Visit to Assisi

Before coming to Assisi it is interesting to stay in Rivotorto, which houses the shrine inside the “Sacred Hovel”, a shabby house where St. Francis took refuge with his companions, and where the school took the first steps of the Gospel.

Stop-off is, instead, St. Mary of the Angels, a hamlet in the valley in front of 4 km da Assisi, where is located also the reference station for the city of Santo. This populous village is the large Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, with l `Convent Francescano adiacente, clearly recognizable by the large golden statue of the Madonna on the top side of the church and totally accessible. You can leave your car in the parking lot reserved for tourists about 150 m. Basilica, near the driveway entrance to the Domus Pacis and de “The Mats”, accommodation facilities for tourists and pilgrims accessible to all. Indoors the Basilica houses the small church of the Portiuncula, and you can also visit the important spaces recalling various events of life and death of the Holy, the museum and library are all inside an `ala of the Convent of Friars Minor. A few tens of meters, toward the parking lot, There are accessible toilets with the same opening hours of the Basilica (vd section devoted to the structure).

From here you can take the car back and drive up to Assisi, because of its shape of a medieval town situated on a hill at the foot of Mount Subasio, can easily be visited only with the `help of a car traveling in the largest, to overcome the long and, at times, steep slopes and a companion to overcome physical barriers sometimes present in many public monuments and sites.

Going from Santa Maria degli Angeli, therefore you get to Largo Propertius, from here on the left begins the restricted traffic zone. We pass through the New Gate and along Via Borgo Aretino, in the vicinity of the ancient next door, on the left side of the seats are reserved for disabled people where to park the car back and go to the nearby Basilica of St. Clare (exposing the `special badge can also stand near the church). After visiting the Basilica, which is accessed by a side entrance equipped with a ramp, you can continue on the ascent of Via Santa Chiara, who need a companion for the steep, Corso Mazzini, then on to the central Piazza del Comune, with its beautiful Temple of Minerva (not accessible). In the square is located the Tourist Information Desk is accessible and nearby are the ancient Church of St. Stephen `, the New Church with the family home of St. Francis, the Museum of the Roman Forum. From the Town Square, leaving the Temple of Minerva on the left, You can continue up Via San Gabriel `s Sorrows that, passing under the Cathedral of San Rufino, leads to the location with mechanized elevators with which you can climb up to `Garden of San Rufino and the tower and from there on Piazza Matteotti with its large parking lot, in higher areas of the city `.

Arriving in Piazza Matteotti with the car you can follow via Villamena almost to the door just before Perlici of which is `the same name on downhill, after a curve to the right of the houses, goes through an ancient port up to the Rocca Maggiore (but not accessible to visitors). If they have a disabled permit the Rock can be reached by car up to the big wide square in front of the Castle. From here you can enjoy a splendid view at 180 degrees on the `whole Umbrian Valley South; can, in fact, admire Perugia north-west to Spoleto a sud, with the plain below where it is visible even with the Santa Maria degli Angeli Basilica and its grand imposing dome.

To go to the Basilica of St. Francis and the Franciscan Convent of the Sacred can be reached by car from behind the Rocca Maggiore, Bring in the direction crossing Perlici Gualdo Tadino and down on the first left you come to (Avenue E. Bathrobe), returning from St. James Gate and down Via Cardinale Merry del Val R. Superior to the Piazza of St. Francis. The great basilica is built on two levels, upper and lower, connected by two staircases, one internal and one esterna corrimano. `Unfortunately, the only link for the wheelchair is the steep climb sixty feet long carriageway alongside the structure. From the Upper St. Francis Square you can take the ascent of Via San Francesco for a walk of shopping in the many souvenir shops.

At the Basilica of St. Francis can be reached also coming from Santa Maria degli Angeli Street turning right onto the first G. Marconi. It is left to the right St. Peter Port (which the past is the homonymous church), go straight to the restricted traffic zone, Port St. Francis, and you pass, onwards to the left for Via Frate Elia, it flows into the Lower St. Francis Square, surrounded by a long porch, on top of which you can leave the car back to visit the Basilica.

Source of pictures: www.regione.umbria.it (Photo:M. Tortoioli)

Accessibility

The data on the accessibility of sites and structures are shown in detail in the description of the route.

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umbriaccessibile

the compass for Umbria

Visit to Assisi

Accessibility

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Map