DAvid thought that Pauline or Decobabe might have some ideas on this, so I'll just throw it out for everyone! On the first Sunday we are in Mercatale di Cortona, I thought that because it IS a Sunday, that might be the best day to drive to Assisi, and then stop at Perugia on the way back. MY reasoning is that there will be less traffic on a Sunday, not only on the expressway, but also in the city itself. We are very familiar with both cities, and realize that in Assisi all we have to do is park and walk, but in Perugia, we do need to find a parking lot close to an escalator, like the one on Pescina Pellini(sp?) across from our hotel. Alternatively, we could also use this day to drive to Orvieto, and the only reason again would be to avoid some expressway traffic, as we would probably just park in the train station and take the funicular up! Any thoughts? Helen, if you're out there, maybe you could make some suggestions about parking in Perugia!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Barb - parking in Perugia:
- exit from the dual-carriageway at ‘San Faustino’ ; follow signs ‘Statione / Centro’ until the station is on your left and you must follow the one-way road which curves round to the right. Immediately AFTER the second set of lights turn up to the right ; turn left at the next lights and then right under the tunnel. IMMEDIATELY through the tunnel, turn right and go up that road until you are in the queue for the car-park at the top of the hill.

There is a lift from this car park which takes you to the centre.

Thanks Helen! Is that up by the bus station? What do you think about my idea...will Sunday be less congested? Also, you need to start thinking about what day is good for you so that we can take you out to dinner!

No Barb
The bus station is lower down - this car park is beside the covered market - and the lift takes you up to the main law court (the road parallel to Corso Vannucci).

Sunday morning is great for Perugia but not good for Assisi (a lot of day-trippers).

I think you should go to Perugia on Sunday morning and then combine it with somewhere at the lake, returning to Mercatale via Castel Rigone.

I never rush Assisi, never. You could combine it with Spello (for example), go up to the national park above Assisi for a picnic first. I know it will be two days in the same direction but it is worth it I think.

We can plan dinner/lunch when you get here - to fit in with your plans.

I agree, Assisi and Perugia in one day is too much. Both of them have lots to see and would be better combined with some other smaller site, as Helen suggests. We drove into Perugia from Panicale a few years ago - on a Saturday (I just checked in the diary of receipts that I kept) - and the traffic was thick. Once you get off the highway, you are driving thru the modern part of Perugia to get to the historic center.

I don't know where we parked, but we just followed signs and parked in a huge lot and took escalators up a few levels to the town on top.

Perugia was wonderful - a great art gallery, beautiful streets, great caffes - and a collection of frescoes that I managed to forget about until we were driving back. Another time!

David always says the Rough Guides are good because of the maps they have for each town and they show the parking.

I can't remember what kind of map (or lack of one) the Rough Guide included for Perugia. What I do remember was a description of the parking lot that connects to the escalator. But their directions were not as specific as Helen's, which sound very helpful in navigating lower Perugia, which is kind of sprawly (we made a number of wrong turns and had to consult the map many times). I do think that TRG did mention a street name or two but I'd follow Helen's instructions and possibly consult a good map as well. This parking lot did, indeed, feel like the best place to park.

Someone just sent me a book called "Umbria" by Paul Hoffman. It's very nice -- inhaled it yesterday. He's right on the money about many things I know, so I will trust him on the things I don't know. He missed a few things in my town, but maybe his tastes are just different from mine.
It isn't a guidebook, per se, although it has a veneer of that information, it's more like an in depth and historically oriented explanation of what there is and why it is important.
Hoffman was the NY Times burea chief in Rome for a long time, and it appears he has retired and stayed there. His frequent trips into Umbria over 25 years are the basis for this book.
He's not H V Morton, but more on that order than say "Rough Guide." I plan to take the book with me and make some day trips to places I've never really gotten into.

I love all of Paul Hoffman's books and have used the Umbria one on the last few trips. He also has books on Rome and northern Italy:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/book/memoirs.htm

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/book/guide_books.htm

I had to list some of his books on the Memoirs page and some on the Guidebooks page - but all his stuff is great.

I am going to close this topic and move it over to the FAQ section so we will always have those Perugia driving and parking instructions at hand. Sorry Barb - but could you start another thread if you want more ideas about where to go on the Sunday? If I don't move the thread now, I will forget about it once it scrolls off the screen.