Orvieto & Assisi (St. Francis & St. Claire) Private Tour from Rome

In this area visitors will have the chance to enjoy an atmosphere of bygone times, among the medieval paths, the palaces, the castles and the fortresses of charming villages and will probably feel a strong impulse to come back one day. Located in the centre of Italy, the Province of Perugia is Umbria’s largest, covering two-thirds of the entire region. The landscape presents different aspects: a wide area of plains in the Umbra and Tiber Valleys, framed by hills, and mountains in the eastern part. The rest of the territory is covered by woodland. In this panorama of changing vibrant colors many villages stand on hilltops, overlooking the plains below. These villages are remarkable for their historical and artistic heritage. This province is home to the largest lake in central Italy, Lake Trasimeno, which has three Islands of Polvese, Maggiore and Minore, and two promontories. The landscape is characterised by the relaxing intense green of the vegetation, and everything, from the villages overlooking the lake to the museums, its continuing traditions to its local products, all remind us of its past. Not only art and nature, but also a touch of mysticism adds something special to each route or path in this region. The most important is the Franciscan Path of Peace linking Assisi to Gubbio, which follows the route covered many times by Saint Francis after 1206 when he renounced his father’s properties. It's a relatively short trip, but it offers the unique chance to experience nature in prayer and friendship. The province of Perugia offers all this and much more. The journey may be a long one, but you will be rewarded by its great beauty. ASSISI One of the most famous towns in Italy is Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, above all, homeland of St. Francis, the man who renounced all his possessions in order to devote his life to helping the needy. Dedicated to him is the splendid Basilica, one of the emblems of Christianity, located on Mount Subasio, from which it overlooks the entire valley, is dedicated to him. Apart from being a strong appeal for millions of religious believers, the Basilica is a monument of great artistic value. St. Francis's Basilica consists of two churches laid upon each other and a crypt containing the tomb of the Saint. The Lower Basilica, with a double front portal, presents a simple facade embellished with a rose window and a mosaic. The interior is decorated with frescoes by some of the most important painters from 1200 to 1300, from Cimabue to Giotto and from the Lorenzettis to Simone Martini. The light that filters through the beautiful stained glass windows by Giovanni di Bonino and Puccio Capanna creates a very suggestive ambience. In the Upper Basilica, it is possible to see the life cycle of St. Francis in frescoes painted by maestro Giotto, and the stories of the Old and New Testament covering the entire nave, and other wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Torriti. Another figure who has deeply influenced these places is Saint Clare, to whom the homonymous Basilica - presenting a facade made of white and pink stone and divided into three sections by horizontal cornices - is dedicated. The engaging interior frescoes and the remains of the Saint are visible through a window in the crypt. The Duomo is dedicated to the other saint of Assisi, San Ruffino (St. Rufinus). It was rebuilt according to the design by Giovanni da Gubbio. The splendid Romanesque facade has three portals and, in the middle, a rose window surrounded by symbols of the Four Evangelists. The internal restructuring with three naves is attributed to Galeazzo Alessi, while works by Carlone, Giovanni Antonio Grecolini and del Giorgetti decorate the interior. The Temple of Minerva is also a work of great interest; it is one of the best preserved Roman buildings, eventually becoming the Church of Saint Mary. ORVIETO Orvieto (Urbs Vetus, the old city), dominated by its Duomo, is the iconic image of this area, known and sought-out the world over. The Cathedral's facade and the wondrous frescoes by Luca Signorelli render this hilltop town one of the globe's most-appreciated touristic destinations. Not only, but right in the vicinity of famous monuments, discovery of a thousand hidden corners of the ancient Etruscan city awaits - its underground, the celebrated white-producing vineyards in its environs, castles and old abbey churches. Orvieto is also the capital of Slow Food, resulting in a high-quality culinary tradition.