Description: A mosaic of tiled & stone buildings span the hillside, peppered with olive and cypress trees. A long weekend escape in Assisi feels like going back in time, living a life of simple pleasures that include nature, incredible food, and lots of wine.
Destinations:
Day 1 - Assisi
Day 2 - Day trip to Perugia
Day 3 - Hike to Spello
Where to stay: This Airbnb has two rooftop terraces. Need we say more?
When to go: All year round. We visited in early July.
THE ITINERARY:
THE DETAILS:
DAY 1
Assisi
Start your day off right, with un cappucino e croissant al cioccolato at Bar Giardino San Lorenzo. You will need the fuel to kickstart your walking tour of the beautiful (but hilly) Assisi.
After breakfast, hike upwards — keep going up the cobbled stairs until you reach the road, then hang left. Here you'll explore the Rocca Maggiore, the 14th century medieval fortress which protected Assisi's citizens from intruders for centuries. From here, head back down the hill to tour the many unique (and free to enter) churches of Assisi.
For lunch, have a traditional Umbrian meal at Trattoria Degli Umbri. The strangozzi with truffles is pasta bellissima.
Next stop on the itinerary is the Roman Forum & Archaeological Museum. The entrance is tucked away on via portica, northwest of the Torre del Popolo. While small, the museum houses ruins, sculptures and artefacts from the original Roman forum, which dates back to ~1st-century BCE, and is located under modern-day Assisi. Displayed in the museum is a video that shows a fascinating reconstruction of the site, as archaeologists and historians believe it once was.
Finally, the absolute must-see of the day. Walk west for ~8 minutes until you reach the Basilica de St. Francis of Assisi. Take your time touring the lower and upper basilica's — for the art dilettante out there, the entire building is floor-to-ceiling covered with frescoes, from various 13th & 14th century masters, but most notably Cimabue & Giotto. The church closed for two years of restoration, after a devastating earthquake in 1997 caused severe damage to the upper basilica.
For a special way to close out your day, arrange in advance for a lovely wine tasting and dinner through Bibenda Assisi. Sommelier Nila does an amazing job explaining the local wines and foods of the region, and creates an unforgettable experience.
DAY 2
Perugia
The following itinerary offers a self-guided walking tour of Perugia, but if you're looking for more information, context and history, we recommend this walking tour of Perugia from Get Your Guide.
Try some bomboloni from Pasticceria Santa Chiara this morning for breakfast (go on, you're on holiday).
With just quick bus, train & mini-metro ride, head out to Umbria's biggest little city — Perugia. Situated on a massive hillside, Perugia is enveloped in wooded greenery (especially in the summer) and oozes with medieval charm. It's very reachable from Assisi and small enough to tour in a day.
Start your walking tour at the Carducci Gardens, for a free, hillside stroll that offers one spectacular view point after another. Continue downwards to Rocca Paolina, to see remnants of the underground fortress commissioned by Pope Paolo III in the 16th century. Now make your way north towards Corso Vannucci, the central vein that runs through Perugia and is lined with lively shops, restaurants and bars.
Pop off for a proper Italian lunch at Daje Perugia. Drink some local vino rosso, eat some porchetta, and regain your strength for part two of your walking tour.
Continue on your afternoon tour to Palazzo dei Priori, a gothic palace from the 1300s. The Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria is located inside and is worth a visit, displaying the best collection of local Umbrian art from the middle ages through the Renaissance era, that you will find anywhere in the region. Later, stop for an espresso or some chocolate in Piazza IV Novembre. Move on to explore the Perugia Cathedral, the dramatic gothic building which dates back to the late 14th. Continue on to the Etruscan Arch, the ancient city gate, that dates back to the 3rd century BCE, & the Acquedotto medievale di Perugia, the 4km long medieval acquaduct, which guided water into the city from the nearby Monte Pacciano. Finally, trek all the way south to end your walking tour at the Cattedrale e Abazzia Di San Pietro. With its gilded ceiling and decorative interior, the abbey is a great site on which to end your tour.
Leaving from the south end of the city, two buses will get you back to Assisi within an hour.
For a lovely meal back in Assisi, enjoy a sophisticated yet unpretentious dinner at La Piazzetta delle erbe.
DAY 3
Spello
Prepare a nutritious breakfast at your airbnb this morning (we recommend a quick stop at this small market for essentials like coffee, eggs, cheese, bread and yogurt.)
Get an early start on your hike from Assisi to the beautiful neighboring town of Spello, so you can enjoy the spectacular Umbrian countryside during the most comfortable (temperature-wise) hours of the day. It is a long hike — averaging between 2 - 3 hours — but the views alone are completely worth the effort. For an alternative itinerary that requires less walking, shorten this hike to two hours and stop at the Tili winery for a tasting and tour of the property. You can arrange for transportation to take you back to Assisi through the winery.
Once you've reached the outskirts of Spello, make sure to stroll through the gardens of Villa Fidelia.
In town, stop for a leisurely lunch at Ristorante La Cantina Di Spello. You can never go wrong with a steaming bowl of pappardelle with wild boar ragu.
After lunch, check out some of the top sites there — we recommend peaking into the gorgeous interiors of Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Lorenzo and admiring the floors of the Villa of Mosaics. Later, reward yourself with an afternoon gelato (you are in Italy, after all).
Catch the train and bus (~30mins) back to Assisi in the late afternoon.
Celebrate your amazing long weekend with cocktails and dinner at Hotel Fontabella.
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