Assisi and Cortona Day Trip from Florence
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Assisi's Basilica of St. Francis
- Wander through Cortona's charming streets
- Enjoy scenic Tuscan countryside views
- Visit historic landmarks in both towns
- Experience authentic Italian culture
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private transportation from Florence
- Guided tours of Assisi and Cortona
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
To start your incredible journey, an expert private driver will pick you up directly from your accommodation in Florence in a luxury Mercedes Benz vehicle. Enjoy the comfort of private transportation as you admire lovely views throughout the Tuscan countryside heading south, passing the regional border into Umbria. The drive to the small, hilltop town of Assisi will take about two hours.
Your driver will drop you off in the mesmerizing town of Assisi, filled with white buildings overlooking the green, picturesque valley below. This town is known as one of the most sacred places in Italy, as it is the home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. You will have plenty of free time to independently explore the natural beauty and medieval alleyways of the city. 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. This town has a special aura in the air, and there is so much to be discovered! The ancient churches of Assisi are among the most sacred in Italy, and extremely rich in history and culture. Must-sees while you are visiting Assisi include: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Basilica di San Francesco, and Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Basilica di Santa Chiara is dedicated to Saint Clare, and it is an extremely religious site in Italy. Outside of the Basilica, you will find interestingly colored materials - the church is decorated in white and pink striped marble from a mountain near Assisi. The belltower is the tallest in Assisi. However, inside the church, there is an unexpected emptiness - the church has only one aisle. Once 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.
Basilica di San Francesco is one of the most important religious sites in the entire country of Italy. Not only is it the oldest Gothic church throughout the country, but it is also built above the tomb of Saint Francis. The church technically consists of two parts - a lower church and upper church. In the lower half, visitors can find the incredibly sacred tomb of San Francesco, as well as important frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini. The upper part of the church allows a heavenly light to shine in, glowing upon ancient frescoes painted by Giotto. These colorful 28 frescoes are dazzle in glory, depicting the life of the Saint, and forever representing a vivid celebration of life. After exploring the inside of Basilica di San Francesco, you can exit onto a lawn overlooking the skyline of Assisi.
Make the most of your private driver, and ask him to take you to the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is located about two and a half miles (four kilometers) from the city center. When visiting Santa Maria degli Angeli, you can actually enter another much smaller building inside - “Porziuncola,” a very small, stone chapel which housed Saint Francis and his followers. Inside this tiny structure, Saint Francis started the Franciscan order. Now, you will see the Porziuncola has been decorated in Gothic style frescoes, glorifying the small building. This sacred stop is a must-see during your visit to Assisi for those interested in religious history or relics.
After spending some time in Assisi, your driver will take you to the lovely, hilltop town of Cortona. It is most well known for being the place where the film, “Under the Tuscan Sun,” was filmed in the early 2000’s. This town is extremely historic; in fact, it was originally built by the Etruscans! Now, you can enjoy the picturesque streets filled with flowers, stunning views of the rolling hills, and Tuscan architecture. Enjoy some free time to independently explore the town, take plenty of pictures, and sip on a coffee, or indulge in an aperitivo beverage! When you are ready, your private driver will be waiting for you.
After a memorable day of history, sacred sites, and natural beauty, you can enjoy the comfort of a private Mercedes vehicle. You will be dropped off directly at your accommodation in Florence in the early evening.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour is conducted in English
- Private transportation is provided for your group
- Meals and beverages are not included in the tour price
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets
- Bring a camera to capture scenic views
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
Our driver/guide, Tiziano, was great. He arrived on time, drove us right to the best areas we wanted to see, and back.
Tour/trip was great. 5-stars
Fabulous Assisi Tour, Cortona added on top was a bit much.
Our driver Mr. Tiziano Valerie met us exactly on time in our hotel lobby, impeccably dressed and professional, with a very comfortable Mercedes sedan to ride in. The drive to and from Assisi (about 2.5 hrs from Florence) was scenic and lovely, with breaks to stretch the legs. Our guide in Assisi was passionate and knowledgeable. We were able to see the tomb of the most recent Saint Carlos Acutis, the first Millennial Saint, as well as St. Catherine and were able to get in to the Basilica of San Francisco despite the huge crowds there for the unveiling of St. Francis’ relics. The only hiccup came with lunch - I could not remember if it was prepaid or just a reservation - and the lovely wine shop owner’s English was very poor. We worked it out as everyone was very nice. I would suggest if you want to see both Assisi and Cortona from Florence, leave early! We left at 9am and did not get to Cortona until about 5 and we were very tired. It was a long day but great memories!
Fantastic day!
Great low stress experience! Our driver Valentin was exceptional and professional. He arrived promptly, was a good driver, and explained sites along the way and was flexible about giving us a short time at St Carlo Arcutis which we had forgotten to request at booking. Our guide of Assisi was knowledgeable of St Francis and St Clare and the two cathedrals. She was patient (permitting short prayer time and lighting of candles) and spoke English exceptionally well. Overall the trip was very fun, educational, and low stress. The only unexpected item was the additional cost for headsets at St Francis cathedral. The cost was small and given how positive the day went, and how flexible they were in other ways, not a big deal. I only mention it here so that others making the same reservation are not caught off guard by the small headset charge at St Francis cathedral.
The places we visited are...
The places we visited are amazing. Our driver Placido was great and very informative making our trip memorable making stops along the way.
Would do it again
We opted for the two hour guided tour of Assisi and that was the best decision. She was so knowledgeable and helped direct us on what do with our free time. Would have liked more time in Cortona. More to see there than expected. Our driver, Luca, was also very knowledgeable and had great input