Saint Francis in Holy Year 2025
Whether you’re a person of faith or simply a traveler looking for a unique experience, 2025 offers an opportunity you can’t miss: the Catholic Church’s Holy Year, dedicated this year to “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee began on December 24, 2024, when Pope Francis opened the holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Assisi is also preparing for a remarkable year. On December 29, 2024, the Giubileo was launched with a celebration at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Assisi expects to welcome a large number of pilgrims who will journey in the spirit of St. Francis—the saint who was born in this town and who spent much of his life here. St. Francis is, after all, the patron saint of Italy.
The Via di Francesco
One of the many pilgrimages available is the Via di Francesco, a route that can be traversed from both the north (starting at La Verna in Tuscany) and the south (from Rome), always culminating in Assisi. In our blog today, we follow the final leg of the journey from the north, along the Strada Mattonata—a charming 3 km brick-paved path that connects the two most important basilicas dedicated to St. Francis: the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Basilica of St. Francis.
Walking the Strada Mattonata
The journey begins at Santa Maria degli Angeli, located on Piazza Porziuncola. This square is named after the small chapel found within the basilica—a very special spot where, in 1209, St. Francis founded his order, the Order of Friars Minor (better known as the Franciscans). It was also here, on October 3, 1226, that St. Francis passed away.
In the years following his death, pilgrims from every corner of the world flocked to this little chapel. To accommodate the growing number of visitors and to protect the historic site, Pope Pius V commissioned the construction of a basilica around the chapel. On March 25, 1569, the Pope himself laid the first stone of the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, although it wasn’t completed until 110 years later.
Picture from Cosiddetto.be – blog from Carl Buyck and Franka Verhoeyen
Picture from Cosiddetto.be – blog from Carl Buyck and Franka Verhoeyen
Walking route
Just to the left of the basilica, the Strada Mattonata begins. This ancient path, believed to date back to Roman times, welcomes you with the greeting “Pax et Bonum” (peace and all good) from St. Francis himself.
What makes this road so unique is that it is paved with small bricks, each inscribed with the names, surnames, and hometowns of the donors. After the devastating earthquake of 1997, the “Un mattone per Assisi” project invited people from around the globe to contribute—literally—by buying a brick and helping to rebuild the city.
As you walk along this historic route, you’ll gradually see the Basilica of St. Francis coming into view. Famous for its magnificent frescoes, this church is one of Italy’s most important examples of Gothic architecture and is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Take your time along the way. There are plenty of benches where you can pause and soak in the atmosphere, and if you’re walking on a warm day, don’t forget to bring a water bottle—numerous drinking fountains are available along the path.
The Basilica of St. Francis
After about an hour of walking, you’ll arrive in the heart of Assisi. Enter through the Porta San Francesco and stroll along Via Frate Elia until you reach the Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco. From this square, you can enter the lower church, which, although dimly lit, dazzles with splendid frescoes by artists such as Cimabue and Giotto. A double staircase from the lower church leads you down to the crypt, where St. Francis is enshrined.
For a brighter, more uplifting experience, ascend the steep staircase on the Piazza Inferiore to the upper church. Here, you’ll find another treasure: 28 frescoes depicting key moments in the life of St. Francis, all painted by Giotto. These works are celebrated as masterpieces of 13th-century Italian art.
More to see in Assisi
Assisi is a city filled with history and charm beyond its connection to St. Francis. Other highlights include the Basilica di Santa Chiara, dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi, one of St. Francis’s most devoted followers. The Piazza Commune, the heart of the city, invites you to relax on one of its many terraces as you admire landmarks such as the Temple of Minerva and the Fountain of the Three Lions.
Don’t miss the Rocca and the Bosco di San Francesco—both offer additional glimpses into the rich history and natural beauty of this enchanting region.
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