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The Basilica of St. Francis above the Umbrian landscape

Italy · CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE

Assisi Catholic pilgrimage guide

Walk in the footsteps of Francis and Clare.

Spiritual focusPray at the tomb of St. Francis
Suggested timeTwo or three nights allow time beyond a day-trip checklist: one day for the two hill-town basilicas, a half day for Santa Maria degli Angeli and San Damiano, and unscheduled time for prayer.
Planning statusSample journeys available

WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE

Assisi invites a slower kind of attention. Its hillside streets link the basilicas of Francis and Clare with small churches and views across the Umbrian valley. A pilgrimage here is strongest when prayer has as much room as sightseeing. The hill town sits at about 400 m elevation, with the Porziuncola about 4 km below in the valley.

Key facts

  • Feast of St. Francis: October 4. Feast of St. Clare: August 11. Porziuncola Indulgence (the "Pardon of Assisi"): August 2.
  • Basilica of St. Francis: the Lower Church opens about 6:00–6:30 a.m. and the Upper Church about 8:30 a.m., closing in the early evening; the tomb of St. Francis is in the crypt beneath the Lower Church.
  • The Basilica of St. Clare holds the San Damiano Crucifix and the tomb of St. Clare.
  • Santa Maria degli Angeli (with the Porziuncola) is about 4 km below the town: 45–60 minutes on foot downhill, longer uphill; local buses and taxis connect them.
  • San Damiano is about 1.5 km below the Porta Nuova gate on a downhill path.
  • Access: the historic center is largely closed to private vehicles; coaches use the lower lots (Piazza Matteotti, Porta Nuova, Giovanni Paolo II). Rome is about 175 km by road (about 2.5 hours); the train from Roma Termini takes about 2 hours to Assisi station, in the valley at Santa Maria degli Angeli.

WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE

Pilgrim information: Mass, confession, hours and dates

Times are local and published by the sanctuary; verified October 4, 2026. Schedules change for feasts and seasons — confirm before you go.

Basilica of St. Francis

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hours (summer, Apr–Oct)Lower Church 06:00–19:00 (Wednesday closes 18:00); Upper Church 08:30–18:45; Crypt with the Tomb of St Francis 06:00–18:15. The winter timetable (Nov–Mar) is published only when it is in force.Source
Tomb of St Francis – evening prayerFridays and Saturdays 21:00–22:00 open for personal prayer.Source
Weekday MassesLower Church 07:15, 10:00, 11:00, 18:00 (summer timetable). Office of Readings and Lauds 06:30; Vespers and meditation 19:00 (except Wednesday).Source
Sunday/holy-day MassesLower Church 07:30, 09:00 (in English), 17:00, 18:30; Upper Church 10:30, 12:00 (summer timetable).Source
ConfessionsWeekdays 07:30–12:30 and 15:00–19:00; Sundays and holy days 07:30–13:00 and 14:30–19:15. Confessors' languages are not listed.Source
Guided visitsWeekdays only, 09:00–17:15; Saturday last entry 16:00. Bookings via prenotazioni.sanfrancesco.org.Source

Basilica of St. Clare

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursWeekdays 06:30–12:30 (visits from 08:30) and 14:00–17:45 (18:45 in summer time); weekends and holy days continuously 06:30–17:45 (18:45 summer). The basilica closes after Vespers.Source
Mass timesWeekdays 07:15 and 16:30 (winter) / 17:30 (summer); Sundays 07:15, 11:00, 16:30 (winter) / 17:30 (summer).Source
PrayerLauds 06:45; Vespers 17:45 (winter) / 18:45 (summer); Thursdays and Sundays adoration and Vespers.Source
Confession and cryptConfession hours are not published online. The crypt with St Clare's body and the San Damiano Crucifix are inside the basilica and open during basilica hours.Source

Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (Porziuncola)

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursDaily 07:30–12:30 and 14:30–19:00; until 1 November the basilica stays open through the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Evening prayer Mon–Fri 21:00–22:30.Source
Weekday Masses07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 18:00.Source
Sunday/holy-day Masses07:00, 08:30, 10:00, 11:00 (in English), 11:30 (solemn), 16:00/17:00 (seasonal), 18:00.Source
ConfessionsMon–Sat 06:30–12:30 / 15:30–18:30; Sunday 07:00–12:30 / 15:30–18:30.Source
Rosary / VespersLauds Mon–Sat 06:30; Rosary Mon–Fri 17:15; Vespers daily 19:00; Rosary with candles Saturdays 21:15.Source

Eremo delle Carceri

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursNov–Mar: weekdays 06:15–18:00, Sundays and holy days 07:15–18:00. Apr–Oct: weekdays 06:15–19:00, Sundays and holy days 07:15–19:00. Refectory and chapel closed daily 12:45–14:30.Source
Mass timesWeekdays 07:30 and 12:30; Sundays/holy days 08:00 and 11:00. Vespers 17:00 (winter) / 18:00 (summer).Source
EntryEntry to the sanctuary is free ("libero e gratuito"). Tel. +39 075 812301.Source

Shrine of the Spoliation – tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

DetailPublished informationSource
Opening hoursWinter (1 Nov–31 Mar): 08:00–19:00 continuous. Summer (1 Apr–30 Oct): Monday and Thursday 08:00–19:00; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 07:00–19:00.Source
Tomb visits suspendedOn Sundays and holy days visits to the shrine and the tomb are suspended 10:30–12:30 for the Masses. Pilgrims wishing to attend the 11:00 Mass must be inside by 10:30.Source
Mass timesWeekdays: Rosary 17:30, Mass 18:00. Sundays: 09:30 and 11:00. English Mass not listed.Source
Group bookingsGroups over 10 book online; groups with their own priest may book a Mass (maximum 45 minutes) or a 30–40 minute catechesis. Maximum 50 people per group; booking recommended.Source

