing 2 nights in Orvieto and 2 nights in Assisi without a rental car? It would give you the chance to explore those two amazing places which are worth at least 2 nights each. Fair notice: I hate dealing with a rental car in Italy, esp. since the trains work so well.
Posted by
OP
84 posts
We really want to find a place to use as a base so we don't have to move every night. Thought it would give us a better experience to "live" in a town rather than just stay overnight and then move on. It is such a hassle with luggage, checking in/out. We will have the car to drive up to Tuscany and explore there as well.
Carol, how did you like the B & B Magnolia? I was actually looking at that one. Was is convenient? In a noisy area? Restaurants nearby?
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1506 posts
I answered some of these questions in a PM but regarding the noise issue, yes it is in a quiet area, but we were there in February and if you're there in the high season it might be different. This is something you could ask Serena at B&B Magnolia.