St Francis of Assisi Pilgrim Tour
This St Francis of Assisi Pilgrim Tour is designed for pilgrims who want to discover the principal sacred and historic sites of Assisi in a single afternoon. It is suitable both for visitors staying in Assisi and for those visiting the city on a day trip. You will meet your expert local guide at a location arranged directly before the tour. Your pilgrimage then begins at the magnificent Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century masterpiece and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations in Italy. Before entering, your guide will introduce you to the basilica’s Romanesque and Gothic architecture and explain its importance to the Franciscan Order. Inside the Upper Basilica of St Francis, you will explore the celebrated cycle of frescoes traditionally attributed to Giotto. These remarkable works portray episodes from the life of St Francis and help pilgrims understand his conversion, evangelical poverty and mission to renew the Church. You will then descend into the more intimate Lower Basilica of St Francis, where your guide will point out important works by Giotto, Cimabue and Pietro Lorenzetti. The quieter and more contemplative atmosphere prepares you to visit the Tomb of St Francis, where pilgrims from around the world come to pray beside the remains of the founder of the Franciscan Order. Leaving the basilica, you will continue on foot through the picturesque medieval streets of Assisi. Along the way, you will discover the former Stone Masons’ Guild and the medieval Pilgrims’ Hospital, which was later used as a grain exchange. These lesser-known sites reveal how religious devotion, craftsmanship and everyday civic life shaped medieval Assisi. In Assisi’s main square, the Piazza del Comune, your guide will introduce you to the ancient Roman Temple of Minerva, constructed in the 1st century BC and later transformed into the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. You will also see the city’s medieval civic buildings and the fascinating frescoed ceiling of the Painted Vault Alley. The pilgrimage continues to the Chiesa Nuova, traditionally believed to have been built over the house where St Francis grew up. Here you will learn about his family life, his gradual rejection of worldly ambition and the events that led him to embrace a life of poverty and complete dependence upon God. Your tour concludes at the Basilica of St Clare of Assisi, dedicated to St Clare, the close spiritual companion of St Francis and founder of the Poor Clares. The basilica contains the tomb of St Clare and the famous San Damiano Crucifix, before which St Francis heard Christ call him to “repair my Church.” Your guide will explain the basilica’s architecture, sacred art and importance within Franciscan spirituality. Combining Catholic history, sacred art and the lives of two of the Church’s best-loved saints, this guided Assisi pilgrim tour provides a meaningful introduction to the spiritual heritage of this UNESCO-listed city. Read the Itinerary tab above for further details about each place visited during the St Francis of Assisi Pilgrim Tour. Pilgrims visiting Rome before travelling to Assisi may also enjoy our Religious Life Tour, which explores the development of Catholic religious life from contemplative monasticism to apostolic mendicant orders such as the Franciscans.
For historical and spiritual background, read the Catholic Encyclopedia biography of St Francis of Assisi.
If you would like to take this tour as a day trip from Rome, please contact us for transportation advice and assistance.
| MEETING POINT | To be arranged directly with your guide before the tour. | |||
| FINISHING LOCATION | Basilica of St Clare, Assisi | |||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 2 pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays | |||
| DURATION | Approximately 3 hours. The tour finishes at the Basilica of St Clare at approximately 5 pm. | |||
| DRESS CODE | Comfortable clothing suitable for walking. Shoulders and knees must be covered when entering churches. | |||
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Plan your Catholic pilgrimage to Assisi
Choose the experience that best fits your time and pilgrimage purpose with the Crucis guide to planning a Catholic pilgrimage to Assisi. Pilgrims travelling before 10 January 2027 can also read the St Francis Jubilee guide.
Additional information
| Ticket Type | Adult (16+), Student ID, Child (under 16) |
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Basilica and Tomb of St Francis
Begin by learning about the life, conversion and mission of St Francis before exploring the magnificent Basilica of St Francis. In the Upper Basilica, your expert guide will explain its architecture and celebrated cycle of frescoes depicting the life of the saint. You will then descend into the Lower Basilica and visit the Tomb of St Francis, one of Italy’s most important Catholic pilgrimage sites.
Walk Through Assisi
After visiting the basilica, walk through the picturesque medieval streets of Assisi. Along the way, your guide will explain the history of the Stonemasons’ Guild and the former Pilgrims’ Hospital, which later became the town’s Grain Exchange.
Piazza del Comune
In Assisi’s principal square, your guide will show you the City Hall, medieval palaces and the ancient first-century BC Temple of Minerva. You will also see the frescoes decorating the Volta Pinta, or Painted Vault.
Chiesa Nuova
Continue to the Chiesa Nuova, built over the site traditionally identified as the family home of St Francis. Your guide will explain the church’s principal features and the stories associated with the saint’s early life.
Basilica of St Clare
Finish at the Basilica of St Clare, where you will see the original San Damiano Crucifix from which Christ spoke to St Francis, according to Franciscan tradition. You will also learn about St Clare, the basilica’s architecture, sacred art and spiritual significance, and visit the tomb of St Clare.
To be arranged directly with the guide before the tour.
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