Assisi 
is a very characteristic city located just a few kilometres from Perugia; for years it has been a pilgrimage destination thanks to the man who made it famous: Saint Francis.
There are many things to see in Assisi, most of which are related to religious worship, but you can also admire some real works of architecture. The whole city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is because, for those who love Assisi and want to discover it, they will realise that there are different facets and different faces of this place that are not only about St. Francis but also about a medieval, romantic city and ancient relations with the Roman Empire.
Moreover, since we are talking about Umbria, we are also talking about a rich gastronomic heritage to which you should definitely dedicate some time.
Through this guide, we will help you discover Assisi at 360°, starting with what to visit and where to take refuge to taste something good and typical.
The Basilica of St Francis
Obviously, the first thing to see once you arrive in Assisi is the Basilica of St Francis built in 1228. It is a structure composed of two churches: the Upper and the Lower; the church is located high up on a hill and overlooks the entire city.
Attached to the church is also the sepulchre where the Saint’s remains are kept, brought there by his successor and guarded with great care. Over the centuries, the Basilica became very important, not only because it was dedicated to St Francis but also because it was the place where great artists such as Giotto and Cimabue grew up.
Visits to the structure can be made independently, since an audio guide is provided, or with guided tours that can be booked both online and at various points in the town.
The Basilica of Santa Chiara
The Basilica of St Clare is dedicated to a young girl from a noble family named Clare who, at the age of 18, decided to leave everything she had to follow St Francis; to her we owe the birth of the order of the Poor Clares.
The structure is in the Umbrian Gothic style and is easily recognisable by its particular red colour due to the material that was used during construction: red stone from the quarries of Monte Subasio. On the outside one can admire three large buttresses in the form of arches, internally it is divided into three naves.
Many relics are preserved here, one of the most important being the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis and led him to pursue his new life as a preacher; the crypt houses the body of St. Clare preserved inside a sarcophagus. Access to the structure is free and can be visited independently.
Very characteristic is the view that can be admired from the square in front of the Basilica that allows one to observe the Perugia valley.
The Cathedral of San Rufino
The main ecclesiastical site in Assisi, contrary to popular belief, is not the Basilica of St Francis but the Cathedral of San Rufino .
The cathedral built in the 12th century was dedicated to Saint Rufinus, a 3rd century bishop and martyr, and is the oldest in Assisi. The cathedral stands where the ancient Roman Forum was and in the same place where there was a temple dedicated to the Bona Mater.
It is believed that St Clare and St Francis were baptised here, and the Saint also preached his first sermon here. The façade is the finest example of Gothic-Umbrian style, with three rose windows and three portals, the lunette also houses Christ Enthroned between the sun and the moon, the Madonna breastfeeding on the left and St Rufinus on the right. Inside the cathedral is a crypt that houses a small museum with artefacts found in Assisi and the first sarcophagus that held the saint’s remains.