The Basilica of San Francesco is the reason most people come to Assisi, and it is one of the most important churches in Italy. Begun in 1228, two years after the death of Francis and only days after his canonization, it was built on a hillside called the Hill of Hell, renamed the Hill of Paradise, as a double church: a low, dim lower basilica around the saint's tomb and a tall, bright upper basilica above it. The complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000, together with the other Franciscan sites in Assisi, and it draws pilgrims and art lovers in roughly equal numbers. The art is the second great reason to visit. The upper church is decorated with a celebrated cycle of frescoes on the life of St Francis, traditionally attributed to Giotto and his workshop, though scholars still debate the attribution. The scenes, including the saint preaching to the birds, are among the founding images of Western painting for their human feeling and spatial clarity. The lower church holds works by Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti, and the crypt below contains the tomb of Francis, reached by a quiet passage where silence is requested.
A guided tour makes sense here because the basilica can overwhelm. Guides place the frescoes in the story of Francis's life, explain the iconography, and give context to the 1997 earthquake that damaged the upper church's vault and caused the loss of fragments that were painstakingly pieced back together. Tours of Assisi with the basilica typically add a walk through the medieval streets: the Piazza del Comune with its Roman Temple of Minerva, the Basilica of Santa Chiara with its pink-and-white stone and the original crucifix that is said to have spoken to Francis, and the cathedral of San Rufino.
Practical rules matter. The basilica is a working place of worship with a strict dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered, for men and women alike. Photography and talking are restricted inside, and bags go through security. Entry is free, but queues are common around midday, so arrive early or late, and avoid Sundays and religious festival days, especially the feast of St Francis on 4 October, when the town is packed with pilgrims.
Assisi is easy to reach from Perugia. Regional trains take around 20 to 25 minutes to Assisi station, where a bus or taxi climbs to the old town, and the walk from the parking at Porta Nuova is gentle. Allow half a day for the basilica and the center, or a full day if you add Santa Maria degli Angeli in the plain below, with the tiny Porziuncola chapel inside the great basilica, and the hermitage on the mountain. Calm, art and living pilgrimage meet here more fully than anywhere else in Umbria.
Think about the shape of the day. Many coach tours arrive between late morning and mid-afternoon, so a visit at opening time or in the last hours before closing feels completely different. If you are staying overnight, the basilica square at dusk is deeply peaceful, with swallows over the arcades and the stone turning rose. Audio guides and small-group tours help you decode the frescoes without trying to read every plaque, and a short pause on the lower church benches is the best way to absorb the atmosphere before climbing to the upper church.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tour of the upper and lower basilica, with the Giotto-attributed fresco cycle, the tomb of St Francis and a walk through the medieval streets of Assisi.
Best time
Early morning or late afternoon, outside Sundays and feast days. Midday queues are the longest.
How long
Three to four hours for the basilica and town; a full day with Santa Maria degli Angeli and the hermitage.
Tips
Cover shoulders and knees. Expect security checks and no photography inside. Arrive early or after 3pm to avoid peak groups.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and pilgrims; the central Umbrian experience.
- Families
- Children cope with a shorter visit; the streets and gelato balance the quiet church.
- Couples
- A quiet morning followed by lunch on a terrace overlooking the valley.
- Pair with
- Eremo delle Carceri, Santa Maria degli Angeli and Spello.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day.
Good questions
Is entry to the basilica free?+
Yes, the church is free to enter, though guided tours and audio guides are paid.
What is the dress code?+
Shoulders and knees must be covered for everyone.
Can I take photos inside?+
Photography is generally not allowed in the basilica. Follow the posted signs.
How do I get from Perugia to Assisi?+
Regional trains take about 20 to 25 minutes to Assisi station, followed by a bus or taxi up to the old town.
Who painted the frescoes?+
The upper church cycle is traditionally attributed to Giotto and his workshop, though scholars debate it. The lower church has works by Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti.