Things to do in Assisi
Welcome to Assisi
Birthplace of both Saint Francis and Saint Clare, Assisi is one of the most atmospheric medieval hill towns in Italy. Pilgrims and art lovers travel here to admire the UNESCO-listed Basilica of Saint Francis and its groundbreaking fresco cycle by Giotto, but the town is also a treasure trove of Roman ruins, medieval architecture, and sacred Franciscan sites. In the surrounding hills of Umbria, the scenic patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, and farmland is a paradise for wine tours and tastings, cooking lessons, truffle hunts, and home dining experiences.
5-Star activities in Assisi
Top 8 attractions in Assisi
Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi)
Basilica of St. Clare (Basilica di Santa Chiara)
Assisi Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli)
Chiesa Nuova
Pozzo della Cava
Porziuncola Museum (Museo della Porziuncola)
Temple of Minerva (Tempio di Minerva)
Basilica of St. Francis (Basilica di San Francesco)
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All about Assisi
When to visit
As the birthplace of St. Francis, Assisi has been a pilgrimage hotspot for almost 800 years. The hilltop town’s lively summer season is bookended by Easter, in the spring, and the Feast Day of St. Francis, in the fall (on October 4). If you’re looking for secular fun, visit for the raucous Calendimaggio medieval festival, which takes place on the first weekend of May. You’ll enjoy costumed processions, historical music, and a merry atmosphere that culminates in a Friday night pyrotechnic show in the main Piazza del Comune.
Getting around
Assisi’s historic center is quite compact and easy to get around on foot, but the steep streets will give your calves a workout. If you prefer public transportation, you can take the minibuses that serve the area. FS BusItalia has routes that connect the old town to the town Santa Maria degli Angeli, in the valley below (where the train station and Porziuncola are located). There are also taxi stands at the train station and in the main squares.
Traveler tips
Crowds of day trippers flood Assisi during the religious holidays and much of the summer, but the city has a quiet respite just steps from the most popular tourist spots. Walk through a small doorway in the stone wall lining the Upper Basilica lawn, and you’ll find yourself in the Bosco di San Francesco, a National Trust woodland. Follow quiet, shaded trails downhill to a 12th-century monastery (now a visitor center), then relax over a rustic lunch at a historic mill-turned-trattoria nearby.
A local’s pocket guide to Assisi
Rebecca uses the hill town of Assisi as her base for travel and food writing around the rest of Italy. The lavender-lined terraces of the main Piazza del Comune is her favorite spot to sip on a spritz.
save your calves and start your visit from the top (the Piazza Matteotti bus stop and parking garage), working your way downhill to the Basilica of St. Francis.
kicks off with a custard-filled “mimma” pastry at Bar Sensi, followed by a stroll through the market. Grab an al fresco lunch table at Piazzetta delle Erbe and end the day with a sunset view from Piazza Santa Chiara.
the Basilica of St. Francis, a richly frescoed architectural masterpiece that well deserves its UNESCO nod as a World Heritage Site.
step away from the crowded basilica and into the deserted alleys and staircases that wind their way through the medieval old town.
head up to the Rocca fortress at the very top of Assisi, where you can get a bird's-eye view across the town’s steeples, domes, and rooftops to the valley below.
Assisi is not only for religious tourists. The town also has spectacular Roman ruins, excellent dining, and lovely ateliers showcasing local artists.
People Also Ask
Saint Francis of Assisi was born in this Umbrian hill town in the 12th century and is the town’s draw 800-plus years later. The headliner is the UNESCO-listed Basilica of St. Francis and its Giotto-school frescoes depicting the saint’s life, but the old town is thick with Franciscan sites.
...MoreHead straight to the Basilica of St. Francis to marvel at its frescoes and pause in the saint’s crypt. Afterwards, browse the artisan shops, admire the ancient Temple of Minerva in Piazza del Comune, visit the Basilica of St. Clare, and meander the old town’s maze of pedestrian lanes.
...MoreAssisi is both compact and very steep, so visit on foot but take your time to tackle the hills. There is a public bus between the Basilica of St. Francis and the main square, but strolling up Via San Francesco to check out the shops is part of the fun.
...MoreAssisi marks the middle point of the St. Francis’ Way, a pilgrimage route that begins in La Verna and stretches more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) south through Umbria to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It takes at least three weeks to complete the entire route on foot.
...MoreMost pilgrims focus on the top Franciscan sites in Assisi, including the Basilica of St. Francis, Basilica of St. Clare, Cathedral of San Rufino, and Chiesa Nuova. The outlying Eremo delle Carceri hermitage, Church of San Damiano, and Porziuncola are also important pilgrimage destinations.
...MoreNo, but Assisi is an easy day trip from Rome. The town is located about 100 miles (170 kilometers) north of Italy’s capital city and there are direct trains that run several times each day, making the trip in about 2.5 hours.
...MoreAssisi information
Number of Attractions | 8 |
|---|---|
Number of Tours | 88 |
Number of Reviews | 725 |
Currency | EUR |
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