11 hr 30 min
Umbria Day Trip: Assisi & Perugia from Florence
Journey through Italy's green heart to explore two captivating hilltop towns rich in history and spirit
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11 hr 30 min
Journey through Italy's green heart to explore two captivating hilltop towns rich in history and spirit
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13 hr
Explore five clifftop coastal villages by train, boat, and foot on a full-day escape from Florence
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12 hr 30 min
Full-day coach journey through Tuscany's iconic hill towns, complete with Chianti wine tasting and regional meal
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The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
The tomb was hidden for 600 years before being discovered in 1818. It is the spiritual heart of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi.
This area features 28 famous frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis. Many art historians attribute them to a young Giotto.
The older section of the complex, built between 1228 and 1230. It contains exquisite works by masters like Cimabue and Simone Martini.
These four vault frescoes above the main altar represent Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. They are masterworks of the 13th century.
This friary is the home of the Franciscan order and is connected to the Basilica. It has served as a center for theology for centuries.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the Assisi and Perugia route the more contemplative choice, while the coastal trip offers a more active, sea-faring excursion. This day tour from florence to assisi tours the heart of Umbria, contrasting sharply with the rugged Mediterranean shoreline of the Ligurian coast.
| Feature | Top pick Assisi & Perugia | Cinque Terre |
|---|---|---|
Atmosphere |
Spiritual and medieval | Vibrant and coastal |
Landscape Type |
Rolling hills and valley | Steep cliffs and sea |
Activity Level |
Moderate walking | High intensity hiking |
Travel Time |
2.5 hours each way | 2.5 to 3 hours each way |
Cultural Focus |
Religious heritage and art | Maritime history and villages |
Primary Appeal |
Basilica di San Francesco | UNESCO coastal trails |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Opt for this day tour from florence to assisi if you seek quiet reflection in historic hilltop towns, or choose the coastal path if you prefer maritime vistas and hiking after securing your day tour from florence to assisi tickets; alternatively, look for a Cinque Terre day tour from florence to assisi tour if time permits.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Florence, Italy
Look for staff with tour agency identification
Regional train to Assisi station followed by local bus to town center
As a sign of respect, modest attire is required for a day tour from florence to assisi. Both men and women must cover their knees and upper arms; sleeveless shirts, crop tops, and shorts above the knee are not permitted.
Security checks may be in place for a day tour from florence to assisi. Large backpacks or suitcases are generally discouraged inside the Basilica of Saint Francis.
Photography rules can vary, but generally, respectful and silent observation is preferred during a day tour from florence to assisi. Always look for signage inside the Basilica of Saint Francis regarding flash and tripod use.
The Basilica of Saint Francis provides an elevator to access the Crypt where the tomb of Saint Francis is located. Most of Assisi involves walking on steep, cobblestone streets which may be challenging on a day tour from florence to assisi.
Mobile phones must be silenced during your day tour from florence to assisi inside the Basilica of Saint Francis. Refrain from taking calls while exploring these sacred spaces.
Families are welcome on a day tour from florence to assisi, though strollers may be difficult to maneuver on the historic inclines of the town. Quiet behavior is expected within the Basilica of Saint Francis.
Eating and drinking are strictly prohibited inside the Basilica of Saint Francis. Numerous cafes and restaurants are available in Assisi town center during your day tour from florence to assisi.
Pets are generally not permitted inside the Basilica of Saint Francis. Check with your specific day tour from florence to assisi operator if you are traveling with an assistance animal.
Booking a day tour from florence to assisi tour is recommended to handle the logistics of reaching the hill town. Always check the Basilica of Saint Francis website for updated liturgical schedules.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Mild temperatures perfect for walking
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Arrive between 06:30–10:00 to avoid the densest crowds on your day tour from florence to assisi
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Dedicated to the founder of the Poor Clares
Flexible, no hidden fees.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time of your day tour from florence to assisi. Entrance to the Basilica of Saint Francis is 0 EUR (Free entry).
