REVIEW · ASSISI
Surroundings of Assisi: in the Footsteps of Saint Francis
Book on Viator →Operated by Tour Guide Assisi · Bookable on Viator
Three hours, three Franciscan landmarks.
What makes this tour work is the way it strings together Franciscan stories with the exact places they happened: the quiet woods of Eremo Delle Carceri, the silence of San Damiano, and the big spiritual anchor of Santa Maria degli Angeli. I also like that the experience leans on a real local guide, Maura, who brings regional context and excellent English to keep the history clear and usable.
Two things I’d call out right away: admission for the key sites is listed as free, and you get a true private-group format (not a rushed crowd shuffle). One consideration: this is weather-dependent, so if it’s a rainy day, you’ll need to roll with a reschedule or refund option and wear shoes that handle uneven ground.
In This Review
- Key highlights in plain language
- A 3-hour Franciscan walk that doesn’t feel rushed
- Choosing the key sites: Eremo, San Damiano, and Santa Maria degli Angeli
- Eremo Delle Carceri: quiet caves, woods, and a view worth slowing down for
- San Damiano: where Francis wrote, prayed, and asked for repair
- Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli: Porziuncola Chapel and the rose-thorn legend
- Price and group value: $300.06 for up to 10 people
- Timing, meeting point, and making the most of the day
- What Maura’s style means for your experience
- Who should book this Assisi Franciscan tour
- Should you book this tour or DIY Assisi?
- FAQ
- How long is the tour?
- What are the main stops on the route?
- Is admission included?
- Is this tour private?
- Is the tour offered in English?
- Does the price include transportation?
- Where do we meet?
- What happens if the weather is poor or I need to cancel?
Key highlights in plain language
- Three core Franciscan stops in about three hours, with time to actually take it in
- Eremo Delle Carceri: caves, hermit quiet, and a view from the cloister area
- San Damiano: the Canticle of the Creatures and the famous crucifix story
- Santa Maria degli Angeli: Porziuncola Chapel centered inside the larger basilica
- Maura’s local know-how and patient, detail-focused guiding style
A 3-hour Franciscan walk that doesn’t feel rushed
This is the kind of tour that makes Assisi click. Instead of treating the Franciscan sites like checkboxes, you move through them in a logical flow—hermit life to reforming spirit to the place where Francis prayed and died. The timing is tight but not frantic: about an hour at each stop, so you get explanations without feeling stuck listening for too long.
You’re paying for guidance and planning more than for entry fees. The tour includes private guided tour planning, and it’s priced per group (up to 10 people). If you’re traveling with family or friends, this format can be a strong value because one guided experience covers your whole group.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Assisi.
Choosing the key sites: Eremo, San Damiano, and Santa Maria degli Angeli
What I like about this route is that it mirrors the Franciscan theme: retreat, prayer, and transformation. You start in a humble hermitage setting, move to a small, silent church connected with Francis’s spiritual writing and the Crucifix of Saint Damien, then finish at the large basilica built around the tiny Porziuncola Chapel.
Each stop is also a different scale of experience. The hermitage is small and quiet, San Damiano is simple and reflective, and Santa Maria degli Angeli is big and monumental. That variety helps you understand how Francis’s message traveled from private contemplation into a wider public faith.
Eremo Delle Carceri: quiet caves, woods, and a view worth slowing down for
Eremo Delle Carceri is exactly the kind of place you want at the start of the day. You’re in the woods, with a peaceful, humble atmosphere, and the setting matches the story: Francis and his followers lived there as hermits, using caves as simple dwellings.
You’ll spend about an hour here, with time to look around without feeling rushed. The little cloister view is a highlight—think green valley and surrounding hills stretching out around you. It’s the sort of scene that makes the whole idea of retreat feel real, not like a line from a brochure.
Practical note: because it’s a wooded area and you’re walking around a sacred site, bring sturdy shoes. Even if the walk is short, the ground can feel uneven, and you’ll want to focus on the experience rather than your footing.
San Damiano: where Francis wrote, prayed, and asked for repair
San Damiano has a different tone than the hermitage. It’s described as simple and silent, and that matters. This is the place connected to Francis composing the Canticle of the Creatures—so you’re not just looking at a building, you’re standing in the spiritual context for a major work.
You’ll also connect this stop to the Crucifix of Saint Damien. The story is that Francis asked Jesus on the crucifix to repair the church that was falling into ruin. On top of that, you’ll hear about Saint Clare, who spent her spiritual life with her companions in this broader Franciscan world.
This stop lasts about an hour, and it’s worth using that time to slow down. San Damiano doesn’t reward speed. If you try to do it like a museum sprint, you’ll miss what’s special: the quiet and the sense of purpose behind the stories.
