Assisi and Cortona Day Trip from Florence
Overview
Discover the enchanting hilltop towns of Assisi and Cortona on a day trip from Florence, led by a local tour leader! Walk around Assisi, and learn about the life of St Francis of Assisi on visits to the Basilica of San Francesco and the Convent of Santa Chiara. Stop to admire the 9th-century church in Santa Maria degli Angeli before continuing to the Tuscan town of Cortona for some free time to explore.
Inclusions
- Journey by fully fitted GT Coach
- Expert multilingual escort
- Assisi tour with professional guide
- Stop for panoramic pictures at Passignano sul Trasimeno
- Entrance fee to St Francis'Basilica
- Entrance fee to Santa Chiara Church
- Entrance fee to Santa Maria degli Angeli Church
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
This tour is perfect for those of you looking for a unique, meaningful, and truly unforgettable day! Meet your friendly and history-loving tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will depart shortly! During your journey south towards Cortona, your guide will share some interesting information about this gorgeous, hilltop town. The drive will take about 1.5 hours.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cortona, Cortona, Province of Arezzo, Tuscany
Upon arrival, take a look out the window to find the stunning first views of Cortona, artfully resting on the hills of Southern-most Tuscany. This small town is most famous for being the location of Audrey Well’s film, “Under the Tuscan Sun, ” filmed in the early 2000’s. Other than its pop-culture fame, this town is extremely historic; in fact, it was originally built by the Etruscans! Your guide will lead you to the main piazza of the square, and you will have two hours to independently explore. Enjoy the picturesque streets filled with flowers, the stunning views of the rolling hills and green valley, and the lovely medieval-Tuscan architecture. Your guide will be happy to give you recommendations on what to visit in the town, where to take pictures, or the best places to sip on a coffee!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Next, you will cross the regional border into Umbria, heading to the mesmerizing town of Assisi. Filled with white buildings and incredible churches, the town also naturally overlooks the green, beautiful valley below. Assisi is known as one of the most sacred places in Italy, as it is the home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Before learning more and discovering the city, you will have an hour of free time to indulge in a delicious lunch wherever you would prefer. Assisi is known for its fragrant truffle pastas, hearty vegetable soups, herbed meats, and nut and dried fruit crostini desserts.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Next, meet your professional walking guide of the city. As you explore the natural beauty and medieval alleyways, your guide will share fascinating information about Assisi. Take a step back in time, as you explore the ancient architecture and walk down the same cobblestone streets in which Saint Francis walked generations ago. The tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, then head through the main square of the city to the ancient Roman Temple of Minerva, then to the birthplace of Saint Francis, and finally to Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi. Your guide will bring you inside both of the churches, so you can discover the innate beauty, timeless art, and extreme sacredness throughout the city and its churches.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Piazza Santa Chiara, 06081, Assisi Italy
Your walking tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, dedicated to Saint Clare. Outside of the Basilica, your guide will point out the interestingly colored materials - the church is decorated in white and pink striped marble from a mountain near Assisi. You will also notice the belltower, which is the tallest in Assisi. When you walk inside the church, you may discover there is an unexpected emptiness - the church has only one aisle. Your guide will explain that although it once was decorated by intricate frescoes, these were all lost through time. Beneath the church, you can find the tomb of Saint Clare. For a woman who helped and influenced so many, this Basilica is a beautiful memorial. Entry is included.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Piazza S. Francesco, 2, 06081, Assisi Italy
Your guide will next lead you to Basilica di San Francesco, not only one of the most important religious sites in the city, but also in the entire country of Italy. Your guide will explain that it is the oldest Gothic church throughout the country, built above the tomb of Saint Francis. The church technically consists of two parts - a lower church and upper church. In the lower half, you will find the incredibly sacred tomb of San Francesco, as well as important frescoes by Cimabue and Simone Martini. The upper part of the church allows a heavenly light to glow upon ancient frescoes painted by Giotto. These colorful 28 frescoes depict the life of the Saint, forever representing a vivid celebration of life. It is said that the Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi has the best collection of art of any church in Italy. After exploring the inside of Basilica di San Francesco, your guide will lead you to exit onto a green lawn overlooking the skyline of Assisi. Entry is included.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria degli Angeli, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After discovering the most of Assisi, you will head about ten minutes away to the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is located about two and a half miles (four kilometers) from the city center. Your guide will lead you into Santa Maria degli Angeli, but it is actually more famous for another much smaller building inside - “Porziuncola.” This very small, stone chapel once housed Saint Francis and his followers, and it is where he started the Franciscan order. Now, you will see the Porziuncola has been decorated in Gothic style frescoes, glorifying the small building. Enjoy some time to appreciate the beauty and importance of “Porziuncola.”
