Orvieto and Assisi in a day

Situated less than two hours drive from Rome, Orvieto sits on a volcanic plateau, high above the picturesque Umbrian countryside which surrounds it. In addition to being known for its high quality cuisine (truffles are a particular speciality), the city boasts an incredible Gothic Cathedral with a frescoed Last Judgement to rival Michaelangelo’s, a labyrinth of ancient underground tunnels and a fine art gallery.

Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, has many sites relating to the life of the Saint which can be visited, the Porziuncola Chapel where he was born and the order was founded and the “Eremo delle Carceri” a peaceful monastery in the nearby hills, where he famously preached to the birds. The city’s masterpiece, the Basilica of St. Francis is important both from a religious and artistic perspective.