Trattoria Pallotta
What to order: strangozzi alla Pallotta and, as a main course, pigeon alla ghiotta or rabbit cacciatore with torta al testo
geocalia
Day itinerary · 43.07° N · 12.62° E
Assisi in a day from Rome, by train and on foot.
Regional train from Termini, the Porziuncola chapel next to the station, Giotto's basilica, Umbrian lunch in the main square and the fortress above the valley.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Roma fromBarcelona 1 h 45Alicante 2 h 15Bilbao 2 h 15Valencia 2 h 15Zaragoza 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Asturias 2 h 45Málaga 2 h 45Sevilla 2 h 45Fuerteventura 4 h 30
Part of Assisi
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h 30 each way
From RomeAbout 2 h 30 by train
From the train to the centreBus, Assisi Link ticket
WalkingAbout 2 h, with slopes
DifficultyEasy, but steep
Best timeApril – June · September – October
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Rome 2 h 30 by train
Regional from Roma Termini, direct or changing at Foligno; buy the ticket to "Assisi Centro" to include the bus
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1
Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Porziuncola
The Porziuncola, a few minutes' walk from the station · free
- 15 min by bus
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2
Basilica of St Francis, the two churches and the crypt
Busitalia bus to the upper town · lower church, crypt and upper church · free
- 12 min on foot
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3
Trattoria Pallotta
Strangozzi and rabbit cacciatora · book by WhatsApp · closed on Tuesdays
Piazza del Comune, 3 (bajo el arco de la Volta Pinta), 06081 Assisi · +39 075 815 5273
Restaurant €€Book - 12 min on foot
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4
Rocca Maggiore, the fortress above Assisi
Fortress with views over the whole valley · €8
- 12 min on foot
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5
Pasticceria Sensi
A portion of rocciata, €5
Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, 14, 06081 Assisi · +39 075 812529
Bakery €Book -
Back home 15 min by bus
Bus to the station
- 2 h 30 by train · Regional to Roma Termini; check the timetable before going down
Approximate cost
About €30–55 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Porziuncola
Assisi can be done in a day from Rome without a car, although it is a long day: two and a half hours of regional train each way. It is worth it because everything fits. The station is next to the basilica of the Porziuncola, a bus goes up to the upper town and, up there, the Basilica of St Francis, the main square and the fortress are covered on foot. Wear comfortable shoes: Assisi is a hillside.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train from Termini. Take a regional to Assisi, direct or changing at Foligno. When buying, choose "Assisi Centro" as the destination: the Assisi Link ticket adds the bus from the station to the centre for €1.30, and that stretch is not sold separately.
10:05 · The Porziuncola. Leave the station and walk a few minutes to Santa Maria degli Angeli, the enormous basilica on the plain that holds inside it the tiny chapel of the Porziuncola. Allow 45 minutes.
11:00 · The Basilica of St Francis. Take the bus up to the upper town. Start with the lower church and the crypt with the saint's tomb, and finish in the upper church, with the frescoes of the life of St Francis. Admission is free and silence is requested: there are Masses throughout the day.
13:00 · Lunch at Trattoria Pallotta. Walk along Via San Francesco to Piazza del Comune. The trattoria is under the arch of the Volta Pinta, since 1860: strangozzi alla Pallotta, rabbit cacciatore with torta al testo or pigeon alla ghiotta. Book by WhatsApp. Closed on Tuesdays.
15:00 · The Rocca Maggiore. Climb from the square to the fortress at the top of the town: towers, a wall walk and the view of the whole Umbrian valley. €8. From November to February it closes at 17:00.
16:30 · Rocciata at Sensi. Go down to Corso Mazzini and order a slice of rocciata, Assisi's apple and walnut roll, with a coffee. If you want to take a whole one home, €28.
17:15 · Return. Bus to the station and train to Rome. At Termini at about eight in the evening, depending on the train.
With children
The Rocca is what they like most: towers, a passage and stairs. At the basilica, tell them the story of St Francis and the animals beforehand. The streets are steep and cobbled: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair.
Time45 min
Change the route
For a special lunch, Thursday to Sunday, over the remains of a Roman house:
La Locanda del Cardinale
If you walk well and have time: the hermitage in the Subasio woods, instead of the Rocca:
Hike from Assisi to the Eremo delle Carceri and the Croce di Sassopiano
In early May, the city at its medieval festival:
Calendimaggio, the medieval May festival
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
La Locanda del Cardinale
What to order: seasonal Umbrian cooking and something from the wine cellar, which the Michelin Guide highlights
Takeaway and markets
Pasticceria Sensi, Assisi
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Assisi
All year, any day except Tuesday, when Trattoria Pallotta is closed. In spring and autumn there are more daylight hours and the Rocca closes later; in August, heat and many pilgrims.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the ticket to Assisi Centro
That way the bus is included.
- 2Book lunch
Trattoria Pallotta fills up at midday with people leaving the basilica.
- 3Check the last train
Before climbing to the Rocca, check the return times.
If it rains
The basilica and the Porziuncola are under cover; swap the Rocca for the crypt and the Porziuncola museum.
We'd skip it
Tuesday, if you want to eat at Trattoria Pallotta: it is closed that day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Rome to Assisi by train?
About two and a half hours by regional train, direct or changing at Foligno.
Is the station in Assisi?
It is down below, at Santa Maria degli Angeli. A bus goes up to the centre.
How much does the bus cost?
€1.30 with the combined Assisi Link ticket.
Do you pay for the basilica?
No, admission is free.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/italy/umbria/assisi/itineraries/rome-assisi-train-day-trip-basilica-rocca
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.