Assisi Walking Tour: St. Francis Basilica with Guide

Walk through two basilicas and a medieval square, guided by someone who explains what you're standing in front of.

A private walking tour of Assisi with an official guide that covers the Basilica of St. Francis (a UNESCO World Heritage site built starting in 1228), the Basilica of St. Clare, and the city's main landmarks over 2.5 hours. The guide provides admission to the Basilica of St. Francis and leads you through both the solemn lower church and the bright upper church in Gothic style. Dress code required: knees and shoulders must be covered. On Sundays, Catholic holidays and national holidays, tours inside the Basilica of St. Francis are not permitted. Your guide will explain from outside and you'll enter alone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Basilica of St. Clare20m · entry included
2. Chiesa Nuova20m

Explore Assisi's religious landmarks

• Meet guide at 10:30am
• Visit Basilica of St. Clare
• See Chiesa Nuova church
• Explore Temple of Minerva
• Tour lower Basilica of St. Francis
• Visit upper Basilica of St. Francis

The experience

You meet your guide at 10:30am and start at the Basilica of St. Clare, a church built to hold the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi, who founded the Order of Poor Ladies and followed Saint Francis. From there the walk moves to the Chiesa Nuova, a 1615 church built on the site where Saint Francis was born, then to the Temple of Minerva: an ancient Roman building that now houses a church renovated in Baroque style in the 17th century.

The Basilica of St. Francis is the centerpiece. Built starting in 1228, just two years after the saint's death, under the direction of Brother Elias, it was designed to receive his remains and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide takes you through both levels: the lower basilica, solemn and dark, built for penance and silence, and the upper church, which soars upward in bright Gothic style with French influences, cross vaulting, and a polygonal transept. Admission is included. The guide explains what each space means and what you're looking at.

The tour covers the main square and other highlights of the city as you walk. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, or German depending on which you choose at booking. The whole tour runs 2.5 hours and is suitable for all fitness levels. Note that on Sundays, Catholic holidays and national holidays, guided tours inside the Basilica of St. Francis are not allowed. Your guide will explain the church from outside, and you'll enter alone. From February 15 to April 6, 2026, tours are also suspended due to the exposition of St. Francis's remains. The guide will provide explanation from outside, then you'll enter on your own.

What’s included

• Admission tickets to the Basilica of St. Francis.
• private official guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, or German.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday5 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by ARTexplorer Italy

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you speak English, Spanish, Italian, or German and want a guide who explains the history and meaning of what you're seeing as you walk. The commentary is what makes the difference between standing in front of these churches and understanding why they were built and what they contain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What is the Basilica of St. Francis and why was it built?

The Basilica of St. Francis is a UNESCO World Heritage site built starting in 1228, just two years after Saint Francis died, to receive his remains. It was built under the direction of Brother Elias, the vicar general and architect of the order, and has both a lower church designed for penance and silence and an upper church in bright Gothic style.

What do I need to wear to enter the basilicas?

A dress code is required to enter places of worship. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women: no shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. If you don't comply, you risk being refused entry.

Can I take a guided tour inside the Basilica of St. Francis on a Sunday?

No. On Sundays, Catholic holidays and national holidays, guided tours inside the Basilica of St. Francis are not permitted. Your guide will explain the church from outside, and you'll enter alone in silence. From February 15 to April 6, 2026, tours are also suspended due to the exposition of St. Francis's remains.

What other churches and sites does the tour include besides the Basilica of St. Francis?

The tour also covers the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi; the Chiesa Nuova, built in 1615 on the site of Saint Francis's birthplace; the Temple of Minerva, an ancient Roman building now housing a Baroque church; and the main square of Assisi.

How long does the tour take?

The tour is 2.5 hours long, starting at 10:30am and covering the basilicas and main landmarks of Assisi.