This is a continuation of my posts from our 11-day tour of Italy. In this post we board the bus and travel to Rome, but stop first at Assisi to walk the small town and see the Basilica of St. Francis then on to Rome for three nights. I will cover Rome in a couple of posts because there was so much to see and I took quite a few photos. Imagine that!
Travel Day
Today’s travel is about 5 hours, but it includes a few hour stop in Assisi and another rest area stop for cappuccino, of course. Below is a map of the entire bus trip starting in Venice (north Italy) to the south at Sorrento. Our portion today was just the section from Florence to Assisi then to hotel in Rome.
The buses have all been very nice and comfortable. No, motion sickness issues for me as they have large windows for views and they arrange plenty of coffee breaks. In my prior post, I mentioned that the public restroom toilets have no seats. Another unique experience is about half of them are pay toilets. From half a Euro to one Euro. No charge for them in restaurants though.
Nice red flowers in this farm field
Hotel Imperiale
This is another very nice 4-star hotel located in city center and convenient to major attractions, restaurants, and many easy walking streets. This building dates back to the 1800’s and has been updated to include air conditioning. In fact, all of our hotels had modern thermostat controlled heat and air. They provided a decent breakfast each morning (not great), although it was too crowded as several tour groups were staying here. Very strange that the scrambled eggs are always mushy and the bacon is cooked very rare. Strange indeed.
Most of the Italy showers have this partial glass door that allows a puddle to form on the floor. 
Assisi
This was a very picturesque city built on some steep hills. The bus dropped us off for the guided tour, lunch and some free time. It is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy’s patron saints.
This town was all uphill! 
Gelato everywhere! Never had a bad one either 
Here we are at the St. Francis Basilica. Randy, Pat, Mike, Lorna 
Beautiful lunch spot 
Look at these dining tables located on the steps up to a restaurant. How cute! 
Mike and Lorna
St. Francis of Assisi
We toured the Basilica of St. Francis and many photos outside but none were allowed inside. Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic and Catholic friar who founded the Franciscans. He was inspired to lead a life of poverty as an itinerant preacher. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals.
This fountain has some significance, but I do not recall
Rome Walking and Sightseeing Bus
One of my best memories was a walking tour that Pat and I took on our own. We have 2-3 places that we wanted to see, so I plugged in the Google maps address and we were off. From those places we just walked around for an hour or so, browsing, and touring the many Catholic churches that were open.
I enjoy walking and getting thoroughly lost. When we had enough of the wandering around, I placed the hotel coordinates into the tracker and in half an hour we were back. Rome is a very walkable city. I felt safe at all times in the busy areas. Sure, pick pockets abound, but I was carrying my money and cards in a pouch hung under my shirt on a neck strap. No problems.
We walked the city on our own, took a hop on/hop off bus for a little over an hour, and we had a guided tour.
We were in the upper level 
The coliseum 
The famous Arch of Constantine dedicated in 315AD. The largest Roman triumphal arch. 
This shallow area is another famous sight: Circus Maximus; where chariot races were held.
Rome – The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps in Rome, climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top.
The monumental stairway of 135 steps was built with a French diplomat funding in 1723–1725, linking the church, at the top of the steps, and the Spanish Embassy to the Palazzo at the bottom of the steps.
Many potted azaleas are placed along the steps in April and May, so we got to enjoy the hundreds of flowering plants.
View from top 
View from the church at top 
And here we are again 
Many visitors on this day
Other Rome Photos from Bus
Some famous Roman 
There is gelato everywhere I’m telling you! 
Most all restaurants have a sidewalk cafe
Lunch
This was a very cool little restaurant. Located along sidewalk, it was narrow and glass enclosed. 
Pizza for me 
Salad for Pat. We shared both
Other Observations
In all the cities that we visited, we only saw two people who appeared to be living on the streets and homeless. Compare that to our visit to Philly last year and we saw hundreds and the streets were littered with waste. None of that in any of the eight cities visited on the entire Italy tour. I wondered why and did some google searches and there could be many reasons, including family residences that include multi generations and not the extent of drug problems as the US. Just an observation, not making a statement.
Wrap Up
Thanks for following along! In the next update is more of Rome. Take care and God Bless.
Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great trip. Glad you were able to make it happen.
Yes, this trip was almost two years in the planning stages. Thanks for stopping by!