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Did you know that Lake Tresimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy? Before heading back to Florence, the bus will make a final stop at the enchanting town of Passignano sul Tresimeno, which overlooks the natural lake. Enjoy thirty minutes to discover the medieval alleyways of this hidden gem - in the naturally beautiful landscape of Tuscany, it is backed by an ancient, medieval fortress, and boasts the comfort of a lake-front town. Your guide will be happy to point you in the right direction of the best viewpoints for photos.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
After a day of fascinating sightseeing, beautiful landscapes, and plenty of photos… It will be time to return to Florence. Hop back onto the comfortable coach bus, and the drive will take about 1.5 hours. You will arrive back in the early evening.
Duration: 2 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
This tour is perfect for those of you looking for a unique, meaningful, and truly unforgettable day! Meet your friendly and history-loving tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will depart shortly! During your journey south towards Cortona, your guide will share some interesting information about this gorgeous, hilltop town. The drive will take about 1.5 hours.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cortona, Cortona, Province of Arezzo, Tuscany
Upon arrival, take a look out the window to find the stunning first views of Cortona, artfully resting on the hills of Southern-most Tuscany. This small town is most famous for being the location of Audrey Well’s film, “Under the Tuscan Sun, ” filmed in the early 2000’s. Other than its pop-culture fame, this town is extremely historic; in fact, it was originally built by the Etruscans! Your guide will lead you to the main piazza of the square, and you will have two hours to independently explore. Enjoy the picturesque streets filled with flowers, the stunning views of the rolling hills and green valley, and the lovely medieval-Tuscan architecture. Your guide will be happy to give you recommendations on what to visit in the town, where to take pictures, or the best places to sip on a coffee!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Next, you will cross the regional border into Umbria, heading to the mesmerizing town of Assisi. Filled with white buildings and incredible churches, the town also naturally overlooks the green, beautiful valley below. Assisi is known as one of the most sacred places in Italy, as it is the home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Before learning more and discovering the city, you will have an hour of free time to indulge in a delicious lunch wherever you would prefer. Assisi is known for its fragrant truffle pastas, hearty vegetable soups, herbed meats, and nut and dried fruit crostini desserts.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Assisi, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Next, meet your professional walking guide of the city. As you explore the natural beauty and medieval alleyways, your guide will share fascinating information about Assisi. Take a step back in time, as you explore the ancient architecture and walk down the same cobblestone streets in which Saint Francis walked generations ago. The tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, then head through the main square of the city to the ancient Roman Temple of Minerva, then to the birthplace of Saint Francis, and finally to Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi. Your guide will bring you inside both of the churches, so you can discover the innate beauty, timeless art, and extreme sacredness throughout the city and its churches.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Piazza Santa Chiara, 06081, Assisi Italy
Your walking tour will begin at Basilica di Santa Chiara, dedicated to Saint Clare. Outside of the Basilica, your guide will point out the interestingly colored materials - the church is decorated in white and pink striped marble from a mountain near Assisi. You will also notice the belltower, which is the tallest in Assisi. When you walk inside the church, you may discover there is an unexpected emptiness - the church has only one aisle. Your guide will explain that although it once was decorated by intricate frescoes, these were all lost through time. Beneath the church, you can find the tomb of Saint Clare. For a woman who helped and influenced so many, this Basilica is a beautiful memorial. Entry is included.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, Piazza S. Francesco, 2, 06081, Assisi Italy
Your guide will next lead you to Basilica di San Francesco, not only one of the most important religious sites in the city, but also in the entire country of Italy. Your guide will explain that it is the oldest Gothic church throughout the country, built above the tomb of Saint Francis. The church technically consists of two parts - a lower church and upper church. In the lower half, you will find the incredibly sacred tomb of San Francesco, as well as important frescoes by Cimabue and Simone Martini. The upper part of the church allows a heavenly light to glow upon ancient frescoes painted by Giotto. These colorful 28 frescoes depict the life of the Saint, forever representing a vivid celebration of life. It is said that the Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi has the best collection of art of any church in Italy. After exploring the inside of Basilica di San Francesco, your guide will lead you to exit onto a green lawn overlooking the skyline of Assisi. Entry is included.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Santa Maria degli Angeli, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi, Province of Perugia, Umbria
After discovering the most of Assisi, you will head about ten minutes away to the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is located about two and a half miles (four kilometers) from the city center. Your guide will lead you into Santa Maria degli Angeli, but it is actually more famous for another much smaller building inside - “Porziuncola.” This very small, stone chapel once housed Saint Francis and his followers, and it is where he started the Franciscan order. Now, you will see the Porziuncola has been decorated in Gothic style frescoes, glorifying the small building. Enjoy some time to appreciate the beauty and importance of “Porziuncola.”
