Assisi is one of the oldest and most important towns in Umbria and definitely very high on our must-see list. When we recently visited Gubbio, we arrived from the side of the hill so that the old town, being quite low lying, was hidden by the new town development. We could only appreciate a view of the old town when we were almost at the town walls. The first impression of hill town Assisi was diametrically opposite as from the direction that we approached the town, it looks quite spectacular, with the Basilica of St Francis dominating.

Assisi is one of the oldest towns in Italy with the first settlements founded around 1000BC. The Etruscans were the first major civilisation to rule, followed by the Romans, the remains of whose buildings, such as the forum, amphitheatre and excavated villas, can be seen. In common with other towns in the region, through the centuries, Assisi went through many periods of conflict and change of rule by influential families and the papacy. However, it was during a period of self-rule in 1202, when Assisi was at war, that Francis, the son of a wealthy merchant, was captured in battle. While imprisoned, he had a vision that led him to reject materialistic ways and follow a pious and illustrious life leading to eventual sainthood.

St Francis of Assisi is one of the most well-known and venerated saints because of his many good works and is clearly associated with his home town, but Assisi is also the home of six other saints, including Saint Clare, a follower of Saint Francis, who founded the Order of Poor Ladies, today known as the Poor Clares.

As you might expect the town skyline is dominated by tall churches, but walking through the wide main streets, it is blessed with well-preserved medieval buildings. As an important destination for pilgrims, we encountered a very high percentage of visitors from religious orders, some of whom were colourfully clothed. Also very refreshing and similar to Gubbio, there was the lack of tackiness in what is also an big tourist destination.

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