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1st day - Hotel
Green – Assisi – Hotel Green
At 09:00 departure by shuttle/bus from Hotel
Green to Assisi S.Pietro
(Parking A), up to Via Frate Elia and visit of St. Francis
Basilica, then Via San Francesco
where you can admire the 13th century building known as the Loggia dei Maestri Comacini which in
the course of the 15th century was enlarged, and served as a habitation for
the Lombard artists during their sojourn in Assisi. The Pilgrims Oratory containing 15th
century frescoes by Matteo da
Gualdo and Mezzastris,
the porchway of the 13th century Commerchants Hall and the Oliviera Fountain built in 1570. Up to Via Portica, you gain access to the Roman Forum underlying the Piazza
del Comune where the original Roman paving stones
and steps, which once led up to the Temple, can be seen. The Piazza del Comune
(main square) is dominated by the 1st century A.D. Roman Temple known as the “Minerva” which is flanked by the Torre del Popolo, completed
in 1305, and by adjoining 14th century Palazzo del Capitano
del Popolo. Opposite
there is the Municipal Building, the oldest part of which, the
Palazzo dei Priori, dates from the 14th century
to which other buildings were later added. Few steps on the right side of
the Fountain we come to the Chiesa Nuova, was built in 1615 in the shape of a Greek
Cross on the site of a building reputed to be the house belonging to the Bernardone family.
At 16:00 or at 19:00 from S.Pietro (Parking A) is at
your disposal the shuttle/bus to go back to Camping Village.
2nd day - Hotel
Green – Assisi – Hotel Green
At 09:00 departure by shuttle/bus from Hotel
Green to Assisi S.Pietro
(Parking A), through the arch a Benedectine
church San Pietro,
dates back to the 12th century and has an attractive Romanesque facade with
three rose windows placed symmetrically above the doorways. Internally it
is divided in aisles with a raised presbytery surmounted by a cupola and
frescoes dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. Proceeding up to Via Borgo San
Pietro and then Via Sant’Apollinare to reach the Piazza del Vescovado,
St. Maria Maggiore was the cathedral church until the
11th century. The cuspidate facade is 12th century while the apse is from
the 13 century. Inside, there are frescoes dating from between the14th and
17th centuries. Proceeding a long Via
S.Agnese you’ll arrive to St.Clare square, the Basilica of St. Clare, constructed
between 1257 and 1265 along the lines of the Franciscan model with a
cuspidate facade and a single nave, it incorporates the Chapel of San Giorgio where there
are some interesting 14th century frescoes and the original crucifix which
spoke to St. Francis. By taking Corso Mazzini you’ll come to Piazza del Comune, turn on right and
then up to Via San Rufino to the
Cathedral of St. Rufino, the only extant
parts of the original building, commissioned by Bishop Ugone
in 1029, are the crypt and the bell-tower. The present-day church was
consecrated in 1253 and has a facade which is one of the masterpieces of
Umbrian Romanesque art. The interior was completely remodeled by Galeazzo Alessi
in the second part of the 16th century. Walking up lies a level area wich belies the Roman origins of its regular road
network, here developed the popular medieval quarter called “Piazza Nova”. Have a look at the Roman Amphitheater. At 16:00 or at 19:00 from S.Pietro (Parking A) is at
your disposal the shuttle/bus to go back to Camping Village.
3nd day - Hotel Green – Assisi – Hotel Green
At 09:00 departure by shuttle/bus from Hotel
Green to Assisi (Parking A), proceeding up to Via Fontebella,
have a look to the just restored medioeval Fonte Marcella and Monte Frumentario, then turn on left
to Via Fortini
and left again to Via Aluigi till
Santo Stefano church, this
humble little building was already in existence in 1166. It has a cuspidate
facade and a beautiful doorway on the outside, while the single aisled interior
contains a 14th century fresco. Up to Via
S.Paolo, turn on left and go straight until San Giacomo
de Muro Rupto. To the front of the church which
dates from 1088 there is a small cloister with a Romanesque portico. Inside
there are frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its curios name
derives from its location near a derelict section of the town walls. Down
to Via Metastasio, take left
down the arch to St. Margherita church for a wonderful view of St. Francis Basilica complex. Back
to Via S.Giacomo,
down through the medioeval door take the right and up to Rocca Maggiore. This large fortress is set on the hilltop
above Assisi from which there is a magnificent
panorama. It has been rebuilt several times and the present structure is
mostly 14th century. At 16:00 or at 19:00 from S.Pietro (Parking A) is at
your disposal the shuttle/bus to go back to Camping Village.
