Franciscan Itinerary in Assisi

A Franciscan Itinerary in the Heart of Assisi

Walking through Assisi means journeying through a city that has preserved its medieval charm almost intact. Its stone streets tell the story of Saint Francis, but also that of Saint Clare, the birth of the Franciscan movement, and a spirituality that continues to draw visitors from across the globe.

This walking itinerary crosses some of the most significant sites in the historic center, following the traces of Francis’s life and the moments that marked his radical choice of faith.

1. Basilica of Saint Clare and the Crucifix of San Damiano

The itinerary begins at the Basilica of Saint Clare (Santa Chiara), easily recognizable by its striking pink stone façade from Mount Subasio.

Inside is the famous Crucifix of San Damiano, the icon before which a young Francis prayed and from which, according to tradition, he received the call to "repair my Church." This episode symbolically marks the beginning of his conversion.

The Basilica also houses the tomb of Saint Clare, the founder of the Order of Poor Clares.

2. San Francesco Piccolino: The Memory of His Birth

Winding through the narrow streets of the center, you reach San Francesco Piccolino, a small chapel identified by tradition as the birthplace of Francis.

The name means "Little Francis" and recalls his childhood as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone. This quiet corner highlights the contrast between the wealthy life into which he was born and the radical choice of poverty he would make years later.

3. Chiesa Nuova and the Bernardone Family Home

A few steps away is Chiesa Nuova, built in the 17th century over what was once the Bernardone family residence.

Inside, you can still see spaces related to Francis’s domestic life, including the place where the famous conflict with his father occurred when he chose to abandon his riches to follow the Gospel.

4. Piazza del Comune: The Civic Heart

The path continues to Piazza del Comune, the city's main square and long-standing center of civic life.

Dominated by the ancient Roman Temple of Minerva (now a church), the square was a hub for public meetings and trade during the Middle Ages—a place Francis frequented in his youth before his conversion.

5. Sanctuary of the Spoliation and the Tomb of Carlo Acutis

Nearby is the Sanctuary of the Spoliation (Santuario della Spogliazione).

This is where Francis performed the life-changing gesture of returning his clothes and all material goods to his father in front of the Bishop, choosing a life of total poverty.

The sanctuary also houses the tomb of the Blessed Carlo Acutis, a destination for pilgrims and young people from all over the world.

6. Basilica of Saint Francis: The Symbol of Franciscanism

Descending toward the western part of the city, you reach the Basilica of Saint Francis, one of Christianity’s most important shrines.

The complex, consisting of two superimposed basilicas, holds the Saint’s tomb and the world-renowned fresco cycles by Giotto and his school, which depict the most significant episodes of Francis's life.

7. Cathedral of San Rufino

The itinerary concludes at the Cathedral of San Rufino, where both Francis and Clare were baptized

It was here that both Francis and Clare were baptized, and where the young Francis listened to the sermons that contributed to his conversion. The Romanesque façade, among the most beautiful in Umbria, tells the long religious history of Assisi that dates back well before the arrival of the Saint.

A Journey Through History and Spirituality

This route through Assisi’s historic center covers the most significant landmarks of Saint Francis’s life in just a few stops. It is an ideal itinerary for first-time visitors or those wishing to draw closer, step by step, to a message that has continued to speak to the world for over eight centuries.

An ideal itinerary for first-time visitors to Assisi and for those who wish to draw closer, step by step, to the figure of Francis and the message that has continued to speak to the world for over eight centuries.