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| Perugia, Umbria, Italy |
Assisi is a picturesque town built on the green slopes of Monte Subasio, and is famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis, Italy’s patron Saint of birds, animals and the environment, and founder of one of the world’s largest monastic orders, the Franciscan Monks. The town is dominated by the Basilica of San Francesco, where St. Francis is buried, and which is today a major tourist destination and pilgrimage site. The town is also home to the Basilica of Santa Chiara (Saint Clare), who, with St Francis formed the Order of Poor Clares. Both of these buildings date to the 13th century.
The town is located 27 kilometres east of Perugia, and is surrounded by rolling hills covered in green fields and olive groves. Home to an estimated 23,000 residents, Assisi is a good example of an Umbrian hill town. Built on terraces made by the Romans, the town has been constructed using light coloured pink and grey stone, which causes the buildings to stand proud and clean against the countryside, making a statement of their history, which is long and diverse. Take a walk around the medieval twisting alley ways and attractive streets, visit the main Piazza del Comune and see the Roman Temple of Minerva, now transformed into the Church of Santa Maria, the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, with its upper and lower churches, the Basilica of San Chiara, the Cathedral of San Rufino. The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the Porziuncola, lies approximately 4 kilometres from Assisi. The Porziuncola is a little church inside the Basilica, and it is here that the Franciscan movement began!! Besides all of the religious buildings the town is home to two medieval castles, with the Rocco Maggiore having been built on a massive scale almost it seems to intimidate the people of the town!! Many of these historical buildings are listed as a World heritage Site.
For more in depth information of the Etruscan and Roman periods, visit the Archaeological Museum.
Assisi is a major tourist destination with an estimated 3 to 5 million visitors annually. If crowds aren’t your thing, visit during the winter months, when, although some accommodations may be closed, the streets of Assisi are relatively empty.
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| Accommodation | Tours |  |
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Grand Hotel Assisi
Assisi
 |  This hotel lies 800m from the walls of Assisi in a quiet area and offers breathtaking views of the entire Umbrian valley. The marble-floored lobby, the piano bar, and the rooftop garden all provide places to unwind and relax. |
Hotel Giotto
Assisi
 | Hotel Giotto is situated just 300 metres from the Basilica of St. Francis. It was built on the site of an old monastery and is one of the oldest and famous sites in Assisi. |
Hotel Subasio
Assisi
|  The hotel is located in Assisi with one wall forming part of the ancient square in front of the Basilica of St. Francis. The Hotel Subasio is truly Italian with its Renaissance paintings and Italian antiques. The reception hall, a blend of modern facilities and antique decor, connects to the luxur... |
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