4th day - Hotel
Green – Assisi environs – Hotel Green
At
09:00
departure by car from Hotel Green to Santa Maria degli Angeli, (there is a parking in front of the
façade), this township grew up around the sanctuary after the Unification
of Italy. In former times, alongside the Basilica and opposite the Fountain
(la fontana delle 26 cannelle) with 26 spouts the only other construction
was Palazzo del Capitano
del Perdono built in 1620. The construction of the Basilica
took place between 1565-1685 to a design by Galeazzo Alessi
completely enclosing the little Portiuncola
Chapel. The small plot of land (Portiuncola)
where the chapel stood was made available for the use of St. Francis and
his first companions by the Benedictine monks. Not far from the Portiuncola lies the Cappella del Transito built on the spot where St. Francis
died on the 3rd October 1226. The side chapels of the Basilica
are decorated with frescoes by local artists dating from 15th –
18th centuries. From the Basilica there is a passageway leading
to the celebrated “Thornless Rosegarden”and
the Chapel of the Roses. The 12th century friary houses a
museum various sacred works of art, archeological finds, ethnic exhibits
and paintings, the most noteworthy of which are a fresco by Mezzastris, a Crucifix by Giunta Pisano and a wood-painting of St. Francis
by the Maestro di San
Francesco. Proceeding by car after 2 kms.
to the Sanctuary of Rivotorto,
(free parking is just in
front the façade) this neo-gothic church, enshrines in its central naves the stone
but where, in 1208, Francis established the first community of his new
order dedicated to a life of absolute humanity. By car to St. Damiano, (there is a small parking nearby) this is the
place where Francis was converted in 1205. After 1212, it was used by St.
Clare and her followers, (then knows as “Damianite”),
until the Saints death. The Church, the original convent, cloister and
refectory are open to visitors.
5th day - Hotel
Green – Mount Subasio – Spello
– Hotel Green
At 09:00 departure by car from Camping Village to Mount Subasio, lying 4 ½ km outside Assisi at an altitude of 800 mt. you’ll find the Eremo delle Carceri,
park the car and by walk reach it that was one of the favorite
retreats of St. Francis and his followers. The monastery was built at a
later date and the existing structure is the result of enlargements carried
out by St. Bernard of Siena in
1426. Proceeding
up to the top of the Mountain
you’ll enjoy the wonderful sightseeing, following the road, you’ll come to Collepino,
park the car and have nice walk into this small village. Down to Spello park the car and depart the visit
from Porta Consolare,
the main entrance of the roman city, up to Santa Maria Maggiore to visit the Baglioni Chapel (Pinturicchio’s
frescoes), Norberto Contemporary
Art Gallery and Porta Venere.
6th day - Hotel
Green – Bevagna - Montefalco – Hotel Green
At 09:00 departure by car from Camping
Village to Bevagna,
(there is parking just outside the wall town), walk to Piazza Filippo Silvestri
one of the most pleasant medioeval ambience, the Consul’s Palace houses Francesco Torti
Theatre, the two romanesque churches St. Sylvester and the Cathedral of St. Michel the Arcangel.
In a building along Via Guelfa it’s possible to see a remarkable Roman Mosaic dated first half of
the 2 century A.D. By car to Arnaldo Caprai Vinery for a visit and a taste of Sagrantino (one of the best red wine in Italy). By car to Montefalco (there is a
parking just outside the town-wall), from Porta St. Agostino along Corso G. Mameli,
have a look to Piazzetta Mustafà,
the Municipal Building, Piazza del Comune.
A few steps down the square in Via della Ringhiera Umbra, we come to the former church of S.Francesco, house of the most famous Umbrian Museum, worth of note Cappella di S.Girolamo by Benozzo Gozzoli, the altarpiece Crucifix, Scenes from the life of St. Francis, the Pinacoteca.
