Basilica of St Francis limits access on 31 October

The Basilica of St Francis (San Francesco) in Assisi has announced a partial closure affecting the Upper Church on 31 October 2026. The Upper Church will open at 11am and close at 5pm, while the Lower Church and the tomb of Saint Francis remain open as usual.

The notice gives visitors a clear change to the normal visit on Saturday 31 October 2026. It was issued by the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis, the body responsible for the basilica, and covers the church itself in Assisi rather than another Franciscan site.

Upper Church access changes on 31 October

The operator describes the measure as a partial closure of the Basilica of St Francis. On 31 October, visitors cannot enter the Upper Church until 11am, and that part of the complex closes at 5pm. The Lower Church and the tomb remain open as usual under the same notice.

The same announcement also records a separate change for 30 October, when the Upper Church opens at 10am. That earlier date is not the main visitor change for 31 October, but it shows that the temporary arrangement covers two consecutive days.

The notice does not state a reason for the altered access. It does establish the practical effect for a visit: the Upper Church, where the official basilica description places fresco cycles and stained-glass windows, is unavailable during the first part of the day on 31 October.

Two churches define the Assisi landmark

The complex was commissioned by Pope Gregory IX through the papal bull Recolentes on 29 April 1228. It has housed the mortal remains of Saint Francis since 1230, and the Franciscan friars of the community have held responsibility for it since the early thirteenth century.

The building consists of two superimposed churches from distinct construction phases. The Lower Church reflects Umbrian-Romanesque influences, while the Upper Church combines French Gothic design with an Italian character. Giotto, Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini are among the artists represented in its fresco decoration, as recorded by the official basilica history.

The access notice therefore affects one of the two principal worship and art spaces rather than closing the whole complex. That distinction matters for travellers planning around the Upper Church, while the Lower Church and the saint’s tomb remain part of the visit on 31 October.

Assisi’s Franciscan sites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The protected area includes the basilica within the town walls, as well as other Franciscan locations around Assisi, according to the UNESCO site record.

Visiting Basilica of St Francis: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The access change applies on 31 October 2026: the Upper Church opens at 11am and closes at 5pm.
• The Lower Church and the tomb of Saint Francis remain open as usual on 31 October, so the partial closure does not affect the whole complex.
• The basilica stands at Piazza San Francesco in Assisi, inside the town’s historic area and within the UNESCO-listed Franciscan site.
• The complex has two superimposed churches, and the Upper Church contains frescoes by artists including Giotto, Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini.
• Assisi is in Italy, where Italian is the official language and the euro is the national currency.

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Frequently asked questions about Basilica of St Francis

What has changed at Basilica of St Francis?

On 31 October 2026, the Upper Church opens at 11am and closes at 5pm. The Lower Church and the tomb remain open as usual.

Where is Basilica of St Francis and how do you get there?

The basilica is at Piazza San Francesco in Assisi, Italy, within the town’s historic area and the UNESCO-listed Franciscan site.

What is Basilica of St Francis?

It is a papal basilica in Assisi made up of superimposed Lower and Upper Churches, and it has housed the remains of Saint Francis since 1230.