Assisi
Saint Francis, Saint Clare and Carlo Acutis
Why this destination matters
Assisi is the home of Saint Francis (1181/82-1226), founder of the Franciscan Order and one of the most beloved saints of Western Christianity. He received the Stigmata at La Verna on 14 September 1224 and died at the Porziuncola on 3 October 1226. He was canonised on 16 July 1228 by Pope Gregory IX - one of the fastest canonisations in Church history.
The Basilica Papale di San Francesco was begun the year after his canonisation. The Upper Church holds Giotto's 28-scene Life of Saint Francis cycle (c. 1297-1300), one of the foundational works of Western art. The Lower Church preserves Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti frescoes. The crypt contains the tomb of Saint Francis, rediscovered in 1818 after centuries of secrecy. UNESCO inscribed Assisi in 2000.
Saint Clare (1194-1253), Francis's spiritual sister and foundress of the Poor Clares, lies in the Basilica di Santa Chiara, alongside the original San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to Francis. The Porziuncola - the tiny chapel where Francis founded the Order and died - is enshrined inside the giant Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the valley below. Carlo Acutis, canonised in 2025 as the patron of the digital age, is entombed at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation in Assisi - his shrine has driven massive recent pilgrim traffic.
Key sites to visit
Basilica Papale di San Francesco
Upper Church with Giotto's Life of Saint Francis cycle. Lower Church with Cimabue, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti. Crypt with tomb of Saint Francis (rediscovered 1818).
Basilica di Santa Chiara
Body of Saint Clare; original San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to Francis.
San Damiano
Small church 2 km below Assisi where Francis heard the call 'Rebuild my Church'. Saint Clare's community lived here for decades.
Porziuncola (Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli)
The tiny chapel where Francis founded the Order, enshrined inside a giant 16th-century basilica in the valley. The Cappella del Transito marks where Francis died (3 October 1226). Pardon of Assisi 1-2 August - plenary indulgence.
Eremo delle Carceri
Francis's hermitage retreat in the woods above Assisi (4 km uphill). Quiet, atmospheric, free.
Cathedral of San Rufino
Where Francis and Clare were both baptised. 12th-century Romanesque facade.
Rocca Maggiore
14th-century hilltop castle with sweeping views of the Umbrian valley.
Shrine of the Renunciation (Carlo Acutis)
Tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis (canonised 2025) in the Santuario della Spogliazione.
Best time to visit
April-June and September-October. 3-4 October for the Transitus and patronal feast (Saint Francis is the patron of Italy).
Key feast days
- 3-4 October - Transitus and Solemnity of Saint Francis
- 11 August - Saint Clare
- 1-2 August - Pardon of Assisi
- 12 October - Saint Carlo Acutis (since 2025)
How to get there
Perugia Sant'Egidio (PEG) airport 18 km; Rome Fiumicino (FCO) ~2.5 hours by train. Assisi station is 5 km from the historic centre - shuttle bus connects.
Where to stay
Inside the walls for atmosphere (Hotel Subasio, Le Dimore di San Crispino). Below the walls for cheaper rates and easy parking.
Tours and experiences
Half-day Assisi walks combine San Francesco, Santa Chiara, San Rufino and the Carlo Acutis shrine. Full day adds San Damiano, Porziuncola and Eremo delle Carceri.
Practical information
- Hours
- Basilica of San Francesco 06:00-19:00 (Upper) / 06:00-19:00 (Lower). Santa Chiara 06:30-19:00.
- Fees
- All churches free. Donations welcome.
- Dress code
- Strict - shoulders and knees covered. No shorts in the basilicas.
- Accessibility
- Assisi is steep and cobblestoned but both major basilicas have accessibility provisions. The Eremo delle Carceri requires a climb.
Pilgrim tips
đĄ Practical advice for pilgrims
- Saint Francis died on 3 October 1226 â the 800th anniversary in 2026 makes Assisi the major Catholic pilgrimage destination of the year. The Year of Saint Francis events run throughout 2026, with the principal feast 3-4 October 2026 hosting international gatherings.
