Perugia, Cortona or Assisi
 

We are spending a week in Montepulciano and wanted to see some other towns in the area. We are already planning to go to Orvieto and are trying to decide if we should go to Perugia, Cortona or Assisi or a combination. We are two couples in our late 50's who enjoy the beautiful architecture and landscape of Italy and its amazing wine and food. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

From Montepulciano, my choices---in rank order---would be:

Montalcino/St. Antimo
Pienza/San Quirico
Siena
Cortona/Arezzo
Orvieto[ coming or going]
Assisi[ a long drive]

Have fun !

Of the three you've named, I'd pick Perugia, especially if you're going in high season. You couldn't pay me enough to go back to Cortona or Assisi in mid-summer.

OTOH, if you haven't seen Assisi and can, it would be better than NOT going? Go either very early or in the late afternoon to avoid some of the busses. We trained from Spoleto and took a taxi from the train station--he left us at the door of the Basilica. We walked/worked our way back down the hill.

I haven't been to Corona but have based in Perugia and Spoleto on 2 sep. trips and loved them both. All three are HILLY but P and S have good bus/taxi service. I can't help you with parking because we always took trains/busses.