Assisi is a small medieval town perched on a hill in Umbria, Italy. Famous as the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy’s patron saints, Assisi is of major religious, historical, and artistic significance. Gem and benchmark of the city is the imposing Basilica of St. Francis which is a grande 2-level church, consecrated in 1253. The church includes 13th-century frescoes of great artistic value, portraying the life of St. Francis that have been attributed to architects and painters Giotto and Cimabue, among others. The crypt houses the saint’s stone sarcophagus.
Pilgrims have been coming to Assisi, Italy since the 13th century to venerate St. Francis, who was born and buried here, yet you don’t have to be religious to enjoy this postcard-perfect town. Embraced by the rolling hills of Umbria and the verdant forests of Monte Subasio, Assisi is one of the best-preserved medieval towns that will take you for a majestic journey to the past.
Predictably enough due to its cultural wealth, Assisi belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is a place that has to display a plethora of art as well as historically significant buildings, like the Basilica di San Francesco, which attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims every year. The basilica, in particular, has such a collection of frescoes and paintings that can rival many art museums. According to the UN, The town has played a significant role in the diffusion of the Franciscan Order to this day. Its religious influence is reflected even in its sister towns: Assisi is twinned with Bethlehem and Santiago di Compostella, among others and is considered a global symbol of peace.
Umbria is a famous region of Central Italy crossed by the beautiful River Tiber. Well known for its old cathedral churches and beautiful villages. It is a less traveled region in Central Italy with many advantages over Tuscany. It is the smallest region in Italy and it doesn’t have a coastline or border with another country. It is an ideal country for those who want to experience Italian art, history, culture and cuisine.
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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