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Historic hotel near the Basilica
The Basilica of Saint Francis opens its doors at half past six each morning, an hour when the rose-tinted stone of Mount Subasio catches the first light and the cobbled Piazza San Francesco lies empty. Built between 1228 and 1253, the two-tiered sanctuary rose over the tomb of Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone — the wool merchant's son who renounced wealth, preached to birds, and died in 1226 as Francis of Assisi. Pope Gregory IX laid the foundation stone a day after canonization. Architect Jacopo Tedesco designed the lower church as a crypt and the upper as a preaching hall, their contrasting geometries setting a Romanesque base beneath a Gothic nave. The entire structure, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, draws two million pilgrims and art historians each year. Giotto di Bondone arrived in Assisi around 1290, a young painter tasked with illustrating the Legenda Maior in twenty-eight panels along the upper basilica's nave walls. Each fresco — The Gift of the Mantle, The Sermon to the Birds, The Stigmata — broke with Byzantine gold-ground convention, introducing weight, shadow, and spatial depth. Art historians still debate the degree of Giotto's hand versus his workshop, but the narrative cycle remains the most visited fresco program in Umbria. Cimabue, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti contributed vaults and transept panels, turning the basilica into a compendium of Trecento innovation. The lower church holds Cimabue's Maestà and Lorenzetti's Deposition, both illuminated by narrow lancet windows that preserve pigment from sunlight degradation. Assisi occupies a limestone spur thirty kilometers southeast of Perugia, the medieval street grid descending from the Rocca Maggiore fortress to the Basilica of Saint Clare. The town's population hovers near twenty-eight thousand, swelling during the Feast of Saint Francis each October fourth. Beyond the basilica, the Eremo delle Carceri — a hermitage tucked into an oak forest two kilometers uphill — preserves the grotto where Francis retreated for prayer. The site receives far fewer visitors than the basilica, offering silence and a view across the Spoleto valley. Perugia, the regional capital, lies twenty-five kilometers northwest, its Etruscan walls and Palazzo dei Priori forming a natural pairing for day tour from Florence to Assisi itineraries that weave Umbrian hill towns into a single arc. The Basilica of Saint Francis remains free to enter, its conservation sustained by donations, though guided access to the crypt and sacristy requires advance arrangement through the Sacro Convento office.
"Giotto's fresco cycle broke with Byzantine convention, introducing weight, shadow, and spatial depth to the upper basilica's twenty-eight narrative panels."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You leave Florence before eight, the coach crossing the Arno and climbing into the Chianti hills as vineyards give way to oak forest. By mid-morning you are descending into the Spoleto valley, Assisi's pink stone basilica visible on its ridge. Your guide leads you directly to Piazza San Francesco, bypassing the ticket queues through a side entrance reserved for group tours. Inside the upper basilica, you stand beneath Giotto's Sermon to the Birds, the fresco's lapis lazuli sky still luminous after seven centuries. The nave is cool and quiet, footsteps echoing on the geometric marble floor. You descend a narrow stone staircase to the crypt, where Francis lies in a travertine sarcophagus beneath a single wrought-iron lantern. A handful of visitors kneel in the half-light. Your group pauses for six minutes, then climbs back to the cloister and exits into afternoon sun. You walk the length of Via San Francesco, past artisan workshops selling ceramic tiles and pressed-flower bookmarks, until the street opens onto the Piazza del Comune and its intact Roman temple columns. Lunch is a fixed menu — pappardelle, porchetta, torta al testo — at a trattoria overlooking the valley. By three you are in Perugia, the coach parked below the Rocca Paolina, and you have forty minutes to walk the Corso Vannucci and photograph the Fontana Maggiore before departure.
The Basilica of Saint Francis is open from 06:30–18:00 daily. Plan your day tour from florence to assisi accordingly to make the most of these hours.
There is no entrance fee; the Basilica of Saint Francis has free entry. Your day tour from florence to assisi may include other costs for transport or guides.
Modest clothing is required for a day tour from florence to assisi; cover your shoulders and knees. This applies to the Basilica of Saint Francis and other churches.
Large bags are restricted. Keep your items small during your day tour from florence to assisi to ensure easy access to the Basilica of Saint Francis.
The best arrival window is 06:30–10:00. This is the optimal time for a day tour from florence to assisi to avoid peak crowds.
Photography guidelines vary at the Basilica of Saint Francis. Always check for signs during your day tour from florence to assisi.
Yes, it is family-friendly, though note that the steep streets in Assisi can be hard for strollers during your day tour from florence to assisi.
Food is not allowed in the Basilica of Saint Francis. Enjoy local Umbrian cuisine in the town center during your day tour from florence to assisi.
The Basilica of Saint Francis is located at Piazza San Francesco, 2. Most tours provide coach transport near the site during your day tour from florence to assisi.
Cancel at least 24 hours before your day tour from florence to assisi for a full refund. Always verify your specific provider's terms for day tour from florence to assisi tickets.