15 Attractions in Assisi You Must See

Assisi is a municipality located in the province of Perugia, in Umbria, central Italy. It is known as the city where Saint Francis lived and prayed. For this reason, Assisi is often considered a spiritual place; however, the attractions of Assisi will delight any tourist passionate about art, culture, and stunning landscapes!

The most famous and perhaps the most impressive landmark in Assisi is the Basilica of Saint Francis. It is also practically the largest structure in the area - it is so massive that you can see it from a mile away. The Basilica is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is truly a gem of Assisi.

Construction of the basilica began immediately after the death of Saint Francis in 1228 and was officially completed after the Upper Church was finished in 1253. It is divided into two tiers known as the Upper and Lower Churches, and regardless of which one you visit, you will see incredibly beautiful frescoes. The Upper Church, or Basilica Superiore, is adorned with 28 frescoes by Giotto (created with the help of members of his school), which are the main artistic highlights of the church.

Each fresco depicts a scene from the life of Saint Francis. Although the frescoes were painted many centuries ago, they remain fantastically bright. In the Lower Church, or Basilica Inferiore, there are frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini, all of whom were strongly influenced by Giotto's works.

There is also the crypt of Saint Francis - the monumental tomb of Saint Francis of Assisi. While the Upper Church conveys a sense of beauty and life, the dark rooms and sparse decorations of the Lower Church reflect the spirit of Saint Francis and his Franciscan order.

Address: Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi, Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Situated on the wooded slopes of Mount Subasio, this monastery is surrounded by caves where Saint Francis and his followers prayed and contemplated spiritual matters. The secluded places where prayers took place still exude the same tranquility as in Saint Francis's time, although they are now surrounded by religious buildings.

Visitors also have the opportunity to walk to the Grotto of Saint Francis, where he prayed and slept on a stone bed in his later years. Several hiking trails wind through the oak forests surrounding the Eremo.

During your walk, pay attention to a series of bronze statues of Saint Francis (one of them is on the ground, without sandals) and two monks, Ginepro and Leone, gazing at the constellations. The Eremo is located about 4 km east of Assisi. It takes about an hour to get there and a little less to descend back.

Address: Eremo Delle Carceri, Via Eremo delle Carceri, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Southeast of the city center lies the small San Damiano Monastery, founded by Saint Francis. The first Abbess of this monastery was Saint Clare, who died here in 1253; she was canonized two years later.

San Damiano is considered the place where Saint Francis received the message from God to 'go forth and repair my house.' He took this message literally, restoring the small church with his own hands. This was a favorite retreat for Saint Francis and his followers.

It is said that he composed his famous 'Canticle of the Sun' right here, on a small flower-covered terrace in front of the monastery. Visitors can explore the church, the monastery with 16th-century frescoes and works by Eusebio di San Giorgio, and the gardens. The San Damiano complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Address: San Damiano, Via San Damiano, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Approximately four kilometers west of Assisi, in the small village of Santa Maria degli Angeli, lies the massive domed Renaissance church that bears the same name as the village. It was built between 1569 and 1630 over the Oratory of Saint Francis (Porziuncula) and the cell where he died.

After the earthquake in 1832, the church underwent reconstruction (specifically the structures of the choir and nave), and a new facade was added in 1925-1928. To the east of the sacristy is a small garden where, according to legend, roses lost their thorns after the saint's act of penitence.

Nearby is the Chapel of the Roses, adorned with beautiful frescoes by Tiberio d'Assisi, which since 1518 have depicted scenes from the life of the saint. For hiking tourists, the sanctuary offers a good half-day tour that can be combined with a visit to Rivolato, another pilgrimage site associated with Saint Francis.

Address: Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, Piazza Porziuncola, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Perugia, Italy.

The Cathedral of San Rufino or Assisi Cathedral is a favorite destination for pilgrims due to its connection with the life of Saint Francis. The cathedral boasts a beautiful Romanesque facade with three rose windows. It was built on top of an ancient Roman cistern in the 13th century, with the interior being mainly renovated from the 16th century onwards.

Here you will find a fountain where Saint Francis and Saint Clare were baptized. The cathedral is named after Saint Rufinus, who converted Assisi to Christianity in 238 AD and was later martyred. It is said that his remains still rest in a Roman sarcophagus inside the cathedral.

Address: Cathedral of San Rufino, Piazza San Rufino, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

The Basilica of Saint Clare (Basilica di Santa Chiara) is dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi, the founder of the Order of Poor Clares, known today as the Order of Saint Clare. After her death in 1260, her remains were moved to the church and buried beneath the high altar.

Her tomb was rediscovered in 1850, and ultimately, her skeleton was moved to a new crypt in the basilica. The exterior of the basilica is notable for its horizontal stripes of pink and white stone as well as for its bell tower, which is the tallest in Assisi.

Inside, you will see white walls of the dimly lit nave, which were covered with frescoes until the 17th century. In other parts of the church, frescoes dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries are still preserved. To the south of the nave is a small chapel that houses a 12th-century crucifix, which, according to legend, spoke to Saint Francis. The main altar is surrounded by a colonnade of 12 polygonal columns dating from the 15th century.

Address: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Piazza Santa Chiara, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

From Piazza San Rufino, you can walk through Santa Maria delle Rose to Rocca Maggiore, a picturesque castle situated high above the city. Originally, it was one of several fortifications built along the city's walls, which was later rebuilt in 1365 by Cardinal Albornoz.

Emperor Frederick II is said to have stopped here in his youth. This castle is a great place to gain insights into construction techniques and enjoy panoramic views.

