Assisi/Spello Tour: "BEST-SELLER" FOR OVER 10 YEARS

*Join us to discover why my tour of Assisi and Spello has been a "best-seller" for over ten years. This tour enchants me! I never tire of sharing the wonders of these medieval hilltowns gems: a world-famous (most justly!) splendor, Assisi (now my own "hometown"), and a lesser-known treasure, Spello. A banquet crowns our day.

Assisi/Spello: Medieval Splendor and a Banquet

Our morning Assisi tour will take in the historic and artistic wonders of this "crown jewel" of all the medieval hilltowns of central Italy. We will visit the stunning three-level Basilica di San Francesco built in the 13th c. to house the body of St. Francis of Assisi (most beloved of all saints for the Italians) and decorated with 10, 000 square meters of the most splendid frescoes of the late Gothic/early Renaissance. You'll be thrilled to learn why modern art is born here and to learn about the greatest restoration project in western European art: the fresco restoration following the 1997 earthquake.

As we stroll through the medieval backstreets, we'll visit other Assisi treasures, both Roman and medieval, and meet "the locals", as well as noted Umbrian artisans. We'll head over to Spello, (16 km from Assisi), a gem of the "undiscovered" medieval hilltowns of Umbria for an extraordinary "banquet" lunch in one of the top 18 wine cellars in Italy. We will comparatively taste an astounding selection of some of Italy's best wines (all from small "boutique" vineyards and of limited production), top olive oils and an endless array of gourmet foods (even non-wine drinkers will be enthused!).

If we are lucky, elderly Neapolitan chansonnier, Salvatore, will be able to join us with his guitar, enhancing our "Spello experience" with his wonderful Neapolitan songs.

After lunch, we'll stroll Spello che bello!. Like Assisi, Spello is constructed in the local pink limestone quarried on Mt. Subasio, lending it a unique rosy hue, particularly at sunset. Our walk will take in vestiges of Spello's Roman origins, one of the most splendid Renaissance fresco cycles in Umbria, and an unforgettable visit to an inspiring local friar/craftsman.

Comments below will tell you why the Assisi/Spello tour has become my "BEST-SELLER":

"We thoroughly enjoyed our special day in Assisi and Spello, with highlights too numerous to mention. Thanks to knowledgeable and accessible Annie, we saw and experienced more in our time with her than in any other tour we have ever taken. Most importantly, we had lots of fun; the wine tasting was a blast."
Karen and Chuck Shoup, Riverbank, CA

"Thank you for the wonderful walking tour of Assisi, and the tastings "banquet" lunch in Spello....i smile when I see us dancing at the lunch, accompanied by the wonderful guitar player, Salvatore. What a memorable afternoon: bright sunshine, cozy environment, great food and wine".
Darlene Quigg, Sausalito, CA

"Anne,
our tour with you to Assisi and Spello a highlight of our first visit to Italy. My wife's mother felt it was the absolute highlight of the entire trip because of your in-depth knowledge of the art, history and culture of Assisi. I will highly recommend your tour services to any of our friends visiting the Assisi region." Steve Boster, Ridgecrest, California

"The Assisi and Spello tour was more than we could have imagined: from meeting local artisans (discussing their trade) to learning the history of the region. This experience is something our children will speak of for years to come. The wine and olive oil tasting was excellent...and after our visit to the olive oil tasting, our children have acquired a love for olive oil!. ...and a heartfelt "thank you" to Brother Paul. Seeing such artistry with such peace and grace brought such joy to all of us and ...when we asked our children what was their "favorite" part of the tours, they both replied in unison 'Brother Paul' "!!!
The Wolf Family Anthony, Michelle, Caitlin and Eric

"Anne,
On behalf of my entire family (Paul, Judy, Mike, Liz, Moira, Megan, and Dan), I want to thank you for providing such a memorable Umbrian experience. Having read other reviews of your tour I know I sound like the proverbial broken record, but Assisi was stunning and the Spello wine tasting was icing on the cake. Your passion for the region came through in every aspect of our brief time with you and I want you to know that you left an enduring impression on every single one of us............. pace e bene."
Best regards,
Paul

"After a week of touring with books and audioguides it was such a thrill to have a brilliant, real live person to show us around! The history of the city, it's churches, its artists and saints unfold as you stroll through present-day Assisi with a local who knows the secret treasures of the city. The tasting and lunch at Spello was a revelation for us both...the food was superb and the wines and olive oils we tasted were incomparable. I wish we had been able to take Annie's other tours! Next time! Grazie mille, Annie. We loved every minute of it!"
Rosemary and Richie, Berkeley , Ca

" .....and o, that Salvatore, our musician....I loved him and so did everyone else in our group---he was our 4th of July celebration, better than fireworks!"
Laura Johnson, Chicago, IL

© Annesitaly - Anne Robichaud