Assisi essential place of interest include art and monuments such as the
Rocca Maggiore,
Temple of Minerva,
Palazzo Capitano del Popolo as well as
Roman Amphitheatre.
At Rocca Maggiore, you will see earliest record of a building dating back to 1174, when it was erected as a German feudal castle and a place where emperor Frederick II of Swabia was baptized in Assisi at the age of three in 1197. The place is rich in history and a lot more will be learnt on the visit to Rocca Maggiore.
Temple of Minerva built in the late republican period in the 1st century BC 'erected by Quatorvirates Gneus Cesius and Titus Cesius Priscu. The monument has a lot to learn.
Palazzo Capitano del Popolo monument built between 1212 and 1305 was the first public building to be erected in Piazza del Comune, with a façade of the building containing measures for silk, linen and wool as well as the outlines of bricks and roof tiles used in the building.
Roman Amphitheatre monument, one notes the remains of the structure of the 1st century A.D, the elliptical form which can still be recognized in the lay-out of the medieval houses.
Art and religion make an important part of Assisi and places to visit.
Pope Gregory IX laid the first stone of the lower basilica the day after the canonization of Francis, on July17th 1228. This and more rich history is to be found at the Basilica of St. Francis when one tours Assisi.
Basilica of Santa Maria built on a grandiose scale, is the seventh largest Christian church. The chapel was given to St. Francis by the Benedictines,and is important because it was the initial nucleus from which the Franciscan order was born. A lot more to be learnt at the visit of the church.
In 1257, construction of St. Clare's Basilica was launched three years after the saint death and a year after she was canonized. The church dedicated to St. Clare's occupied the site of the church of St. Giorgio, where St. Francis had been buried before his remains were removed to the Basilica in 1230.
Abbey of St. Pietro was consecrated by pope Innocent IV in 1254 together with St. Francis and St. Rifunus.
St. Damians convent where St. Francis was ordered to restore the church in decay by the crucifix.
The remaining mentioned religious places are also rich in history that people visiting Assisi can learn a lot from.
Beautiful Museums and galleries are also found in Assisi that include the Porziuncola Museum- which is located within Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and is an integral part of the pilgrim itenary; the Cathedral Museum and Crypt of St. Rufino that was found in 1941 and offers a Secular, Spiritual and Cultural reading of the diocese; Municipal Art Gallery with 14th -17th C. paintings housed in the 17th C. Pallazo Vallemani; Treasure Museum and F.M Perkins Collection with old paintings, ivory amongst other artifacts; and finally the Civic Museum and Roman Forum which exhibits Umbrian and Roman remains mostly tombstones, cinerary urns and inscriptions..
Assisi has more than enough to offer, it has art and tourist attractions such as the Forest of saint Francis-Assisi; along via San Francesco as well as the Park of Mount Subassio.
Tourist visit the Calendimaggio which is the Ides of May Festivity. For visitors who love nature, strolling in the Assisi's forest can be a good idea to feel the blend of enjoying nature at a religious environment that the forest and surrounding places offers.
Walking along via San Francesco will leave one amazed by what it offers in terms of the oldest buildings seen and rich history of the events that took place there relating to Assisi.
The entire historical Centre of Assisi lies within the Park of Mount Subassio. Assisi town was built by rocks that came from the park and over time it (Assisi) has derived all it resources from there.
Festives are held in May at Calendimaggio celebrating the return of spring done by groups of young gaudentes who sing, dance and serenade their way through the city streets and squares. The festivals are also linked to the centuries-old rivalry between the ''Parte di Sotto'' and the ''Parte di Sopra'' areas of the city. The two factions in 1300 engaged in a long and bloody struggle for supremacy that lasted for over two centuries.
In a two days visit at Assisi, for one to maximize on the things to see and places to visit, it is better to plan in advance so that you can save a lot of time and have fun as a tourist in the place.
The first day would work better for one to visit all the artistic monuments that have been discussed above because less time is needed to be spent there. Visiting the religious sights mentioned above, that are considered sacred, would also do well on the first day because less time is needed and taking photos is what most people do.
The second day when spent visiting the museums and galleries of Assisi, that require a little more time because of the richness in art and history that they command. The museums and galleries are also not far from each other and so connecting won't be a problem. Other tourist attractions such as the Park and Forest can be visited on the second day. If it happens that you are visiting Assisi on the month of May, you can join the group celebrating the festive and this will be more enjoyable on the second day of the visit, i.e. after you have had a taste of the monuments as well as the sacred and spiritual places that form the source of Assisi's history, therefore doing this on the second day will work perfectly for the visitor.
Once is Assisi, buses and taxis are many that can connect people to different places to be visited through out the time and this satisfies most visitors who come to Assisi.
How to reach Assisi