Dayle

Hi Ski,

I loved Assisi and the crowds of tour groups didn't bother me there at all. Can't really say why, because overwhelming groups usually do! It's a beautiful town with so much to see, beautiful views too.

However, for your itinerary I would highly recommend Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoreggio. We stayed 3 nights in Orvieto and it's a treasure. I think it's more visited now than it was 6 years ago, but still lots to see. The duomo is unforgettable, Etruscan museum and archeological site just beneath the town very interesting and unvisited. The underground cave tour fascinating, the shops, galleries and restaurants excellent. The evening passagiata with the town's residents priceless!

Civita di Bagnoreggio is postcard perfect and nice for a couple of hours and lots of photo ops. My friends thanked me over and over for putting it on our itinerary.

Orvieto is right on your way and Assisi a bit out of the way.

Buon viaggio!

vetralla

Just a caveat: if you do stop to see Civita di Bagnoregio it can be very hot on the bridge at midday. Dont leave things (visible) in your car.
Enjoy your trip.

CRAZY4TRAVEL

mgfit...I am curious when you visited Spoleto as I was there this past May and came away with a much different feeling. So many buildings are covered and scaffolding and the town is choked with traffic. The Ponte de Torri is very majestic but the town itself did not grab me.

I really only ask as I find it interesting how people get such different perceptions of places. We were supposed to stay 3 nights and ended up cutting it down to 1...opting to go the Spello instead for the other two nights.

Eloise

Crazy4travel,

It wasn't my opinion that you asked for, but I simply had to jump in here to say that I had - more or less - the same impression of Spoleto as you did. There was not much under scaffolding when I was there - 2003 - but I found Spoleto, which is built in large part of a dark grey stone, heavy and oppressive.

I had just come from Spello, which I had loved. I found it a tiny jewel almost untouched by time, and it is built of the same rosy stone as Assisi - and it doesn't have Assisi's crowds.

Spello is, without a doubt, my favorite place in Umbria. It doesn't have the most impressive sights, but it has a charm that I do not find in the larger towns with important buildings, such as Orvieto and Assisi.

But I have to admit that it does not respond to Skiobx's request for something along the way from Rome to Greve.

bobludlow

I will never forget my first view of the piazza in front of Spoleto's main church. The church itself is beautiful, with broken-up pieces of Roman-era buildings forming parts of the walls. I spent two hours sitting at a table outside of a little trattoria watching an old man feed the pigeons, some kids play soccer, some teenagers flirting with each other. To this day it remains one of my touchstone European experiences.

That said, on a drive from Rome to Greve-in-Chianti, Orvieto would be far more convenient and probably more attractive to the average tourist.

Here's a photo of the piazza:
http://www.umbrialacarte.it/immagini/spoleto4.jpg

And the very tables that I sat at (the scaffolding wasn't there when I visited):
http://www.slowtrav.com/photos/data/..._2000_1418.jpg

skiobx

Again, thanks everyone so much for the advice...I've penciled in Civita and Orvieto. Hopefully, we'll be able to squeeze in Assisi at some point.

Well we're off on Friday - I'll report in upon our return.

Thanks again.

CRAZY4TRAVEL

Hi Eloise...thank you for feedback. I always feel terrible when I come away with a bad impression of a place and wonder if it might be my own frame of mind at the time of the visit. The Cathedral was certainly lovely as was the area near the Torri.

We were so happy that we ended up in Spello and very much enjoyed our stay there. Our hotel had a terrace that overlooked the Vale. We pretty much had it to ourselves for Breakfast and in the evening.

Sorry skiobx for intruding on your thread. I wish you an enjoyable and safe trip.

tcreath

Eloise, my opinion is the same as yours. After coming from Spello, by far my favorite Umbrian hill town, Spoleto was a major let down. To be honest though, we didn't even make it to the center of town. Traffic was a mess, and DH doesn't do traffic very well, and the town itself just looked oppressive and seemed to lack charm, so we skipped it and continued on to Carsulae.

Tracy

skiobx

No apologies necessary, Crazy4travel...this forum is a great place to learn great info....accidently or not!!!

mbluvsne

I don't know if it's too late for you to book this place, but we stayed there with a pair of 13 and 14 y-o boys 8 (how time flies!) years ago and everyone was thrilled with the choice. La Locanda della Chiocciola is in Orte, south of Orvieto, and has anything anyone cold want. Be sure to do the tour of the caverns in Orvieto. The boys and you will be amazed. The cathedral is worth a look, and the little windy street/alleys are fun too. Chiocciola has a pool, pool table, mountain bikes, and ancient Etruscan ruins right on the property. We have stayed there twice, and sent people there over the years and all have been enchanted. The food is amazing, and so plentiful you will beg for mercy. www.lachiocciola.net And we agree that Todi, Spoleto, and Assisi are terrific, Perugia less so, though the museum has many regional masterpieces. Hope your trip is wonderful!

skiobx

Thanks Mbluvsne -- We've already booked a place at Fattoria Viticcio, in Greve-in-Chianti. Your place looked great however. Thanks so much for your tips...they will come in handy.

kbob88

Orvieto!

Cathedral, underground caverns, walking around town, the views from the cliffside out over the plain (too bad you probably won't be there at sunset).

Assisi is nice, but doesn't match Orvieto, and is more out of the way for you. Have fun & wish I was there!

mojodave

Orvieto, only Orvieto!! It's perfect on the way to Chianti from Rome. Also Civita di Bagnoregio is amazing but much smaller! Have fun..!

swagman

ttt