Things to do in Assisi

A powerfully affecting site for believers and art-lovers alike, the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the crowning jewel of the town’s UNESCO heritage-listed Franciscan structures. Immense in scale and ambitious in design, the basilica can be seen from miles around and boasts glorious views into the valleys surrounding the town of Assisi. Spend an afternoon exploring the churches, gardens, piazzas and the crypt that houses the elaborate tomb of St. Francis.

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is an enormous church that attracts pilgrims from across the globe with its Baroque chapels and Franciscan origin story. Learn about St. Francis of Assisi, who chose to live a life of poverty in the 12th century.

Although it consists of a modest church and adjoining convent, San Damiano has great historic significance. Visit the site where it is said, in 1205, St. Francis was commanded by God to give up a life of luxury and excess to serve the Church and where St. Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies in 1212. Escape from the crowds inside the city walls when you visit this peaceful and charming location.

Constructed between 1257 and 1265, the Basilica of Santa Chiara is of great historic and spiritual significance. The church is named after St. Clare, a friend and protégé of St. Francis, who founded the Order of Poor Ladies, which still has thousands of members today. Take advantage of the excellent photo opportunities available in the adjoining piazza, from which you have wonderful views of the valleys south of Assisi.

Wander along Via San Francesco and discover multiple sightseeing destinations located next to one another. Walk along this short road and the alleys branching off it to find a stunning stone church, chapels from different eras of Perugia’s history and a museum of fine arts held in a convent. A charming, grass-covered piazza and medieval stone houses make it one of the prettiest streets in the area.

Widely considered one of the best-preserved medieval squares in all of Italy, the Piazza del Comune is the focal point of the town of Assisi. Explore the open-air restaurants, gelatarias and wine bars that surround this pedestrian-only square, giving it a lovely warm atmosphere that attracts tourists and locals. After a long day sightseeing on the hilly streets of Assisi, the piazza is the perfect place to sit back and relax.

An imposing bastion that has dominated the skyline of Assisi for more than 800 years, the Rocca Maggiore is a magnificent castle that offers spectacular views of Perugia to the north and the surrounding valleys below. Climb the steps that lead up to this fortress to learn about military strategy in the middle ages and discover why Umbria is called the green heart of Italy.

Constructed in the 1st century B.C., the Roman Temple of Minerva is one of the best-preserved examples of classical architecture in all of Italy. Admire the façade before exploring the interior of a building that has awed artists throughout history. Florentine master Giotto depicted the temple in one of his lauded frescoes in the Papal Basilica of St. Francis. German philosopher and poet Goethe described it as “so perfect in design that it would be an ornament anywhere.”

Although less famed than some of the other religious buildings in Assisi, the Cathedral of San Rufino is a site of enormous historic, spiritual and architectural significance. Dedicated to Assisi’s patron saint, Rufinus of Assisi, who converted the town to Christianity in the 3rd century, the Cathedral of San Rufino stands on the ruins of two other religious buildings. Explore the cathedral’s interior, the surrounding piazza and the subterranean crypt to see a diverse array of architectural styles and learn about the importance of the site in the history of the Franciscan Order.