Located in central Italy, in the region of Umbria, Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, patron saint of Italy. Since Francis was canonized in 1228, only two years after his death, Assisi has been closely associated with the cult and diffusion of the Franciscan movement in the world, and its universal message of peace and tolerance. 

Assisi has a wealth of art treasures and religious architecture, such as the Basilica of San Francesco, an “an outstanding example of a type of architectural ensemble that has significantly influenced the development of art and architecture,” according to Unesco, which inscribed the site into its World Heritage list in 2000.