Greetings! I am taking a trip to Rome in October and am wanting to take about 3 days and do a run to Assisi then over to Orvieto and back into Rome. I am looking at leaving as early as possible on Wednesday(october 9) train up to Assisi, check it out for the day and stay that night, get up the next morning and train it over to Orvieto for a day and night(as I did in Assisi) and then head back to Rome the next day(Friday the 11th of Oct)... Is this an easy thing to do and will I have enough time to see these 2 towns in the amount of time described? I have heard varying things on renting a car vs. taking the train. Thoughts? Any idea on if I do the train how far in advance I can get tickets? I am trying to plan the whole trip as much as possible now so I don't leave anything to chance. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15246 posts
You can do it with a car or train. If you just want to visit Orvieto and Assisi, you won't need a car. If you want to venture to visit a little more of Umbria (like Gubbio, Spello etc.), then a car might be faster and more efficient. Go to Orvieto by train, visit Orvieto and then rent a car from Orvieto (next to the station there is Avis and Hertz). Visit Umbria then return car to Orvieto and get back to Rome by train. No need to buy tickets in advance unless you want to try to get a discounted ticket on an Intercity (discounted tickets are non refundable however). Regionale trains are like commuter trains, therefore no discounts (they are cheap anyway).
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
I'd probably do it a little differently. I'd take the train to Assisi, spending 2 days in Assisi, which gives you a little time for some of the lesser visited sites. For example, Eremo della Carcieri is a hermitage used by St Francis a few km up the mountain; requires a little time to get there, but it's beautiful, quiet, with an active friary and convent, lovely medieval buildings, and pleasant walks in the area; I take a taxi up the mountain, and walk back if the weather is nice. San Damiano also takes a little time to get to, but is another favorite place, where the experience of earlier times is still alive. I stayed a week in Assisi on my last visit and didn't tire of it. Orvieto is also wonderful, but I'd visit it on a day trip from Rome. It's less than an hour by train. My main interest was the cathedral, with a little time to wander, and a day trip worked fine. If you want to spend time with wine tasting, exploring Etruscan sites, dining experiences, etc, you might want more time.
Posted by
OP
Fort Worth, TX
22 posts
Excellent suggestions! I will see what works best for me. Thanks again!
Posted by
Paia, HI, USA
154 posts
Hi Adam, I just stayed at the Orvieto Hotel Grand Italia, and had a wonderful experience. The staff was friendly, they had wonderful Orvieto Classico white wine they served in lobby or to room in nice wine glasses (essential for me !!), the rooms were comfy, well sized, and with very nice sized balconies, pretty good beds, & great breakfast included. We had a rental car, driving in town is not hard, but requires ATTENTION! Lots of ZTL's on almost every side street, as well as many one ways. (Have a google map, possibly printed if you can as Wi-fi data was spotty with our AT&T iPhones). There are also outdoor markets that close streets down, so despite street signs or GPS telling you "turn left" you cannot do so, and have to go in circles until you find your way. DESPITE all this, Orvieto's WORTH IT! We had an absolutely LOVELY dinner, ( the local kind where the chef/owner comes and sits to chat with with you) at L'Anticca Tratotoria dell'Osro. Great wine, fabulous pasta with truffles, and yummy dessert! Go there and tell him the Hawaiians (and Rick Steve's) sent you!). It was delicious!!
If you have car, we loved both Civita di Bagnoregio for a lovely afternoon of a TRUE hill-top wonderland; and also Montepulciano was one of the cutest towns I explored in all of Italy - with a great lunch with fabulous wine! Both towns are probably assessable with mass transit from Orvieto as well if you don't have a car, just plan ahead so you have plenty of time. Have a wonderful trip!