BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES

Don’t miss the chance to discover two of Umbria’s best-loved medieval towns on this full-day trip to Assisi and Gubbio.

Your private chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to Assisi, world-renowned as the birthplace of Saint Francis, patron saint of all animals, nature and of Italy itself. You will retrace his steps on a walking tour through the streets and squares of this city-sanctuary, exuding peace and spirituality at every corner, and hear about the legendary life of one of Roman Catholicism’s most cherished and widely worshipped personalities. Born around 1181, son of a wealthy merchant, Francis of Assisi abandoned his dissolute life after hearing the voice of God who commanded him to rebuild the Catholic Church and live in poverty. Francis gave up his worldly possessions, became a devoted Christian and founded the Franciscan Order in 1209. He died on October 3, 1226 and was canonized a saint just two years after his death on July 16, 1228. On that same day Pope Gregory IX laid the first stone of the future Basilica which was to become the mother Church of the Order of Friars Minor, one of Italy’s most famous pilgrimage destinations and a treasure trove of priceless medieval masterpieces, attracting thousands of faithful visitors and art lovers every year.

Traces of the town’s 2,000-year-old history still survive within its pristinely preserved medieval historic centre. Your starting point is the site of a long-lost ancient Roman amphitheatre. Having served as a rich mine for building material in the Middle Ages, the original structure is no longer standing though the spot still provides a fascinating glimpse into Assisi’s early beginnings and development throughout the ages, as well as wonderful views of the imposing 14th century fortress that looms over the town. From here, follow your guide along narrow alleys, past charming piazze on a quest for significant landmarks in the life of Saint Francis. You will come across the Cathedral of Saint Rufino, where he was baptized, and take a peek inside the Basilica of Saint Claire to find the holy Crucifix that triggered Saint Francis’ spiritual awakening. The nearby 17th century Chiesa Nuova was supposedly built on the site of the childhood home of Saint Francis. It was here, inside a small cell that can still be seen, that his father Pietro di Bernardone locked him up in chains in an attempt to discourage him from exchanging his comfortable lifestyle for one of poverty. Another notable feature of the town is Assisi’s main square, the picture-postcard Piazza del Comune. It sits on top of the remains of an ancient Roman forum whose strikingly well preserved 1st century BC classical temple was converted into a church in the 1500s.

Last but not least, is a visit to the town’s most iconic monument: the Basilica of Saint Francis. The spectacular complex is built into the side of a hill and is comprised of two independent churches on two different levels, the Lower and Upper Basilica. An underground crypt houses the earthly remains of the saint, buried secretly here shortly after his death to prevent ransacking by relic hunters, only to be rediscovered six hundred years later, in 1818. The greatest artists of the 13th and 14th centuries, including Giotto, Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini, are responsible for the splendid decorative fresco cycles that grace the walls and ceilings of the complex, a cornerstone for understanding the development of Italian art in the Middle Ages. Your guide will lead you past the churches’ highlights and explain the meaning of the painted scenes, illuminating details of the life and miracles of Saint Francis.

After some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your next destination, Italy’s città dei matti, a crazy little town whose citizens are traditionally known for their eccentricities and unpredictable nature.

Clinging to the steep slopes of Mount Ingino, Gubbio seems to have just popped out of a medieval fresco. Thirteenth and fourteenth century walls protect a marvellously well-preserved historic centre crossed by narrow alleys and punctuated with stone buildings, oozing old-world charm and character. Gubbio owes its distinctive atmosphere and timeless, magical appeal not only to its original architecture but also to the traditions and crafts practised by its inhabitants. Workshops selling exquisitely handmade artefacts in all sorts of different media, including ceramic, wood, leather and wrought iron, attest to the know-how of local artisans and their desire to revive age-old techniques passed down through generations. Gubbio is also the site of one of Italy’s oldest folklore festivals which has been celebrated here since 1160, the year of patron Saint Ubaldo’s death. Every year on May 15th thousands of people gather in Piazza Grande to take part in the mystical Race of the Ceri, during which bearers run through the streets of Gubbio and up Mount Ingino carrying three statues featuring Saint Ubaldo, Saint George and Saint Anthony.

Gubbio’s fame is inextricably linked to a miraculous event. Indeed, according to legend, the town was once threatened by a ferocious wolf who used to attack the villagers and kill their livestock. It was thanks to Saint Francis’ ability to soothe and speak to animals that the town was eventually freed from the terror of this ferocious beast. The Church of San Francesco, where your tour begins, was built shortly after Saint Francis’ death, in the mid-1200s, as a tribute to his courage and heroic intervention. Inside, precious 13th to 15th century frescoes representing scenes from the life of the Virgin, Saint Francis, the Evangelists and Jesus enthroned decorate the apses.

Make your way through Gubbio’s maze of streets and stairways, pausing to admire the 17th century Logge dei Tiratori once used by wool workers to stretch and dry fabrics, and reach the town’s beating heart, Piazza Grande. The square is dominated by the Gothic-style Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Pretorio and has been at the core of Gubbio’s political and social life for seven hundred years. Designed as a suspended panoramic terrace, the piazza rests on majestic arches and is considered to be among the most ambitious and inventive urban enterprises of the Middle Ages. From here the views of the town below and the gently rolling Umbrian countryside are truly breathtaking.

Just a few steps away you will find Gubbio’s most intriguing landmark, the Fountain of Mad Men. Run around it three times saying “I am crazy”. For just a few Euro, those willing to take away a bizarre souvenir may receive an official document confirming their insanity!

Not to be missed are also the Gothic-style Cathedral of Saints Giacomo and Mariano, housing a 14th century wooden Crucifix, a precious collection of 16th century canvas paintings and the relics of the two saints to whom the church is dedicated, and the Palazzo Ducale, the only example of Renaissance architecture in town which was completed during the rule of the enlightened Dukes of Montefeltro.

After the tour your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.