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When we were staying in the region of Umbria, Italy, we wanted to venture out and check out the different hilltop cities that were in a reasonable driving distance from where we were staying (Castello Valenzino in Umbertide). We settled on visiting Gubbio one day, and saved Assisi for another!
Assisi is a pretty well-known destination in the Umbrian region of Italy, as it is the birthplace of the patron saint of Italy, St. Francis – a fact that really drives the tourism economy in Assisi. If you are planning on visiting Assisi and only have limited time (like we did), a half day is definitely plenty of time to explore. Hopefully some of these photos will inspire your very own visit to this lovely hilltop town!
Here are some general tips for visiting Assisi in one day (or even a half day) and some highlights to see on your visit.
Parking in Assisi
Important things first: parking. Yep, I love to talk about parking! Since Assisi is a frequented destination by travelers, there is ample parking available when you get to the city.
Of course, I researched where to park ahead to time to be prepared, and found that there are several parking garages around the city walls. Whew. No need to panic people. There are also plenty of signs to point you in the right direction. We were there half a day, and we parked at the Parcheggi Mojano, and it was barely over €6. Not bad at all!
Basilica of St. Francis (St. Francesco)
The Basilica is really the star of Assisi, and likely the star of many photos of Assisi that you may have seen! It is amazing (and very evident) just how much time and money have been poured into the construction of these most beautiful churches. There are so many details that appear carefully crafted and the stone materials used just look expensive.
I’m not a religious person, but I can still certainly appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship of the buildings! Photos and video are not allowed in the Basilica, so you’ll have to settle for outside pics.
The church is free to enter, though there are entry fees for certain areas once you are inside the church.
Elsewhere Around Assisi
Definitely take your time to explore other areas of Assisi. We started toward the east end, making our way to the Basilica, and below is what we saw along the way!
Lunch in Assisi
When we were in Assisi, I was not feeling well with a cold – perhaps from the travel stress and figuring out the rules for driving in Italy! So, I really wanted a good soup and found a place by skimming through Trip Advisor called Ristorante Taverna dei Consoli.
The entry to the restaurant is tucked away, up a little stairwell to the right of the restaurant. Luckily, we ducked into the restaurant just as a heavy downpour hit! They do have a lovely balcony, which I imagine is open in warmer weather. How romantic would it be to enjoy your meal and a glass of wine while overlooking the little square below!
To start, we split the bean and faro soup which was so delicious and exactly what I needed. Warm and comforting!
I also had the gorgonzola and black truffle gnocchi (so rich, but so delicious), and my husband had the steak and potatoes which were cooked perfectly. In Umbria, they know how to cook their meat! Also, Umbria just happens to be a great truffle region. We saw some pretty enormous truffles on display walking through the towns! So, it was only fitting to get a dish where you can get a little taste of that earthy goodness.
Fear not, we also had our share of wine. Wine with every meal!
Dessert Shops
Guys, there are dessert shops around every corner in Italy, and Assisi is no exception! We grabbed some delicious lemon and pistachio chocolate cannolis and bottles of wine to take back to the castle to have with our picnic dinner of bread, cheese and salami. It was the perfect end to our visit to Assisi, and our time in Umbria. I really cannot wait to make it back here again!
Also, check out more of our time in Umbria in our video below!
Have you ever been to Assisi? What were some highlights for you?
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