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli: Porziuncola Chapel and the rose-thorn legend
Santa Maria degli Angeli is big, and the tour helps you understand why. The basilica was built around the tiny Porziuncola Chapel, which is the real spiritual center. In other words, you get both scale and focus—grand architecture surrounding a small place where Francis prayed with his friars and died.
This is also where the tour highlights a powerful symbolic story. Francis threw himself to fight a temptation, and it’s said that the thorns dropped off the roses. Even if you approach the legend with a mix of faith and curiosity, it’s one of those moments that gives context to Francis’s spiritual psychology: struggle, surrender, and transformation.
You’ll spend about an hour at this stop too. That’s a good amount of time because you can take in the building and then refocus on the Porziuncola connection rather than treating it as only a photo opportunity.
Price and group value: $300.06 for up to 10 people
The price is $300.06 per group (up to 10). For a private tour, that’s the key detail: it’s not priced per person, so the math gets friendlier as your group grows.
A quick way to think about value: if you max out the group size, it works out to roughly $30 per person. If you’re only two people, it’s closer to $150 per person, which is a different category of value. Either way, you’re paying for a guided, private, English-language experience that covers three major Franciscan sites in one sitting.
Also note what’s included and what’s not. You’ll get planning and a private guided tour. Private transportation is not included, and the listing says all fees and taxes are not included. The good news: admission tickets for the stops are listed as free, which helps keep your on-the-ground costs predictable.
Timing, meeting point, and making the most of the day
The tour runs about three hours and is scheduled within normal visiting hours. The opening hours listed are Monday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so your best move is to aim for a time that lets you arrive calm and unhurried. Since the itinerary includes walking between sites, earlier in the day can also help if you want a more relaxed pace.
Your meeting point is in Assisi (06081). The exact spot is to be agreed, and the start and end points are the same area. The practical advantage: you don’t have to solve a “where do we finish” puzzle. The practical challenge: because the meeting spot is to be agreed, be ready to confirm details promptly after booking.
One more planning tip: the tour requires good weather. If conditions are poor, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. That matters because one of your early stops is in a wooded hermitage setting, where weather can affect comfort and walking.
What Maura’s style means for your experience
A standout theme here is the quality of the guide experience. Maura comes across as local—born and raised in the region—and she also brings strong English, which is a big deal for tours like this. Franciscan stories have a lot of names and references, and clear language helps you connect dots instead of collecting fragments.
You’ll also benefit from her approach: punctual, attentive to questions, and patient. For you, that translates to a tour where you can ask why a place matters, not just what it is. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a tour that moves too fast for real questions, this one is built to feel slower and more personal.
The result is that the places don’t just sound spiritual; they make sense. You finish with a stronger mental map of how Francis’s retreat life connects to San Damiano’s spiritual message and then to the Porziuncola-centered basilica.
Who should book this Assisi Franciscan tour
This tour is a great fit if you want:
- A focused, guided route through three essential Franciscan sites in one morning or afternoon window
- Clear English interpretation of key stories like the Canticle of the Creatures and the Crucifix of Saint Damien
- A small-group feel, since it’s private and limited to your group only
It’s especially good for people who like sacred sites but don’t want to spend the whole day bouncing between them on your own. The route is coherent, and you’re not left guessing how to connect each stop.
Should you book this tour or DIY Assisi?
Book it if you want Franciscan context without doing the homework. With three stops packed into about three hours, the biggest value is that someone helps you understand what you’re looking at: why Eremo Delle Carceri mattered, what San Damiano represents spiritually, and why Santa Maria degli Angeli is built around the Porziuncola Chapel.
Skip it if you’re the type who wants total freedom to linger at one site all day, or if you’re traveling at a time when weather is unpredictable and you hate planning around “good weather required.” Also consider going DIY if you already know the main Franciscan stories and just want to wander.
One more practical decision point: this experience is booked on average 43 days in advance. If you’re visiting during a busy travel season, you’ll have fewer date choices late in the game, even though the tour is free-cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time.
Overall, if your goal is meaningful sightseeing with real interpretation, this is a strong choice. The combination of private guiding, English explanations, and a route built around key Franciscan stories makes it the kind of tour that leaves you with understanding, not just photos.
FAQ
How long is the tour?
The tour is approximately 3 hours.
What are the main stops on the route?
You visit Eremo Delle Carceri, San Damiano, and Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Is admission included?
The tour information lists admission tickets as free for these stops. All fees and taxes are not included, so if anything specific comes up, it may be handled separately.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.
Is the tour offered in English?
Yes, it’s offered in English.
Does the price include transportation?
No. Private transportation is not included.
Where do we meet?
The meeting point is in Assisi, Province of Perugia (06081), Italy, and the exact spot is to be agreed.
What happens if the weather is poor or I need to cancel?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