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Passignano Sul Trasimeno, Province of Perugia, Umbria
Did you know that Lake Tresimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy? Before heading back to Florence, the bus will make a final stop at the enchanting town of Passignano sul Tresimeno, which overlooks the natural lake. Enjoy thirty minutes to discover the medieval alleyways of this hidden gem - in the naturally beautiful landscape of Tuscany, it is backed by an ancient, medieval fortress, and boasts the comfort of a lake-front town. Your guide will be happy to point you in the right direction of the best viewpoints for photos.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Florence, Florence, Tuscany
After a day of fascinating sightseeing, beautiful landscapes, and plenty of photos… It will be time to return to Florence. Hop back onto the comfortable coach bus, and the drive will take about 1.5 hours. You will arrive back in the early evening.
Duration: 2 hours
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Entrance into churches requires a strict dress code. We cannot be held responsible for entry denied due to improper dress. Please make sure your shoulders and knees are covered
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- English and Spanish are always guaranteed. In order to confirm the excursion in Italian, German, Portuguese or French a minimum of 4 pax is required
- Covid-19 Mesures: A safe distance of one meter between clients will be maintained whenever possible. All our vehicles will be deep-cleaned and disinfected before and after each service. The use of masks is mandatory; clients must bring their own mask. Alcohol gel will be available on all our vehicles. Temperature will be checked for staff and visitors. Disinfected radio units will be provided, and headphones will be single-use. Showing your voucher on your phone will be enough; it is not necessary to print it out.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Joe_O
October 2023
While the towns were incredible and the guides were good, it was a bit overdone. The last stop of the day at the lake felt unnecessary. Very long day with lots of people. Would rather do a private tour and spend the extra money. There was minimal free time and what little time we had felt very ...
While the towns were incredible and the guides were good, it was a bit overdone. The last stop of the day at the lake felt unnecessary. Very long day with lots of people. Would rather do a private tour and spend the extra money. There was minimal free time and what little time we had felt very rushed. Good basically threatened to leave without those that were not back on time. 50 minutes for lunch in Cortona and about 45-50 in AssisiKethly_C
October 2023
The meeting point was not easy to find with Google map. Roberto was an excellent guide. The trip was very informative.
The meeting point was not easy to find with Google map. Roberto was an excellent guide. The trip was very informative.JOSEFA_V
October 2023
Cortona and Assisi. It’s always a pleasure to see cities and towns that preserve the history and infrastructure of their place. And this places dates back centuries ago. The guides are friendly and approachable. Special mention to Gaya, for the patience and her being helpful to us. Thank you.
Cortona and Assisi. It’s always a pleasure to see cities and towns that preserve the history and infrastructure of their place. And this places dates back centuries ago. The guides are friendly and approachable. Special mention to Gaya, for the patience and her being helpful to us. Thank you.neydao2021
October 2023
The cities visited were beautiful unfortunately I can not add anything positive regarding the main guide and the organization for the trip. Though I understand these trips are long and require climbing and for us to keep up, the tour was not well organized. We were taken to three different citie...
The cities visited were beautiful unfortunately I can not add anything positive regarding the main guide and the organization for the trip. Though I understand these trips are long and require climbing and for us to keep up, the tour was not well organized. We were taken to three different cities left on our own for 20-30 minutes without even giving us a sheet of paper with a map for orientation. The guide was not clear on meeting instructions and was rude to the elderly attendants not having patience and empathy that the climbs were challenging for them. One attendee was left at one location and forced to take a taxi to catch up with his family that was on the bus. We chose to not take a second tour this week because it was going to be the same guide. Our experience was unfortunate because we have had great experiences previously with tours in Florence and in other countries. The organization should provide more guidance to the tour guides and require them to have other conduct with guests. I will give a good review to the local guide that did the tour within Assisi. She was very nice and knowledgeable.Srinivasan_I
October 2023
Out of the World Experience. Scenic, great architecture and lots of information about Asisi and Cortona.
Out of the World Experience. Scenic, great architecture and lots of information about Asisi and Cortona.Marilyn_K
October 2023
Love Assisi and Cortona. The tour guide only gave basic information - there was a lot more information she could have shared. She actually said just go in the church and I'll meet you out here in __ minutes. She was outside on a personal call. She did not explain our time in Assisi very well ...
Love Assisi and Cortona. The tour guide only gave basic information - there was a lot more information she could have shared. She actually said just go in the church and I'll meet you out here in __ minutes. She was outside on a personal call. She did not explain our time in Assisi very well because we only had 20 minutes of free time to take photos, explore, and shop at the end of tour. I would have taken time earlier in the afternoon if I had known!