- The Basilica of Saint Francis is two churches stacked: the Lower Basilica (1228, with Cimabue and Giotto frescoes), and the Upper Basilica (1253, with the famous Giotto cycle of the Saint Francis Legend). The Crypt of Saint Francis (where the saint's tomb is) is on the lower-lower level.
- Carlo Acutis was canonised on 7 September 2025 at Assisi by Pope Leo XIV â the first millennial saint. His tomb is at the Shrine of the Renunciation (Santuario della Spogliazione) near the Cathedral of San Rufino. Bring teenage and young adult pilgrims here.
- The Porziuncola (Saint Mary of the Angels, the tiny 9th-century chapel where Francis founded the Franciscan Order) is enclosed within the much larger 16th-century Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli â 4 km below Assisi, on the plain. Indulgence available 1-2 August (Porziuncola Indulgence) and All Souls' Day.
- Saint Clare's basilica (Basilica di Santa Chiara) holds the original San Damiano Crucifix (the cross that spoke to Francis 'Rebuild my Church'). Clare's incorrupt body lies in the crypt. The Poor Clares of Assisi still celebrate the daily Office here.
- Climb to the Rocca Maggiore (the medieval fortress above Assisi) at sunset for the great panoramic view over the Spoleto valley â the landscape Francis knew when composing the Canticle of the Creatures.
- Walk down to the Hermitage of the Carceri (4 km uphill from Assisi, in the forest) â the cave where Francis retreated for prayer. The 90-minute walk through the Subasio woods is itself a meditation. The site is austere and largely silent.
Did you know?
âšī¸ Fascinating facts
- Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) is one of the two saints (with Catherine of Siena) declared co-patron of Italy. His name has been taken by more popes than any other (Pope Francis 2013, the first; before him no pope had taken the name in 800 years of papal history).
- The Stigmata â the wounds of Christ's Passion â appeared on Francis's body at La Verna in September 1224. The full traditional Catholic doctrine on the Stigmata regards Francis's experience as the first authenticated case in Christian history. His body was found bearing the wounds at his death two years later.
- Giotto's 28-panel fresco cycle in the Upper Basilica (painted c. 1297-1300) is one of the foundational works of Western art â the moment when European painting moved from Byzantine flatness to naturalistic space, perspective and emotion. Pre-Renaissance becomes Renaissance in these panels.
- Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), the millennial saint canonised in 2025, was a London-born Italian teenager who used his computer skills to catalogue Eucharistic miracles before dying of leukaemia aged 15. His incorrupt body is on display at Assisi wearing his Nike trainers and tracksuit â the most popular new pilgrimage site of the 21st century.
Biblical references
- Matthew 19:21 â âIf you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess, and give to the poor - the passage that drove Francis to renounce his inheritance.â
- Galatians 6:14 â âBut God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ - inscribed at the tomb of Saint Francis.â
Suggested reading before you go
| Title / Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Saint Francis of Assisi (G. K. Chesterton) | The classic short biography. Chesterton's prose is dazzling and the spiritual portrait is unforgettable. 150 pages, perfect plane reading. |
| The Little Flowers of Saint Francis (Fioretti, 14th century) | The medieval Italian collection of Franciscan stories and miracles. Read selectively before arrival â the stories are the imaginative substrate of every Assisi visit. |
| Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial Saint (Nicola Gori) | The official biography of Carlo Acutis, with a foreword by his mother. Essential context for the Shrine of the Renunciation visit. |
Featured on these routes
- Marian Pilgrimage â Ephesus, Nazareth, Rome - the great Marian shrines
Frequently asked questions
Names in other languages
| Italian | Assisi |
|---|---|
| German | Assisi |
| Russian | Assizi |
| French | Assise |
| Greek | Asizi |