Is the Basilica of St Francis free to enter?

Yes, entry to the upper and lower churches and the crypt has traditionally been free, as it is a place of worship. Guided tours and the treasury museum may charge. Check the official website, as booking rules can change.

Can you take photos inside the Basilica of St Francis?

Photography is restricted inside the basilica, and staff ask visitors to respect the rules and keep silent. You can photograph the exterior and the piazzas freely.

What should I wear to the Basilica of St Francis?

Shoulders and knees should be covered. Bring a light scarf or long trousers in summer, as visitors in sleeveless tops or short shorts can be refused entry.

How long do you need for the Basilica of St Francis?

Plan at least two hours for the lower church, the crypt and the upper church. With a guided tour or a strong interest in the frescoes, allow half a day.

Are the frescoes in the upper church really by Giotto?

The St Francis cycle is traditionally attributed to Giotto, but art historians have debated his role for a long time. Many see several hands at work; the attribution is best treated as open.

Basilica of St Francis, Assisi: Visitor Guide

To visit the Basilica of St Francis, enter through the lower church from the lower piazza, go down to the crypt with the saint’s tomb, then climb to the upper church with its fresco cycle of Francis’s life. Entry to the churches is free, shoulders and knees must be covered, and photography is restricted. Go early or late in the day, allow at least two hours, and check the official website for current opening times and any booking requirement.

What the basilica is

Building began in 1228, two years after Francis’s death and shortly after he was declared a saint. The result is unusual: two churches built one on top of the other into the hillside, with a large friary beside them. The lower church is low and dim, the upper church tall and full of light. Together with other Franciscan sites in and around Assisi, the basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1997 an earthquake caused part of the upper church’s vault to collapse. The damage was repaired and the church reopened after an extensive restoration.

The lower church

You usually enter from the Piazza inferiore, the arcaded lower square. The lower church is a long, vaulted space covered in frescoes. Look for:

the chapel of St Martin, painted by Simone Martini;
the scenes of the Passion in the left transept by Pietro Lorenzetti;
frescoes in the right transept attributed to Cimabue and to Giotto and his workshop, including a well-known image of Francis.

The light is low, so give your eyes time to adjust.

The crypt and the tomb

Stairs from the middle of the lower church lead down to the crypt, where the stone tomb of St Francis is set into a pillar. This is the spiritual heart of the basilica, and many visitors come to pray. Keep silent and move slowly.

The upper church

From the lower church, follow the signs up to the upper church, or walk round outside to the upper piazza with its lawn. Inside, the walls of the nave carry the famous cycle of scenes from the life of St Francis, from his renunciation of his inheritance to his death. The cycle is traditionally attributed to Giotto, although scholars have long debated who painted which scenes. Above, in the apse and transepts, are frescoes by Cimabue, many of them darkened over time. The stained-glass windows are among the oldest in Italy.

Rules for visitors

Topic	What to expect
Dress code	Shoulders and knees covered; scarves can help in summer
Silence	Expected throughout, especially in the crypt
Photography	Restricted inside; follow staff instructions
Bags	Large bags may be checked or not allowed
Services	During Mass, parts of the church may be closed to visitors

Opening times and booking

The lower and upper churches traditionally have slightly different hours, opening from early morning to early evening. Listings for 2026 published by the Italian culture ministry give hours of around 8:30 to 18:45 and state that advance booking is required. Rules like this can change during the year, particularly in 2026, the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death, when extra events draw more pilgrims. Before your visit, check the basilica’s official website for current times, booking and service schedules.

Guided visits

The frescoes are much richer with a good guide. The friars’ information office arranges guided visits, and independent guides and tour operators offer tours of the basilica, often combined with the rest of Assisi. Book ahead in spring, summer and around 4 October, the saint’s feast day.

Best times to visit

Early morning: the lower church is calm before coach groups arrive.
Late afternoon: day trippers leave, and the light on the upper piazza is soft.
Avoid: late morning on weekends and religious holidays, when the basilica is at its busiest.

If you are coming from Perugia, an early train makes it easy to be at the basilica soon after it opens. See getting from Perugia to Assisi.

Before and after

The basilica is at the western end of Assisi. From here, Via San Francesco leads up to Piazza del Comune, Santa Chiara and the Rocca Maggiore; our guide to things to do in Assisi has a full-day plan. For the wider story of the painters who worked here and their successors in Perugia and beyond, read Renaissance art and music in Umbria. Pilgrims arriving on foot will find route information in our guide to walking the Way of St Francis.