Pescara to Assisi and Perugia: Private day trip

This scenic village has seen its share of saints. In 1208, St. Francis founded his eponymous order here, and St. Clare, and Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows were also born here. Originally a Roman settlement, remnants of their empire are still visible, such as the city walls, the forum, which has been transformed into the Piazza del Comune, and the Temple of Minerva, which has maintained its original facade, even though was transformed into the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in 1539. The massive complex that can be seen from miles away is the Sanctuary of Assisi. One of the oldest Gothic churches left in Italy, and the final resting place of St. Francis, its interior rivals many museums, with frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti.

Founded by the Etruscans around the 6th century BC, the city was legendary amongst Roman authors by the time it was assimilated into the Republic. Sitting 1,640 ft above sea level, the old town is partly surrounded two sets of walls. The medieval wall is still largely intact, and has several entrances, such as the Cassero di Porta Sant'Angelo. The inner, Etruscan wall, was built using massive boulders. A few remains of the Roman era still survive, including an amphitheatre outside Porta Marzia, and what is likely a mausoleum under St. Peter’s bell tower. The Piazza IV Novembre, with its magnificent Maggiore Fountain, is the best way to experience the essence of the city. Facing the square is the 13th century Palazzo dei Priori, which houses the National Gallery of Umbria, while the facade of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo boasts the pulpit where Saint Bernardino used to preach.