Umbria's Treasures in Italy

On this delightful vacation to Italy, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the fascinating Umbria region, which is characterized by its beautiful cities, warm hills, and extensive history. Your home base will be Assisi, so you can explore the region and its many towns without the hassles of packing and unpacking. Assisi is a small medieval town and the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan order. It is an important pilgrimage sight, and on this tour, you’ll see the Basilica of St. Francis, where St. Francis is buried, as well as the site where St. Francis came to meditate and pray.

From Assisi, take excursions to Gubbio, the town where St. Francis tamed the wolf, where you will take a cable-car ride to the San Ubaldo Basilica; Perugia, the capital of Umbria and an important university town; Spoleto, where you will visit the Piazza del Duomo; and Todi, a prosperous town in the Middle Ages with one of the most picturesque piazzas in Italy. History buffs will find it interesting that Todi is surrounded by three sets of concentric walls corresponding to different times in the town’s history—the medieval, Roman, and Etruscan.

In addition to history, this area of Italy also offers delicious food. The Umbrian cuisine reflects the rural nature of the area—with simple, yet flavorful ingredients, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high quality olive oil. Perugia has become famous for its chocolate, so be sure to sample some.

All of this and much more—including time in Rome—are waiting for you on this wonderful vacation through Italy’s Umbria region.