Destination Guides > Italy > Umbria

Umbria

Umbria is often grouped with Tuscany as the place to go for Italian countryside and traditional towns. Places like Perugia certainly have as much charm as Florence or Pisa with the benefit of far fewer tourists.

Assisi

Assisi is a beautiful town famous as the home of Saint Francis. Like any city which thrives on religious tourism, parts of Assisi can be overrun by tourists and tacky souvenir shops. However it is a beautiful town once you get away from the souvenir shops and the Basilica di San Francesco (the Basilica of St Francis) is worth the journey - tourists or no tourists.

Practical Information

Assisi Tourist Information Centre

Piazza del Comune, Assisi

Tel (075) 812 534

Coming & Going

Assisi's train station is situated 5km from the centre although there are local buses so you don't need to walk.

Accommodation

Ostello della Pace

Via di Valecchie 177, 06082 Assisi (Perugia)

Tel (075) 816767

Perugia

A beautifully preserved medieval town with a vivid past. Perugia has plenty of sights although many people come here to study Italian at the university or to sample the city's famous export - chocolate.

Practical Information

Perugia Tourist Information Centre

Palazzo dei Priori, Piazza IV Novembre 3, Perugia

Tel (075) 572 3327

Coming & Going

Buses arrive at Piazza dei Partigiani at the south of the city centre, while the main train station is a few kilometres away. However some local trains arrive at the more central Stazione Sant'Anna.

Accommodation

Ostello di Perugia

Via Bontempi 13, 06122 Perugia

Bus 6, 7, 9, 15

Tel (075) 572 28 80

Ostello Mario Spagnoli

Via Cortonese 4, 06127 Perugia (Perugia)

Tel (075) 5011366

Ostello Ponte Felcino

Via Maniconi 97, 06077 Perugia (Perugia)

Tel (075) 5913991