Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Assisi
Saint Francis's hill town and Giotto's frescoes.
A pink-stone hill town on the slopes of Monte Subasio, home of Saint Francis, with Giotto's frescoed basilica, Roman ruins and quiet woodland paths to hermitages. Calm once the day pilgrims leave.
Places to see
- Basilica of Saint FrancisChurch · Two churches stacked on top of each other: the dim lower church with Francis's tomb, and…Free
Temple of MinervaChurch · The six-columned front of a Roman temple, almost complete, with a baroque church tucked…Free
Basilica of Saint ClareChurch · A pink-and-white striped church with big flying buttresses, holding the crucifix said to…Free
When to go
- Jan9° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Feb11° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 4°Some rainBusy
- Apr18° / 7°Some rainVery busy
- May23° / 11°Some rainBusy
- Jun27° / 15°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul30° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Aug30° / 17°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The old town. Piazza del Comune, the Roman temple and the lanes between the two basilicas.
San Francesco. The great basilica at the west end of town; pilgrims' guesthouses nearby.
Below the town. San Damiano among the olives and the town of Santa Maria degli Angeli by the station: cheaper beds.
Flying in
Rome Fiumicino (FCO): Train to Roma Termini, then a train to Assisi (often via Foligno), about 3 h, ≈ A$35.
Perugia (PEG): Taxi or a shuttle to Assisi, about 25 min, ≈ A$44. Few flights; check the shuttle times.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Assisi; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$3. The old town is steep but walkable. A bus links the station in Santa Maria degli Angeli with the old town (about €1.50, check).
Tourist tax
Assisi's tourist tax: usually about €1.50–2 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
