Duration : 10 Hours
Starting From:Our Authentic Umbria adventure takes you to three astounding places in the Green Heart of Italy: Perugia, Cortona, and Citta della Pieve. All three destinations are wonderfully Medieval, each set on a hilltop, but each has its own unique charm. This private day trip from Rome is a must for chocolate lovers. If you prefer ancient history over chocolate, you'll be excited to know this area was the setting of epic battles between Rome and Carthage during the Punic Wars.
BONUS: If you opt for our 2-day package to Umbria, we can include even more Medieval goodness: the villages of Castiglione del Lago and Foligno.
FOR SHORTER TRAVEL TIMES, check out our other Authentic Umbria itinerary: Spoleto, Montefalco, and Bevagna.
Features of our Authentic Umbria day trip (Perugia, Cortona, Citta della Pieve) from Rome:
Smack-dab in the middle of the Italian mainland, and about halfway between Rome and Florence, Perugia perches on a high hill overlooking the Tiber River and Umbrian countryside. With a history going back thousands of years, Perugia was an Etruscan city and one of the most important centres of the Etruscan federation. One of the oldest most beautiful cities in Italy, Perugia today is the capital of Umbria and a vibrant university town.
Besides being a splendid Medieval city with an assortment of excellent galleries and museums, Perugia is a magnet for both chocolate connoisseurs and lovers of jazz music. The Umbria Jazz Festival, which takes place yearly in July, is an amazing scene, featuring world-class talent and drawing droves of music lovers. If you have a passion for chocolate, you’ll be happy to know that Italy’s beloved Perugina chocolate factory is open all year and we can arrange a tasting if you’re interested in some sweet magic.
The city’s liveliest meeting place is Piazza IV Novembre, the main square where you can find two of Perugia’s most iconic architectural points of interest: Palazzo dei Priori, a majestic edifice now housing the National Gallery, and Fontana Maggiore, an elegantly carved Medieval fountain. Perugia also has a fortress, this one built by the Pope in the 16th Century as a way to assert his dominance after citizens rebelled against the Vatican for unjustly hitching up the price of salt. Rocca Paolina was never used for its intended purpose but it is an awesome tourist attraction today, its cavernous interior somewhat of an underground village.
From Porta Sole, the ancient Etruscan city gate, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding terrain (and a bit of a workout getting there).
On the way from Perugia to Cortona, we'll travel along the scenic shores of Lake Trasimeno.
The lake made history back in 217 BCE, during the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage (North Africa), after Hannibal crossed the Alps with his elephants. The brilliant military leader exploited the fog-covered terrain to conceal the movements of his troops. As the Roman soldiers along the narrow roads flanked by hills and the lake, they fell into Hannibal's trap. Carthaginian forces swiftly descended upon them, catching them off guard. According to legend, the legionnaires were pushed into the lake during the ambush.
Just reach your toe across the Umbrian border into Tuscany, and you’ll find Cortona. Turned into an international superstar by Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona is another one of those former Etruscan places (dating back seven or eight centuries BCE) that seems to radiate a special kind of energy.
The historic center of Cortona is the hub of daily life, distinctly Medieval and loaded with boutiques, galleries, eateries, and wine bars. If you are an ancient history geek, you will want to check out the fortified walls of the city. The original wall — constructed of massive blocks of stone (without heavy machinery, electricity, or modern computer technology) — was constructed by the Etruscans around the 4th Century BCE. In the 16th Century, Cosimo de’ Medici augmented it in Renaissance style, leaving us a visible story of the wall’s evolution.
Citta della Pieve is a tiny place with a fierce soul. In Medieval times, it was a free city, allied with Siena and continually fighting against the Papacy and Perugia. You will be struck by its signature feature the first moment you start milling about: the village is constructed entirely in exposed brick. You might be surprised at the grandeur of some of the structures in Citta della Pieve, but the village was an important center in the late 18th Century. This marked a time of flourishing economic activity and public works as capital, ideas, and styles flowed in from Rome and Florence.
One of the village’s quirkier claims to fame is Vicolo Baciadonne. This alley, only 80 cm (31 inches) wide, is one of the narrowest in Italy. (The fact that “Baciadonne” translates as “kiss women” should give us a clue about what’s regularly transpired in this close space over the centuries.) Another unique but slightly less quirky hallmark of Citta della Pieve is the cultivation of saffron, which has been proudly grown and harvested here since the 13th Century.
Included:
Not included:
*What to expect from your driver on a private day trip or shore excursion:
Our
drivers will share with you the facts and history of the places and
monuments you will be seeing from inside the vehicle. Note that drivers
in Italy are not permitted to share information once you have exited the
vehicle, nor can they accompany you on foot. You will have the
opportunity to stop in each area listed on the itinerary to explore on
your own. We can arrange a private guide for you if you wish to be
accompanied inside churches, archeological sites, and other points of
interest.
Is this tour private?
Yes, this tour is private. You will have a vehicle and driver for your group only.
Is the driver also a guide?
Kindly note that our drivers are NOT licensed guides. Our drivers will share with you the facts and history of the places and monuments you will be seeing from inside the vehicle. Drivers in Italy are not permitted to share information once you have exited the vehicle, nor can they accompany you on foot. You will have the opportunity to stop in each area listed on the itinerary to explore on your own. We can arrange a private guide for you if you wish to be accompanied inside churches, archeological sites, and other points of interest.
What is the duration of the service?
Up to 10 hours.
Does this tour include lunch and admission fees to sites?
No. Lunch, admission fees, and gratuities are not included in the rate.
There will be a full charge made to your credit card for no-shows and
bookings canceled with less than 72 hours notice, including the cost of
any pre-purchased tickets. Pre-purchased tickets are not refundable
under any circumstances.
Please keep us apprised of any problems
or changes during your travels (flight delays and changes, missed
connections, port changes, etc.) and we will do our best to adapt. If
you are on a cruise ship and it does not come into port, your service
will be annulled and no penalty will apply (with the exception of
skip-the-line tickets; you will owe us for any entrance fees we have
pre-paid on your behalf, regardless of circumstances.)
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