A long wall extending from the main part of the castle leads to a tower used as a watchtower and is accessible for enjoying a view of the area. The tower and castle are connected by a tunnel. The walls are enveloped in greenery, which used to be gardens (gardens were grown in case of siege). Inside, you can see figures dressed in clothing typical of the 14th-century nobility.

Address: Rocca Maggiore, Via della Rocca, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Ancient columns of the Temple of Minerva rise above the medieval Piazza del Comune. This temple was built on private donations from two wealthy locals during the reign of Augustus in the first century BC.

When Rome converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD, this pagan temple - along with many others across the empire - was abandoned. By the sixth century, it was confiscated by a community of Benedictine monks, and between 1215 and 1270, the building served as the headquarters of the Commune of Assisi; it later became a prison.

Returning to use as a Christian place of worship by the mid-16th century, the temple was restored by Pope Paul III and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, after which it was transferred to the community of Franciscan monks. Today, the original Corinthian columns and the portico of the temple create the facade of the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (literally 'Basilica of Saint Mary over Minerva'), which was built in 1539. The interior was completely updated - it is done in the Baroque style by local architect Giacomo Giorgetti a century later.

Address: Temple of Minerva, Piazza del Comune, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

The Roman Forum is a relatively new attraction in Assisi. Entrance to the forum is through the Romanesque crypt of the church and leads into an ancient Roman street. Here you will find Roman capitals, sarcophagi, and other ancient artifacts. Among the excavations, you can see the foundations of a temple, a large cistern, fountains, and statues. The excavations and artifacts are complemented by video presentations.

Address: Roman Forum and Archaeological Museum, Via Portica, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Piazza del Comune is the main square of the city. It was just like this in Roman times when there was a forum in this location. Along one side of the square are the Temple of Minerva and the 47-meter-tall Torre del Popolo built in 1303.

It was constructed to house the family of the Captain of the People, whose residence was in the Palace of the Captain of the People. This building, which also served as the residence of local government, dates back to the second half of the 13th century.

In 1926, it underwent significant restoration, during which the interior was decorated with paintings depicting medieval crafts. At the other end of Piazza del Comune is a fountain with stone lions. This square remains the 'heart' of local life, with shops and cafes along the neighboring streets.

Address: Piazza del Comune, Piazza del Comune, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

About five kilometers south of the city center is the site of the first Franciscan community. Here you can see the rough stone shelters where the first followers lived and worshipped in the early 1200s.

This church-sanctuary was built over the remaining shelters, where you can see the table used by Saint Clare and other artifacts of that time. The modest and primitive setting reflects the principles of simplicity adopted by Saint Francis and his followers. If you walk from Assisi, be sure to keep an eye on the time, as the church is part of the Franciscan community and is only open at specific hours.

Address: Santuario del Sacro Tugurio di Rivotorto, Via del Sacro Tugurio, Rivotorto, Perugia, Italy.

Despite its modest white facade, surrounded by four simple Doric pilasters, Chiesa Nuova, or New Church, is one of the most historically significant churches in Assisi, founded on the site of the house of Saint Francis and the place of his birth.

The church has stood on this site since the 14th century, but the present structure dates back to the early 17th century when it was recreated under the patronage of King Philip III of Spain.

Since then, this church has become an important pilgrimage site. The most notable features of the Renaissance-style Chiesa Nuova are the colorful frescoes by Cesare Sermei and Giacomo Giorgetti that decorate the interior of the church, as well as the adjoining museum and library, which provide deeper insights into the unique history of this place.

Address: Chiesa Nuova, Piazza Chiesa Nuova, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

On the edge of the hill to the northwest stands a Franciscan monastery founded shortly after the death of Francis. By 1230, monks were already living there, but the construction of such a large building took so long that it reflects the styles of various eras.

As a result, the complex built near Mount Subasio combining pink and white stone exhibits both Romanesque and Gothic styles. The Romanesque bell tower was completed in 1239, and the courtyard and outer passage, which offer magnificent views, were renovated by Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484). The monastery features an art museum constructed from donations from pilgrims.

To the south of the monastery, behind the main entrance to the historic part of the city stands the Church of San Pietro, which boasts a beautiful doorway and three elegant rose windows. Massive columns divide its nave into three parts. Originally built as a Benedictine abbey shortly before 1029, it later adopted the Cluniac reform in the mid-12th century, before becoming Cistercian.

Address: Abbazia di San Pietro, Piazza San Pietro, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

The city collection of artworks is housed in Palazzo Vallemani, most of which come from decommissioned churches and monasteries in Assisi. The collections include a large group of medieval and Renaissance frescoes and paintings on wooden panels and canvases dating from the 14th to the 17th centuries.

Among the most important works are Giotto's 'Maestà' as well as paintings by Pietro Perugino, Puccio Capanna, Ottaviano Nelli, Andrea d'Assisi, and Niccolò di Liberatore. The collection titled 'Museum of Memory, Assisi 1943-1944' tells the story of 300 Jews saved from the Nazis by Franciscans.

Address: Pinacoteca Comunale Palazzo Vallemani, Via San Francesco, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.

Any tourist arriving in Assisi cannot miss the street named after the city's most famous saint. Via San Francesco takes pedestrians through attractions that tell the fascinating history of Assisi.

On this street stands Palazzo Giacometti, a palace dating back to the 17th century, which features several interesting manuscripts, such as the Bible of Saint Louis of Toulouse with wonderfully designed miniatures and the earliest example of Italian literature - 'The Canticle of the Creatures' by Saint Francis. At the Pilgrims' Oratory, you can admire impressive frescoes and Italian art and medieval architecture.

Address: Via San Francesco, Assisi, Perugia, Italy.