Assisi Small Group Walking Tour: Basilica of St. Francis, St. Rufino Cathedral & St. Clare Basilica
by Umbria con Me
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€120Overview
This small group walking tour in Assisi lasts about two and a half hours and includes entrance fees and an official English-speaking guide. The tour starts at 10:30am, meeting the guide near the old Roman amphitheater. The amphitheater was repurposed in the Middle Ages as a quarry for local houses and later formed a private neighborhood. From there, the group enjoys views of the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle. The route continues through narrow alleys and medieval squares to Saint Rufino’s Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Clare. At the main city square, Piazza del Comune, the tour visits Minerva's temple, one of Italy’s best-preserved Roman temples, surrounded by medieval government buildings. The tour then proceeds to the Basilica of Saint Francis, known for 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by renowned Italian painters including Giotto. Inside the Basilica of Saint Francis, the lower church is somber and quiet, while the upper church features a Gothic style with French influences, a nave with four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal apse and transept. The guide explains the basilica’s history, noting it was built starting in 1228 as a place to house the saint’s remains. Visitors can enter the basilica independently if guided tours are suspended due to the exposition of the saint’s remains between February 15 and April 6, 2026. Additional stops include a 15-minute visit to the Basilica of St. Clare, built with pink stone from Mount Subasio and housing frescoes from the 12th to 14th centuries, and a 15-minute stop at Chiesa Nuova, constructed in 1615 on the presumed birthplace of St. Francis. The tour also passes the Temple of Minerva, now the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century. Dress code rules require knees and shoulders to be covered for all visitors to places of worship and selected museums. On Sundays, major Catholic holidays, national holidays, and October 3rd and 4th, guided tours inside the Basilica of St. Francis are not allowed; the guide will explain from outside, after which visitors enter on their own. The basilica is closed on October 4th.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Assisi
Meet the guide at 10:30am and visit the old Roman amphitheater, which was used as a stone quarry in the Middle Ages and later became a private neighborhood. Enjoy views of the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle. Walk through narrow alleys and medieval squares to reach Saint Rufino’s Cathedral and Saint Clare's Basilica. Proceed to Piazza del Comune to see Minerva's temple, a well-preserved Roman temple surrounded by medieval government buildings. The tour ends at the Basilica of Saint Francis, noted for its 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by Italian painters including Giotto.
Basilica di Santa Chiara
Spend about 15 minutes at the Basilica of St. Clare, built with pink stone from the Subasio mountain quarry. The basilica contains frescoes from the 12th to 14th centuries. In the chapel on the right side of the nave is the Crucifix that, according to tradition, inspired St. Francis to restore the Church of St. Damiano.
15 min
Chiesa Nuova
Visit the Chiesa Nuova, a church constructed in 1615 on the presumed birthplace of St. Francis, the house of Pietro di Bernardone. It was the newest church built in Assisi at the time.
15 min
Cattedrale di San Rufino
See the Cathedral of San Rufino, dedicated to Rufinus of Assisi, which is a major church in the town.
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Spend 15 minutes at the Temple of Minerva, an ancient Roman building now housing the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style during the 17th century.
15 min
Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi
Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, started in 1228 under Brother Elias to hold the saint’s remains. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a somber, dark lower basilica and an airy, bright upper church with Gothic French-influenced architecture, including a nave with four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept and apse.
30 min
Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi
The upper church of the Basilica of St. Francis is characterized by its Gothic style and French influences. It has a nave comprising four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept and apse that provide an open and bright interior.
30 min
Meeting point
Parking Matteotti is the last parking of Assisi at the top of the city. The big parking in front of the hotel NUN. The meeting point is in front of the park ticket office
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Assisi Small Group Walking Tour: Basilica of St. Francis, St. Rufino Cathedral & St. Clare Basilica
by Umbria con Me
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€120Overview
This small group walking tour in Assisi lasts about two and a half hours and includes entrance fees and an official English-speaking guide. The tour starts at 10:30am, meeting the guide near the old Roman amphitheater. The amphitheater was repurposed in the Middle Ages as a quarry for local houses and later formed a private neighborhood. From there, the group enjoys views of the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle. The route continues through narrow alleys and medieval squares to Saint Rufino’s Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Clare. At the main city square, Piazza del Comune, the tour visits Minerva's temple, one of Italy’s best-preserved Roman temples, surrounded by medieval government buildings. The tour then proceeds to the Basilica of Saint Francis, known for 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by renowned Italian painters including Giotto. Inside the Basilica of Saint Francis, the lower church is somber and quiet, while the upper church features a Gothic style with French influences, a nave with four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal apse and transept. The guide explains the basilica’s history, noting it was built starting in 1228 as a place to house the saint’s remains. Visitors can enter the basilica independently if guided tours are suspended due to the exposition of the saint’s remains between February 15 and April 6, 2026. Additional stops include a 15-minute visit to the Basilica of St. Clare, built with pink stone from Mount Subasio and housing frescoes from the 12th to 14th centuries, and a 15-minute stop at Chiesa Nuova, constructed in 1615 on the presumed birthplace of St. Francis. The tour also passes the Temple of Minerva, now the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century. Dress code rules require knees and shoulders to be covered for all visitors to places of worship and selected museums. On Sundays, major Catholic holidays, national holidays, and October 3rd and 4th, guided tours inside the Basilica of St. Francis are not allowed; the guide will explain from outside, after which visitors enter on their own. The basilica is closed on October 4th.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Assisi
Meet the guide at 10:30am and visit the old Roman amphitheater, which was used as a stone quarry in the Middle Ages and later became a private neighborhood. Enjoy views of the Rocca Maggiore medieval castle. Walk through narrow alleys and medieval squares to reach Saint Rufino’s Cathedral and Saint Clare's Basilica. Proceed to Piazza del Comune to see Minerva's temple, a well-preserved Roman temple surrounded by medieval government buildings. The tour ends at the Basilica of Saint Francis, noted for its 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by Italian painters including Giotto.
Basilica di Santa Chiara
Spend about 15 minutes at the Basilica of St. Clare, built with pink stone from the Subasio mountain quarry. The basilica contains frescoes from the 12th to 14th centuries. In the chapel on the right side of the nave is the Crucifix that, according to tradition, inspired St. Francis to restore the Church of St. Damiano.
15 min
Chiesa Nuova
Visit the Chiesa Nuova, a church constructed in 1615 on the presumed birthplace of St. Francis, the house of Pietro di Bernardone. It was the newest church built in Assisi at the time.
15 min
Cattedrale di San Rufino
See the Cathedral of San Rufino, dedicated to Rufinus of Assisi, which is a major church in the town.
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Spend 15 minutes at the Temple of Minerva, an ancient Roman building now housing the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in 1539 and renovated in Baroque style during the 17th century.
15 min
Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi
Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, started in 1228 under Brother Elias to hold the saint’s remains. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a somber, dark lower basilica and an airy, bright upper church with Gothic French-influenced architecture, including a nave with four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept and apse.
30 min
Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi
The upper church of the Basilica of St. Francis is characterized by its Gothic style and French influences. It has a nave comprising four bays, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept and apse that provide an open and bright interior.
30 min
Meeting point
Parking Matteotti is the last parking of Assisi at the top of the city. The big parking in front of the hotel NUN. The meeting point is in front of the park ticket office
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.