It's easy to see how Assisi could have inspired St. Francis's rejection of worldly goods for a life of poverty and prayer—this hillside town glows with a simple, profound, and moving beauty. As the birthplace of the saint, it has been attracting pilgrims for nearly a millennium and is thus well-adjusted to its role as a tourist destination. Fortunately, Francis's spirit has kept the souvenir schlock and wax museums away from his hometown, letting serene Assisi remain filled with a lot of long, pretty streets and a heck of a lot of churches. It's a relatively small town that can be seen in a daytrip, but it is also unhurried and elegant. If possible, take your time and spend a night here so that you can stroll the ancient streets while the sunset dances on the stone. Listen carefully, and you might hear the whispers of the olive trees, grape vines, and oaks below—who says communing with nature is just a saintly thing?
Stazione Ferroviaria is near Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. (P. Dante Alighieri☎ 075 80 40 272 i Tickets available at the ticket office, station bar, automated machines, and in Assisi ...more
Towering above the city to the north, the Rocca Maggiore can help orient those lost among Assisi’s winding streets. The bus from the train station stops first at Piazza Unità d’Italia; get off here ...more
Reservations are crucial around Easter and Christmas and strongly recommended for the Festa di Calendimaggio. If you don’t mind an 11pm curfew, ask the tourist office for a list of religious ...more
Pasticceria Santa Monica, V. Portica 4, right off P. del Comune, sells delectables native to Assisi. Mouth-watering torrone (a sweet nougat of almonds and egg whites; €4.00 per 100g) and the divine brustengoli ...more
The city itself is officially a sight—in 2000 Assisi was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There's no real need to point out any one street or piazza when they're all enchantingly beautiful, ...more
Assisi’s ecclesiastical enthusiasm is contagious during church holidays, as all of Assisi’s religious festivals are steeped in tradition. Holy Week commences on Palm Sunday with elaborate services ...more
To experience the spiritual tranquility known to St. Francis, embark on the intense, but rewarding 1hr. hike up Monte Subasio, revealing the forested sanctuary of Eremo delle Carceri (EH-re-mo DE-leh CAR-che-ree) ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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