Assisi Through the Ages: Saints, Rebels, and Roman Ruins

Ancient Romans, medieval saints, and modern heroes all left their mark on Assisi. On this walking tour, you‘ll hear about the surprising and sometimes turbulent history behind this city of peace and spirituality.

The tour starts on the via del Torrione near the remains of the Petroni family mausoleum, and ends at the magnificent Basilica of San Francesco. Mike Corradi, producer and host of the “A History of Italy“ podcast, weaves together tales of rebellion and devotion as you wander Assisi‘s medieval streets. From Roman ruins to Renaissance art, you‘ll discover how this small Umbrian city survived centuries of conflict, and was revived by its most famous citizen, St. Francis, whose legacy lives on.

As you stroll through picturesque squares and along narrow lanes, I’ll point out both famous landmarks and lesser-known sites, giving you a comprehensive picture of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

On this 90-minute tour, you‘ll have the chance to:

• Learn how the city saved hundreds of Jewish lives during WWII, establishing a secret printing press for false documents during an era of Fascist persecution
• Stand before the Duomo of San Rufino with its carvings of peacocks drinking from a fountain, where St. Francis was baptized
• Discover the Basilica di Santa Chiara, where you can see the San Damiano cross and hear the story of St. Clare
• Explore Piazza del Comune, the ancient heart of civic power, with its Torre del Popolo bell tower from the 1200s and well-preserved Roman temple of Minerva
• Visit the site of Francesco‘s childhood home at Chiesa Nuova, where his dramatic public renunciation of worldly goods changed religious history
• See the beautiful Palazzo Monte Frumentario with its elegant portico, originally built to support local farming through grain loans
• Examine relics and artwork at the Basilica of San Francesco, where the saint‘s lost tomb was rediscovered in 1818, revitalizing the nearly abandoned city

By the end of this fascinating walk through Italy’s city of peace, you’ll have discovered how Assisi‘s tumultuous past shaped its enduring spiritual legacy.