Assisi is one of Italy's prime tourist attractions; a simple and peaceful town with a rich religious heritage. It rejoices in many good, small hotels, excellent restaurants and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

The picturesque hill town of Assisi, to the east of Perugia, is famous as the birthplace of St Francis, a 12th-century monk who founded the Franciscan order devoted to achieving an 'abundance of the divine' through the practise of ascetism, poverty and chastity.

Tourists and pilgrims flock to the bustling town for inspiration and worship, and a multitude of conferences, festivals and other religious activities are dedicated to this aim. Approaching the town is a visual spectacle of shimmering white marble buildings perched halfway up Mount Subasio.

The town is set against the backdrop of the towering 14th-century hill fortress of the Rocca Maggiore, a landmark with which to orientate oneself from inside the city's medieval ramparts. The most loved and visited church in Italy is the 13th-century Basilica di San Francesco containing frescoes by Giotto commemorating the life of St Francis. Other notable works include paintings by Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini's frescoes based on the life of St Martin. St Francis' tomb rests below the lower church.

Locality:

The town of Assisi is located at the centre of the Italian peninsula in Umbria Region, 27 km southeast of Perugia and 203 km north of Rome. It is easy to reach and it is well linked by highway roads.