St. Francis' Assisi Walking Tour (Self Guided), Assisi

A holy city for Christians, Assisi has been an eternal destination of pilgrimage since the 13th century for those venerating Saint Francis and wanting to the see where he was born, worked, died and was buried. As the birthplace of one of Catholicism’s most revered saints (and one of Italy's two saintly patrons), Assisi holds religion very close to its heart.

The entire city-sanctuary – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 – basks in the coveted status thanks to the plethora of historically significant buildings, such as the Basilica di San Francesco – the jewel in Assisi’s crown, so massive you can see it for miles around.

At some point, when the noise of steps made by the numerous monks in long brown robes and the bands of pilgrims roaming the streets fades and the town gets enveloped in an almost mystical silence, you can feel the true spirit of Saint Francis more intimately. Here are some of the places in Assisi you may wish to include in your own pilgrimage:

San Francesco Birth House – the original place where Saint Francis was born on July 5, 1182.

Cathedral of San Rufino – aka Assisi Cathedral, built atop an old Roman cistern in the 13th century; contains the fountain where both St Francis and St Clare (Chiara) were baptized.

Santa Chiara (Saint Clare) Basilica – dedicated to St Clare, St Francis’s contemporary and founder of the Order of the Poor Clares.

San Damiano Church – a tiny church marking the spot where, according to legend, St Francis first heard the voice of God telling him to “rebuild the church.”

To explore these and other sights relevant, directly or remotely, to the life of Saint Francis in Assisi, take this self-guided walking tour.