Overview
Assisi is one of the most fascinating historical centres in central Italy, a small pearl of art and culture nestled on the slopes of Mount Subasio. This small town in Umbria, the birthplace of St Francis and St Clare, is visited every year by thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.
One of the most fascinating and well-known places in Assisi is undoubtedly the great Basilica of St Francis, the place where the Saint's remains are kept. The complex is divided into two distinct structures, the Lower and Upper Basilica, and should be visited unhurriedly to fully appreciate the decorations, altars, crypts and unique views of the surrounding landscape. Other symbols of Assisi not to be missed are the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the San Rufino Cathedral, with an elegant rose window on the main façade and an interior rich in skilfully decorated altars.
But the charm of Assisi goes beyond spirituality. Strolling through the streets of the city is like taking a journey back in time among 13th-century buildings, such as the striking Piazza del Comune dominated by the magnificent Rocca Maggiore and embellished by the 16th-century fountain of the three lions. But there are also more ancient attractions, such as the Temple of Minerva dating back to the 1st century BC.
