Assisi is one of the most famous and beloved medieval towns in the world. Naturally it owes its fame to St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy, yet it also offers many other monuments and attractions that are worth a visit during your next holiday in Umbria.
Naturally, the Basilica of St. Francis holds pride of place amongst the various attractions and the things to visit in Assisi. Built in the 13th century, it is composed of the Lower Church and the Upper Church and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both of the churches that make up the Basilica are perfect representations of Umbria Romanesque architecture, on the one hand, and French gothic on the other. Yet it is the interior fresco cycles in particular that make a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis truly extraordinary.
The life and divine grace of St. Francis of Assisi are inextricably lined to the life of St. Clare, to whom another Basilica was dedicated, built in gothic style immediately after her death, which closely resembles the almost contemporary upper basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The church contains important relics, such as the black veil, the under-tunic, sackcloth and a crucifix, as well as important items belonging to St. Francis.
After you have paid a visit to the most important spiritual centre of the town, it is only right that you also see the secular one also. That would be the Piazza del Comune, where an ancient Roman forum once stood. Here you can find important monuments, such as the Palazzo dei Priori, the Torre del Popolo (Tower of the People), the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, the Fountain of Three Lions and the Temple of Minerva.
If you are a photography enthusiast, you certainly cannot miss the view from the Rocca Maggiore, a fortress that looks over the citadel of Assisi and the Tescio valley. Built in the 12th century and subsequently partly destroyed during a popular uprising in the 14th century, the Rocca Maggiore di Assisi was rebuilt in 1356 in keeping with its former medieval layout.
