Things to do in  Assisi

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.

Head 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.

Assisi 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.

Assisi 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.

Most 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.

No, 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.