7th day - Hotel
Green – Gubbio
– Abbey of Vallingegno - Hotel Green
At 08:00 departure by car from Camping Village to Gubbio, (park the car in Piazza Quaranta
Martiri), The square is dedicated to the
city’s victim of 1944. The visit depart with the Loggiato dei Tiratori dell’Arte della Lana (the
wool-weavers), up to Via Piccardi till Palazzo
dei Consoli, the ground
floor is occupied by the Museo Civico, in Piazza
Grande is the main building access, worth of note, the Tavole Eugubine,
seven bronze plaques, partly in Latin and partly in Umbrian Characters of
Etruscan derivation and the Pinacoteca. Proceeding in Via XX Settembre you’ll find a lift
that will bring you up to the Duomo (Cathedral), just in front of the facade is
located Palazzo Ducale.
400 mt. away a cableway (funicular) will climb
you up to Mt. Ingino,
visit the Basilica di St. Ubaldo and enjoy
the panorama. On the way back on road 298 Eugubina,
stop the car and have a look to the Abbey
of Vallingegno.
8th day - Hotel
Green – Perugia – Lake Trasimeno
- Hotel Green
At 08:00 departure by car from Hotel Green
to Perugia, (park the car in Piazza Partigiani),
up with escalator through Rocca Paolina to
Piazza Italia, proceeding along Corso Vannucci till Palazzo dei
Priori houses of the National Gallery of Umbria with
a large collection of painting and Sala dei Notari, to the ground
floor the Collegio
della Mercanzia, Collegio del Cambio. On Piazza IV Novembre
the beautiful Fontana Maggiore and the Cathedral dedicated to
St. Lawrence. By car to Passignano where you
can depart for a boat tour of Isola Maggiore and
Lake Trasimeno. On the way back have a look in Torgiano to
the wine and oil museum, nearby a wine-shop where you can taste Lungarotti’s
wine.
9th day - Hotel
Green – Todi
– Orvieto – Deruta -
Hotel Green
At 08:00 departure by car from Hotel Green to
Todi,
park the car near Tempio di Santa
Maria della Consolazione
design attributed to Bramante, proceeding by car to Porta Orvietana where you can park the car
and take the lift, a long Via Ciuffelli, turn on left on Corso Cavour and reach Piazza del Popolo.
Worth of note is the Palazzo del Popolo and the Palazzo
del Capitano in which the last floor is taken
up by Museo Pinacoteca.
Twenty-nine travertine steps lead up to the facade of the Cathedral, dedicated to the Maria Santissima
Annunziata. On the way Orvieto, you’ll find Lake Corbara,
arrived in Orvieto scalo,
the parking is near the train station, take the cable-railway to P.ta Rocca,
have a visit of St. Patrick Well.
Straight along Corso Cavour,
then turn on left on Via del Duomo till Piazza
Duomo. Worth of note: the facade with a wonderful central
door, bas-reliefs, the rose window, the mosaics, but in the interior the
real master-piece is the Chapel St. Brizio partly painted by Fra Angelico and partly by Luca Signorelli,
the theme is The Last Judgment. On
the way back you can stop in Deruta and have a
visit of Grazia
(ceramic factory and show room).
10th day - Hotel
Green – Spoleto – Cascata delle Marmore - Hotel Green
At 08:00 departure by car from Hotel Green
to Spoleto, park the car in Viale Martiri della Resistenza, then up from Piazza Garibaldi along Via
Anfiteatro (Roman Anphitheatre),
Via Cecili,
Piazza Torre
dell’Olio, Via Pierleoni,
Via St. Andrea, Via Filitteria, Piazza Mentana, Corso Mazzini,
Piazza della
Libertà (Palazzo Ancaiani,
St. Agata, the Roman Theatre), Arco di Druso (built in the year 23 in onor
of Drusus Minor and Germanicus,
son and nephew of Tiberius), Piazza del
Mercato, Via Fontesecca,
Via Saffi, turn on left to the Duomo
(Cathedral). Back
to Via Saffi
turn on left and up to the Rocca, a tour guide with minibus will take you inside
the castle. A nice experience is walking around the Castle to admire a 360°
panorama and if do not soffer of panic attack try to cross the
bridge. Other 20 Kms. and you are arrived to the Marmore Falls, this awe-inspiring “natural
spectacle was already described in Roman times. On the way back, you may
have a break to the Fonti del Clitunno
(Tempietto del Clitunno).
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