Assisi in Umbria, Italy

The “old town” of Assisi is not very large and can easily be explored on foot. The Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscan Order. As the burial place of St. Francis, the basilica is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Italy. The basilica is built into the side of a hill and comprises the Upper Church and the Lower Church, and a crypt where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi are interred. The interior of the Upper Church is important as an early example of the Gothic style in Italy. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by numerous late mediaeval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools, and include works by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and possibly Pietro Cavallini.

The Basilica of St. Francis, completed in 1253, is only one of many beautiful churches in Assisi. The cathedral of San Rufino, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, and the Chiesa Nuova are all worth a visit, as is the Rocca (castle) above the town. The old town of Assisi is extremely pleasant and its cobbled streets are well worth exploring in a leisurely manner.

Worth an extended visit. More about Assisi.