Mystical city of Assisi is a beautiful
medieval town based on Mount Subasio, overlooking a peaceful Umbrian
landscape. On travelling down the winding, cobbled streets every corner
astonishes one and all with quaint little shops. Assisi is essentially known
for the fact that it’s the place of birth of St. Francis in and that of
Santa Chiara. Peace is the lifestyle in the city, a long-standing tradition
started by St. Francis. Besides this, Assisi is also famous for the nearly
destroyed frescos by the medieval painter Giotto in the Arena chapel.
The church of San Francesco--upper and lower--houses some of the most
famous late Gothic paintings by artists such as Ambrogio and Pietro
Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto.
Fact File
Country : Italy
Population : 25,600
Area : 187 km
Languages : English, Italian
Climate : Assisi has a Mediterranean climate, with warm and dry
summers and rather rigid winters. Assisi is situated at an altitude of 1500
feet above sea level. The temperature is always cool at night even during
July. Although weather is unpredictable, past experience has proven that
during the month of July daytime temperatures in Assisi average in the 80's.
Rain is always possible, but is unusual during the summer.
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP(subject to change)
Location
: Assisi occupies the northern part of the Umbrian valley, bounded to
the North East by Mount Subasio and to the South East by the hills that
separate it from the Tiber Valley. It is crossed by various water courses
(the Chiascio - a tributary of the Tiber, the Topino, the Ose and the
Sambro), whose waters make the beautiful countryside fertile. Assisi is
situated in one of the most characteristic spots in Umbria on a spur of
Mount Subasio.
Getting There
By Air : San Egidio airport at Perugia is the nearest airport from
where trains can be taken for the Assisi station.
By Train : The Perugia - Foligno - Roma line, getting out at the
Assisi station.
By Road : The E45 Autostrada that goes from Cesena to Perugia (
Assisi - Santa Maria degli Angeli exit)
Getting Around
By Road : There are buses, hired cars and taxis available in the
city for getting around in the city.
Accommodation
The city of Assisi has various good hotels to allow a convenient stay to
the visitors in the city. Listed below are some of the hotels:
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Grand
Hotel Giotto
Hotel Subasio
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel San Francesco
3 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Fontebella
Hotel La Torretta
Major Tourist Attractions
Basilica
di San Francesco : This Basilica is a treasure collection of paintings
by eminent artists like Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti, Cimabue, Giotto
and many others.
Eremo della Carceri : The retreat is situated high in the mountains
above Assisi where St. Francis frequently stayed to meditate and pray.
Duomo di San Rufino : First built as early as the 5th century, this
historic church features the baptismal font of St. Francis, St. Clare and
Emperor Frederick II.
Santa Chiara : Built onto the original Chapel of St. George, this
Cathedral is where St. Clare of Assisi was buried in a crypt in 1872.
Santa Maria degli Angeli : This Basilica was started in 1569 to the
designs of Galeazzo Alessi, and features a statue of the Madonna in bronze
gilt by G. Colasanti and an interior whose architectural style is Doric.
