What to do in Assisi in a day: the Basilica of St Francis and the town
An 8-hour itinerary in Assisi from Borgo Santa Maria (1h15 by car): the Basilica of St Francis with Giotto's frescoes, the Temple of Minerva, the Rocca Maggiore, lunch in the old town and the Eremo delle Carceri.
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Assisi in a day starts at the Basilica of St Francis (1h30) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 — with the Lower Basilica decorated by the masters of the fourteenth century and the Upper Basilica holding Giotto’s celebrated fresco cycle on the life of St Francis. Lunch in the old town (€25-40 per person). In the afternoon: the Temple of Minerva, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the Rocca Maggiore for the view and — if there is energy left — the Eremo delle Carceri in the woods above the town. Distance from Borgo Santa Maria: 85 km, 1h15 by car.
Suggested itinerary (8 hours)
| Time | Stop | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 | Basilica of St Francis (Lower and Upper) | 1h30 | free (donation welcome) |
| 11:15 | Piazza del Comune and the Temple of Minerva | 30 min | free |
| 11:45 | Basilica of Santa Chiara | 30 min | free |
| 12:30 | Lunch · La Locanda del Cardinale | 1h30 | €32 |
| 14:30 | Rocca Maggiore (360° view) | 1h | €6 |
| 16:00 | Eremo delle Carceri (drive plus woodland) | 1h30 | free |
| 17:45 | Coffee in the centre · Piazza del Comune | 1h | €6 |
Getting there from the hamlet
From Borgo Santa Maria to Assisi: 85 km, 1h15 by car. The route: the SS71 to Perugia, then the SS75 dual carriageway towards Foligno as far as the Assisi exit. Recommended parking: Parcheggio Matteotti (€1.30/hour, with covered escalators up to Piazza San Rufino, 5 minutes from the centre) or Parcheggio Porta Nuova (€1/hour, near Santa Chiara).
The Basilica of St Francis — what to look for in the frescoes
The Upper Basilica holds Giotto’s cycle of the Life of St Francis (28 scenes, 1290-1295). The scenes not to miss:
- “The dream of his father” (scene 2) — Giotto’s technical revolution: perspectival space, real volumes
- “The sermon to the birds” (scene 15) — the most iconic moment, reproduced on every piece of Italian merchandise
- “The stigmata” (scene 19) — the rays coming from the seraphic Christ, sacred geometry
The Lower Basilica holds frescoes by Cimabue (Madonna and Child with St Francis), Simone Martini (stained glass) and Pietro Lorenzetti (the Passion). No photography inside: just look, and remember.
Dress: arms and knees covered. Opening hours: 8:30-18:30, free entry with a donation suggested (€2-5).
Where to eat in Assisi
| Place | Kitchen | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Locanda del Cardinale | Umbrian fine dining | €40-60 | Built over a first-century Roman domus |
| Trattoria Pallotta | Traditional Umbrian | €25-35 | Open since 1925, with a view over the roofs |
| Osteria del Borgo | Modern Umbrian | €30-40 | Strangozzi with black truffle |
| Bibenda Assisi | Gastronomic wine bar | €20-30 | For a quick lunch with wine by the glass |
Always book, especially at weekends.
Events worth planning around
- Calendimaggio (early May): three days of medieval re-enactment, flag-throwers and processions. The whole town in costume.
- Feast of St Francis (3-4 October): a national ceremony, hosted each year by a different Italian region, with evening torchlight processions.
- Festa del Perdono d’Assisi (1-2 August): the historic pilgrimage to the Porziuncola.
Around Assisi
- Spello (15 km): a medieval town famous for the Infiorate del Corpus Domini (June) — carpets of fresh petals laid along the streets
- Bevagna (25 km): the town of “medieval crafts”; in June the Mercato delle Gaite fills it with artisans in costume
- Montefalco (35 km): the “balcony of Umbria”, with a view over the whole valley. Famous for Sagrantino DOCG wine
When to go
- Spring (Apr-May) and autumn (Sep-Oct): the best moment. Mild weather, fewer visitors than in summer.
- Winter: Assisi under snow is poetry. Hotels at half price. Some museums close in the afternoon.
- Summer: intense heat in July and August. Visit the Basilica early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
In the evening, back at the hamlet
After a dense day, the drive back to the hamlet (1h15) leaves you time for a slow dinner under the pergola and a swim if the season allows. The houses that suit people planning intense days out are Loggia (8 guests) and Terrazza (whose large terracotta terrace is made for an evening aperitivo).