Hi friends, ciao amici! As I mentioned in the beginning of the year, I’m going to be writing on the blog more frequently in 2024. And what better way to start off 2024 posts than with a two day itinerary for Assisi! Here’s a few recommendations on what to see in Assisi if you’re only there for a weekend!
How to Get to Assisi
First things first, let’s reach Assisi! This beautiful medieval “borgo” is a little out of the way if you don’t have a car, but no worries: I don’t drive so I always find ways to get anywhere with public transit! If you’re adding Assisi to your Italy itinerary, I find that the best way to do so is by taking a train from Florence. There’s a regional train leaving from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station at almost every hour, and it takes you to the Assisi station in about two hours. Afterwards, you need to take the shuttle bus that takes you up to the proper borgo! It’s right in front of the station and costs 1.30€. Now that you’re in town, let’s start visiting Assisi!
Assisi, the Birthplace of St Francis
In case you didn’t know, Assisi is one of the most important destinations for Catholic travelers: it’s the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi (duh), who’s also one of the two patron saints of Italy! (The other one being Santa Caterina da Siena, representtt!). Therefore, a lot of the attractions and landmarks in Assisi are faith-related. If you’re not interested in that aspect, you’ll still find Assisi cool for reasons that I explain later in this post, but just know that you’ll get more out of your visit if you’re Catholic or have an interest in learning more about faith/the life of Saints!
There’s plenty of churches and religious landmarks to visit in Assisi, but since we’re keeping this itinerary relatively short I’ve narrowed it down to three:
St Francis Basilica
Make this your number one spot to visit. The Basilica of St. Francis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is likely the main testament to the profound religious significance of Assisi. This is where you can find St. Francis’s tomb, along with the original transcription of the Rule of St Francis: this is the rule that all Franciscan priests in the world swear to follow as they enter the order! As a Catholic woman who learned so much about St. Francis growing up, visiting his tomb felt surreal.
If you’re not religious, you can still marvel at the art and architecture of the basilica, with its double vaulted high ceilings and its awe-inspiring frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.
Temple of Minerva (Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva)
Please excuse the boomer selfie, we were excited. You really can’t miss this church, for two reasons: 1) it’s located right at the center of Piazza del Comune, which is the town square. 2) it looks like a Roman temple… and that’s because it is a Roman temple! It was originally dedicated to the Roman goddess Minerva, but later in the 9th century, due to the decline of classical paganism and a growing Christian influence, the temple was turned into a church and consecrated to St Mary. The juxtaposition is super interesting!
Assisi Cathedral (San Rufino)
Although visiting St Francis Basilica was an incredible experience, this Cathedral was probably my favorite church in Assisi: this is San Rufino, which is another special place for all followers of St Francis: this is where he (and Santa Chiara) first got baptized! The original baptismal font is still there which is super cool! Besides that, I loved the nighttime light decorations on the facade!
Assisi and Umbria’s Gastronomic Importance
This is of course my favorite part to highlight for any trip: the FOOD! There’s so much to say about Assisi and Umbria because this region is well known for several specialties! Truffle is notably the king of the region, but you’ll also find cured meats and local wine as central parts of every meal here. Olive oil is also produced in Umbria, and you should take some home because it’s delicious!
Here are the recommendations: let’s say you’ve got four meals. Two of them need to be sit down dinners, and you better order some wine, too! Start with Taverna Dei Consoli, located right in the Piazza del Comune. This was my favorite meal in assisi! I had an incredible truffle, cream and sausage pasta – with typical umbrian noodles called stringozzi.
After, you’ll need to check out Hostaria Terra Chiama: this modern-looking restaurant is well rooted in local traditions: you’ll be able to find all the typical dishes of Umbria on their menu. You should definitely start with a tagliere of their local meats and cheeses, because they are outstanding! Afterwards, I got a truffle pasta once again because you can’t pass up truffle when you’re in the land of tartufi!
When it comes to quick lunches, I have a spot for you that’s on-the-go, but inexpensive and delicious. I don’t know if it has an actual name as the awning just says “panini”, but it’s the sandwich kiosk of Il Fra Goloso, which is a small store selling local food specialties. The sandwiches here are stuffed with local salami, porchetta and prosciutto, plus a variety of condiments such as spicy or truffle sauces. The combo panino + glass of wine will only set you back 6.50€. Just to give you an idea of how good it was, David and I had lunch here twice on the same day! Not lunch and dinner. Two lunches.
The Medieval Borgo Aesthetic
I LOVE a good medieval borgo. To me, that feels very stereotypical Italy but in the best way possible. You’ve heard me throw this word around several times in this blog post: in case you didn’t know, a borgo is a small medieval fortified settlement, usually nestled atop a hill. Well, Assisi is the quintessential borgo!
The beautiful stone brick houses of Assisi, along with the well-preserved medieval buildings and the cobblestone streets make Assisi picture perfect!
Where to Stay in Assisi
Lastly, a quick note on where to stay (and this is not at all sponsored, I just really enjoyed our hotel!): we spent two nights at Hotel Giotto and loved it! It’s got beautiful rooms, a restaurant and a spa. Not to mention, the views on the Umbrian hills are amazing.
Only callout is that I would not recommend it if you have trouble walking uphill, as the hotel is located on a lower level compared to the central part of town. Besides that, it has everything you might need and more!
Well, there you have it! Your first guide for 2024. I hope to share a bunch of short guides this year especially of Italy, because I know y’all trust me with my Italy recommendations! Do you have any destination you’d like me to focus on? Leave them below!