Assisi — the pink-stone hilltop town of St. Francis — is one of Italy's most spiritual and visually stunning places. Perched on Mount Subasio in the green heart of Umbria, this medieval town draws pilgrims and art lovers alike with its magnificent Basilica, Giotto's revolutionary frescoes, and an atmosphere of peace that seems to settle on the town like morning mist over the Umbrian valley below.
Getting to Assisi
By train: Assisi station is in the valley below (regular bus or taxi to hilltop town, 15 min). Direct trains from Rome (2 hours), Florence (2.5 hours), Perugia (20 min). By car: Central Italy — an easy detour between Rome and Florence, just off the E45 highway.
Basilica di San Francesco — Giotto's Masterpiece
The Basilica of St. Francis is one of the most important churches in Christianity and one of the greatest galleries of medieval art. The Upper Basilica contains Giotto's legendary cycle of 28 frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis (c. 1297-1300) — these paintings revolutionised Western art, introducing emotion, naturalism, and storytelling that paved the way for the Renaissance. The Lower Basilica houses works by Cimabue, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti, plus the crypt containing Francis's tomb.
Entry: Free (dress code enforced). No photography in the Lower Basilica. Allow 1-2 hours. Arrive early morning for the most contemplative experience.
Walking the Medieval Streets
Assisi's charm is in its quiet medieval streets — Piazza del Comune with the 1st-century Roman Temple of Minerva (its columns still standing after 2,000 years), the Rocca Maggiore fortress above the town (panoramic views of the entire Umbrian valley), and the Basilica di Santa Chiara (St. Clare, founder of the Poor Clares).
Umbria — Italy's Green Heart
Assisi sits at the centre of Umbria — the only Italian region that borders neither sea nor another country. Known as the "green heart of Italy," it offers:
- Perugia — Umbria's capital, a vibrant university city with the famous Perugina chocolate factory and Europe's largest jazz festival
- Spoleto — stunning medieval town with a Roman aqueduct bridge and the prestigious Festival dei Due Mondi arts festival
- Orvieto — perched on a volcanic cliff, with a cathedral facade that is one of Italy's finest Gothic masterpieces
- Norcia — the truffle capital of Italy, birthplace of St. Benedict, and starting point for wild mountain hikes in the Monti Sibillini
Practical Tips
- Best time: Spring (wildflowers on Monte Subasio) or autumn (harvest, fewer crowds)
- Food: Black truffles, strangozzi pasta, lentils from Castelluccio, Sagrantino wine from Montefalco
- Pace of Francis: Walk the 2-km Bosco di San Francesco (St. Francis's Wood) — a peaceful woodland path below the Basilica
- Day from Rome: Perfectly doable as a day trip (2 hours each way), but an overnight stay reveals Assisi's magic at dawn and dusk
Bring Assisi Home
The pink stone walls, the frescoed Basilica, the green Umbrian valley — Assisi radiates a peace that stays with you long after you leave. Our MemBoards souvenir cutting boards capture the spiritual beauty of Italy's most tranquil town.