The city of Assisi in 2000 it received the recognition of Unesco cultural heritage. Rich in art and history, the city in the province of Perugia has its symbolic monument in the basilica named after the so-called "poor man", the founding friar of the Franciscan order.
Famous in the world for being the birthplace of San Francesco and Santa Chiara, Assisi is one of the most visited cities in Umbria
Built in 1230, four years after the saint's death, the basilica is made up of several structures. The lower one, the upper one and the crypt with the tomb of the Saint who has made fraternity, humility and poverty its distinctive features.
In addition to the architectural value, the complex attracts tourists and pilgrims for the presence of the pictorial masterpieces of Cimabue, Simone Martini and Giotto. Work of the latter, the famous frescoes that tell, in 28 paintings, the life of Francis.
What to visit. A touristic and cultural itinerary in the city of Assisi
Another symbolic building of the city of Assisi to visit is the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Piazza Porziuncola. Place where St. Francis died and which deserves a visit as well as the Basilica dedicated to Santa Chiara, the young woman who left home at 18 to follow Francis and then found the Order of the Poor Clares.
But in Assisi there are not only Franciscan buildings. The city boasts another unmissable wonder: the Rocca Maggiore, imposing medieval fortress built in 1365 by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz. It dominates the surrounding valley and offers visitors a unique panoramic view.
Along the horse trail of the Saint
A horseback ride that touches Gubbio, Valfabbrica, Nocera Umbra and Assisi, stopping in the symbolic places of San Francesco.
Recently inaugurated, the slow horse trail, in the footsteps of the "poor man", it winds for about 50 km and provides service and refreshment points for horses and riders.
If you consider Assisi as your arrival point, you can start either from the North (from the Sanctuary of La Verna in Tuscany, passing through Gubbio and Valfabbrica), and from the South, starting the journey from Rome.
Typical Umbrian cuisine: new oil, truffles & C.
Umbrian cuisine is simple where extra virgin olive oil stands out among the typical products. During the pressing period, you can take advantage of the Open Frantoi event, which includes tastings and various events in the most renowned oil mills of the entire Region, including those of Assisi.
Another typical product is the black truffle, used to season both first and second courses. Among the most valuable variants is the white one, which is the protagonist of the national white truffle market exhibition held in Gubbio at the end of October.
