Hello Everyone
I am planning a 1 day visit to Assisi for my family of 4 adults. We will be in Assisi on Sunday, June 9, 2024. I am planning to arrive at the Basilica around noon and spend approximately 2 hours there.
I am assuming there will be tour groups and it will be busy. Should I plan on standing in line to get in at that time? If so, how long should I allow for waiting in a line ? 60 or 90 minutes ?
Thanks
Maryanne
Pre-Covid the tours swamped it between 10 and 3, so you'd hit it right in the middle, which is no fun. Suggest you stay in Assisi and go either before or after.
The other major Franciscan churches in Assisi and Santa Maria Maggiore are closed between noon and 2:30 or so. Therefore the Basilica which is open all day does get crowded then. The basilica is no where near as crowded later in the afternoon.
If you can spare some extra time, you can do what I did: take the bus up to the top of the town and wander slowly down the medieval streets (often with no one else in sight) toward the basilica. It was only as I reached the lower part of town that the surroundings became touristy. It sounds as if by doing this you'd be likely to hit the basilica when it's much less crowded.
We will be getting into Assisi at around 8am. We were going to go to Basilica of Santa Maria at that time but maybe we should go to the Basilica of St Francis first and then Basilica Santa Maria later on. We have a tour at the Hermitage planned at 3pm so we are planning on getting a taxi from Assisi to Hermitage at around 2pm. Effectively we have from 8am to 2pm to see Basilica Santa Maria, Basilica Santa Chiara and Basilica San Francisco. Any advice is appreciated on when I should go where.
Both Santa Maria degli Angeli (in the valley near the train station, houses the Portiuncula) and the Basilica of St Clare are closed between noon and 2:30 or so.
At Santa Maria degli Angeli there are sometimes Masses for pilgrimages in the Portiuncula typically early in the morning. Same for the Tomb of St Francis at the Basilica.
You could consider going to Santa Maria degli Angeli first (I believe it’s open at 7ish) then going back up to the town to Santa Chiara. Then to San Francesco which stays open all day.
Glad to hear you are going to the hermitage - the Carceri. Peaceful , prayerful.
Sunday!?! Tourists are not allowed to visit (as opposed to worship) during Mass times. The best you could hope for is standing at the entrance. Check Mass schedules and see if that helps your planning. You might have an easier time getting into the Basilica if you go to the lower level, where Francis is buried. There are stairs that will take you up to the next two levels - but they are only accessible if no Mass is going on. The Hermitage is an powerful place. I'm glad to hear that you are going there. Santa Chiara is also a great experience - the chapel to the right as you enter is attached to the cloister. Check schedules and try to be there when the nuns are chanting. If memory serves, vespers are sung about 5 o'clock. San Damiano is another place I would highly recommend. The crucifix that 'spoke' to Francis, which started his ministry, is there. Well worth the walk! My experience (17 years, 2 weeks each year), is that tour groups are pretty much gone by later in the afternoon.
