The town stretches out on the slopes of the Monte Subasio, above the plain where the Topino and Chiascio rivers flow. Although it can boast Roman origins, its present-day appearance, because of the buildings and also the urban structure, is surely due to the city's development during the Middle Ages. Assisi's oldest nucleus, which is protected by a defensive apparatus made up of eight fortified entrance portals and a long belt of town walls, which are still perfectly preserved, is topped by two castles on peak of the mountain: the Major Castle, reconstructed by the Cardinal Albornoz in 1367 and the Minor Castle. Apart from very important religious buildings, such as the basilica of St. Francis, which is not to be considered the only heritage of Assisi, the tourist can also visit the churches of St. Clare and St. Peter. The first was constructed in the Gothic style between 1257 and 1265, the second is older and decorated with an elegant middle portal with three rose-windows. The Cathedral, dedicated to the Patron Saint St. Rufino, vaunts a splendid and unaltered facade with sculptures and reliefs; the interior, however, has undergone much reconstruction during the centuries which have distorted the original project dating back to the 13th century. On the Town Square situated on the ancient Forum, you will find the Priors' Palace (1337), the Palace of the People's Captain (12th century) and the temple of Minerva, built during the Augustan period with pronaos, columns and Corinthian capitals which are still intact.

Nearby, places which are connected with the life of St. Francis can be visited, such as the Hermitage of the Prisons, immersed in a thick wood of oaks and ilex on the slopes of the Subasio Mountain, and the convent of St. Damian, which was built up around the oratory where, according to tradition, the Cross spoke to the Saint. Finally, in the plain, the impressive basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels was built according to the plans of Alessi between 1569 and 1679 to protect the Porziuncola Chapel, which was the first simple meeting-place of the Franciscan brotherhood.

All those who have the good luck of visiting this splendid town must agree with he who says that the beauty of the town goes beyond a short, and necessarily incomplete list of more or less extraordinary works of art, but is to be found in the atmosphere of places which the story and the faith of the Saint have rendered unique all over the world.

Use the map below to create a custom itinerary to help you reach Spoleto and the Hotel San Luca.