Key dates

DateWhat happensSource
August 1–2Porziuncola Pardon (Perdono di Assisi) at St Mary of the Angels; the indulgence requires confession and Communion, with contrition and a commitment to amend.Source
August 11–12, 2026Feast of St Clare; solemn Mass presided by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime.Source
October 3Transitus of St Francis, celebrated towards sunset at the Porziuncola; also commemorated on the 3rd of every month after Vespers.Source
October 3–4, 2026Basilica of St Francis: 3 Oct 20:30 procession from S. Maria degli Angeli and midnight Mass; 4 Oct Lower Church Masses 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 (English), 13:00, 17:00, 18:30; 9:45 solemn Mass with the oil offering; crypt open 06:00–18:30.Source
October 9–12, 2026Feast of St Carlo Acutis (20th anniversary of his death): 11 Oct Masses 08:30, 10:00 (Cardinal Tagle), 11:30 and 16:00 in English; 12 Oct liturgical memorial, Mass by Bishop Accrocca.Source
September 7, 2025Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati by Pope Leo XIV on the parvis of St Peter's, 10:00.Source

Sacred places to discover

Basilica of St. Francis

The Upper and Lower Churches and the tomb of St. Francis in the crypt; the Lower Church opens about 6:00–6:30 a.m.

Basilica of St. Clare

The San Damiano Crucifix and the tomb of St. Clare; a central stop for understanding Clare and the Franciscan family.

Santa Maria degli Angeli

The basilica in the valley, about 4 km below the town, that shelters the Porziuncola.

San Damiano

A quieter Franciscan site about 1.5 km below the Porta Nuova gate.

Make the journey your own

  • Pray at the tomb of St. Francis
  • Explore Clare's place in the Franciscan story
  • Spend unhurried time in the Umbrian landscape

When to go

Spring and autumn suit a mix of town walking and time outside. The busiest dates are the Porziuncola Indulgence on August 2, the Feast of St. Clare on August 11, and the Feast of St. Francis on October 4, when liturgies change access to the basilicas. Confirm Mass times with each basilica for feast days.

Walking & practical expectations

Steep hills, stone paving, and steps; the main basilica stands at about 400 m elevation and the lanes between the two basilicas climb and descend repeatedly. A central hotel does not automatically mean step-free access, and coaches cannot enter the historic center, so luggage often moves the last stretch by shuttle or on foot from the lower lots.

Suggested pacing is planning guidance. Specific access, liturgies, and services require confirmation.

Planning this pilgrimage

Planning overview

Assisi offers more when you allow time for its hills, its quieter churches, and the distinct stories of Francis and Clare. Two or three nights can create a different experience from arriving with a checklist and leaving the same afternoon. Rome is about 175 km away, 2.5 hours by coach or 2 hours by train to the valley station.

Start with the town

The basilicas of Francis and Clare are natural anchors. The Lower Church of St. Francis opens about 6:00–6:30 a.m. and the Upper Church about 8:30 a.m., with the tomb of St. Francis in the crypt beneath the Lower Church; the Basilica of St. Clare holds the San Damiano Crucifix and Clare's tomb. Leave time between them for the streets and for prayer. The town's compact appearance can hide steep routes: the main basilica stands at about 400 m, the historic center is closed to private vehicles, and coaches park at the lower lots (Piazza Matteotti, Porta Nuova, Giovanni Paolo II). Check your hotel's location and the actual daily walking plan.

Make room for the valley

Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Porziuncola belong to a separate part of the visit, about 4 km below the town: 45–60 minutes on foot downhill, longer uphill, or a short ride by local bus or taxi. Plan the transfer rather than expecting everything to sit beside the hill-town churches. San Damiano, about 1.5 km below the Porta Nuova gate, and other sites add further choices; select them for meaning, not completeness.

Slow the rhythm

A Franciscan pilgrimage need not imitate a rushed city circuit. Protect an afternoon for rest or a return visit to a place that moved you. If you can choose dates, the Feast of St. Francis (October 4), the Feast of St. Clare (August 11), and the Porziuncola Indulgence (August 2) bring the fullest liturgies and the largest crowds. Read something of Francis or Clare in their own words and let the surroundings provide context without turning every hour into a lesson.

Traveling with your priest? Find his pilgrimage.

Sources & further readingBasilica of St. Francis: explore the basilica

Official sources cover institutional information. Suggested pacing and itinerary choices are planning guidance. Check current arrangements for your travel dates.

A ROUTE TO IMAGINE

Journey through Assisi.

Sample itineraries. Confirmed departures and prices have not been announced.

St. Peter’s Basilica above the surrounding city in natural daylightSAMPLE JOURNEY

Italy · Vatican City

Rome & Assisi

The heart of the Church. The soul of a saint.

+ optional 3-day Amalfi Coast & Sorrento extension

9 days · Pilgrim Pace: ModerateView journey

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Your questions, answered.

Assisi

Where is the tomb of St. Francis?

Assisi

How long should I stay in Assisi?

Assisi

Where is the tomb of Carlo Acutis?

Assisi

When is Carlo Acutis's feast day?

Assisi

When was Carlo Acutis canonized?

Assisi

Where can I see Carlo Acutis's Eucharistic miracles exhibition?

Assisi

How do I get to the Eremo delle Carceri above Assisi?

Assisi

Where can I attend Mass in English in Assisi?

Assisi

Is Assisi worth visiting for a Catholic pilgrim?

Assisi

Where is Carlo Acutis's body, and is it incorrupt?

Assisi

The Portiuncula Indulgence: what it is, when you can gain it, and the conditions

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