Umbria · PG
Assisi
The town of St Francis: basilicas frescoed by Giotto, lanes of pink stone and a huge view over the valley. Easy to visit in a day, even by train.
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Assisi
Guided tour of the Basilica of St Francis
Assisi · All year, best early in the morning
Hike to the Eremo delle Carceri
Assisi · Spring and autumn
Calendimaggio in Assisi
Assisi · Early May
Bookable tours in Assisi
Tickets, guided tours and tastings with free cancellation on most activities, shown live from GetYourGuide.
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Why go solo
One of the most welcoming places in Italy for solo travellers: plenty of visitors, convents and small guest houses to stay in, and quiet evenings once the tour groups have left.
Visiting Assisi: the guide
The Basilica of St Francis
Two churches built one above the other. The Lower Basilica is dim and intimate, with frescoes by Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti and the crypt with St Francis's tomb. The Upper Basilica is bright and Gothic, with the scenes of the saint's life attributed to Giotto.
Entry is free. Shoulders and knees must be covered, visitors are asked to keep silent and photos are not allowed inside.
The Basilica of St Clare
At the other end of the old town, with its façade striped in white and pink Subasio stone. Inside is the San Damiano Crucifix, which according to tradition spoke to Francis, and the tomb of St Clare in the crypt.
Assisi in one day
If you arrive by train, start at Santa Maria degli Angeli, then take the bus up to town. Visit the Basilica of St Francis, walk along Via San Francesco to Piazza del Comune and the Temple of Minerva, stop for lunch, then continue to St Clare and the cathedral of San Rufino. End the day at the Rocca Maggiore for sunset over the valley.
Assisi in two days
With an extra day, walk down to the sanctuary of San Damiano among the olive trees and up to the Eremo delle Carceri on Mount Subasio. Spello, ten minutes away by train, makes a perfect half-day trip.
Guided tours
A guide makes a real difference in the Basilica of St Francis, explaining the frescoes scene by scene. You can ask the Sacro Convento about tours led by the friars, or book a licensed guide for the old town.
What to see in Assisi
Basilica of St Francis
Two churches one above the other, with frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and Simone Martini, and the saint's tomb in the crypt.
Basilica of St Clare
Striped in white and pink stone, it holds the San Damiano Crucifix and the tomb of St Clare.
Cathedral of San Rufino
Where Francis and Clare were baptised.
Piazza del Comune and the Temple of Minerva
The heart of town, with the façade of a Roman temple turned into a church.
Santa Maria degli Angeli
Down in the valley near the station, built around the Porziuncola, Francis's tiny chapel.
Rocca Maggiore
The fortress at the top of town, with the best view over the valley.
Eremo delle Carceri
The hermitage in the woods of Mount Subasio where Francis went to pray.
How to get there
Assisi station is in Santa Maria degli Angeli, on the Foligno–Perugia line (change at Foligno from Rome, at Terontola from Florence). A local bus takes you up to the old town in about 15 minutes.
Don't miss
Calendimaggio (): A spring festival in costume between the two halves of town, with parades, music and medieval songs.
Day trip or overnight?
Worth a night: in the evening, without the groups, Assisi becomes silent and beautiful.
Plan your visit
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Assisi without a car?
Assisi station is in Santa Maria degli Angeli, on the Foligno–Perugia line (change at Foligno from Rome, at Terontola from Florence). A local bus takes you up to the old town in about 15 minutes.
How much time do you need for Assisi?
One day. Worth a night: in the evening, without the groups, Assisi becomes silent and beautiful.
When is the best time to visit Assisi?
The best months are April, May, September, October, December. Don't miss: Calendimaggio (undefined).
Is it free to visit the Basilica of St Francis?
Yes, entry is free. Shoulders and knees must be covered and photos are not allowed inside.
How do you get to Assisi from Rome?
By regional train to Assisi station (change at Foligno), then a local bus up to the old town. The journey takes about two hours.
Is one day enough for Assisi?
One day is enough for the basilicas and the old town; stay the night if you can, the evenings are the most beautiful part.
