Assisi and Cortona

The tour starts from your hotel in Rome where your driver will pick you up to lead you to the discovery of one of the most important cities of the Umbria region, bound to the history of St. Francis. Once there you will be taken around in the beautiful Basilica dedicated to the Saint by a professional local guide who, trough the famous cycle of frescoes painted by Giotto in the upper part of the Basilica, will describe the entire life of St. Francis. In the lower part instead you’ll have an unique opportunity of recollection and reflection precisely by the tomb of the Saint. The Basilica also represent one of the most important masterpieces of the Umbrian middle-ages architecture with a spectacular façade. The entire state of preservation of the city is incredible: it seems that the time has stopped in the middle ages. We will then go on to Cortona ,approximately an hour from Assisi, driving along the Trasimeno lake – 4th biggest lake of Italy and theatre of the famous battle won by Hannibal against the roman general Flaminius in the year 217 B.C. Cortona,once a very important Etruscan city is also one of the oldest town of Tuscany. According to the legend was founded by Cam, son of Noa… after the great flood. Cortona is also the home town of Signorelli,one of the most important renaissance painter and has also inspired Mrs Francis Mayes for the writing of the famous book “ Under the Tuscan sun”. There you’ll have the opportunity to scroll around to admire the beauty of the medieval square, the Cathedral and of the all city. You’ll have time to have lunch on your own and the opportunity to taste the local products in one of the many little Trattoria ( family run restaurant ). The entire tour lasts approx 9 hrs – 2 of them with a local guide.