# A Day Trip to Assisi from Rome: The Train, the Bus Up the Hill and the Basilica of St. Francis

Direct regional trains from Termini, line C from the station, church hours, and what fits into one day

By Finzi

Assisi, the hill town in Umbria where Saint Francis was born, is a long but manageable day trip from Rome by train. The town is built in pale pink stone on the slope of Monte Subasio, and its main sight, the Basilica of San Francesco, holds frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. Even visitors with no religious interest come for the art and the views over the Umbrian plain.

The key to the day is understanding that the train station is not in the old town. It is in Santa Maria degli Angeli, on the plain, about four kilometers away, and you need a bus to get up the hill.

# Getting there

Train from Rome. There are direct regional trains from Roma Termini to Assisi on the line toward Foligno and Perugia. The fastest take a little over two hours; some services require a change at Foligno. Check Trenitalia for the exact times on your date, and look at the last direct train back before you commit. Regional tickets have a fixed price and do not need to be bought in advance, but you must validate a paper ticket before boarding, or choose a specific train on the app.

Bus from the station. Outside Assisi station, take the Busitalia line C, which runs from the station forecourt up to the old town. The ride is about ten to fifteen minutes. Buses run roughly every half hour and the fare is low; buy tickets at the station bar or newsstand, or on board where available. Get off at Piazza Unità d’Italia, near the Basilica of San Francesco, at the western end of town. Taxis wait at the station too.

The old town is long and narrow, running uphill from the Basilica of San Francesco in the west to the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the cathedral of San Rufino in the east. Walking from one end to the other takes about twenty minutes, uphill.

# The Basilica of San Francesco

The basilica is two churches, one above the other, built after Francis’s death in 1226 over his tomb.

• The Lower Church is dark and atmospheric, with frescoes by Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti, and stairs down to the crypt with the saint’s tomb.
• The Upper Church is bright and Gothic, with the famous cycle of the life of Saint Francis traditionally attributed to Giotto and his workshop, and Cimabue’s frescoes in the apse and transept.

Opening hours published by the basilica:

• Lower Church: 6:00 to 19:00 (closes at 18:00 on Wednesdays).
• Upper Church: 8:30 to 18:45.
• Tomb of Saint Francis: 6:00 to 18:15.

Entry is free for individuals. Hours can change for celebrations, and Masses take place throughout the day; visitors must keep quiet and move aside during services. Guided tours with the friars are available on booking.

Silence is requested and photography is restricted inside. The basilica is a major pilgrimage church, and the dress code is enforced at the door: shoulders and knees covered. The Rome notes on church dress codes and photo rules apply just as strictly here.

The 1997 earthquake caused part of the Upper Church vault to collapse. Restoration reassembled many fragments of the frescoes. Look up in the Upper Church to see the difference between original and restored areas.

# The rest of the town

After the basilica, walk east along Via San Francesco to:

• Piazza del Comune, the main square, with the Temple of Minerva, a Roman temple facade turned into a church.
• The Basilica of Santa Chiara, which holds the tomb of Saint Clare and the crucifix of San Damiano, said to have spoken to Francis.
• The Cathedral of San Rufino, where Francis and Clare were baptized.
• The Rocca Maggiore, a fortress above the town, if you have energy left for the climb. The views are worth it.

On the way back down to the station, consider stopping at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli near the station, a large church built over the Porziuncola, the small chapel where Francis founded his order and where he died. It is a few minutes’ walk from Assisi station.

# A realistic day plan

1. Early direct train from Termini.
2. Bus C up to the Basilica of San Francesco. Visit both churches and the tomb, about one and a half hours.
3. Walk through town to Piazza del Comune for lunch.
4. Santa Chiara and San Rufino in the early afternoon.
5. Bus down to the station, visit Santa Maria degli Angeli.
6. Train back to Rome in the late afternoon.

It is a full day, around ten or eleven hours door to door. If you prefer a slower pace, consider staying overnight: Assisi in the evening, after the day visitors leave, is very different.

# Practical advice

• Shoes: The streets are steep and paved in stone. Wear comfortable shoes.
• Weather: Assisi is higher and colder than Rome in winter. Check the forecast. The advice on what to wear in Rome in winter or autumn works for Umbria too, with an extra layer.
• Crowds: Weekends and religious holidays are busy, especially around 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis.
• Light: The pale stone is especially beautiful in the late afternoon. The notes on the best time of day for photos explain why low light suits stone towns.

# Frequently asked questions

Is Assisi worth it as a day trip? Yes, if you are interested in medieval art or in Saint Francis. If not, Orvieto or the hill towns closer to Rome are less tiring.

Can I combine Assisi and Perugia in one day? Only briefly. Choose one.

Is there luggage storage? Do not count on it at the station. Travel light.

# Sources

• Basilica Papale di San Francesco, Hours and How to reach us: opening hours, bus line C.
• Trenitalia, Assisi Link: regional train and bus connection to the old town.
• Trenitalia timetables: Roma Termini to Assisi.