The history of Assisi has roots that delve much deeper than the time of Saint Francis and Saint Clare: we must leap back in time, when Asisium was an important ancient Roman municipium, a town of rich merchants, splendid villas and spas. It is perhaps not generally known that Propertius, one of the greatest elegiac poets of his time, was born in Assisi.
A great and extraordinarily well-preserved heritage from that fascinating period still remains, which is extremely precious from a cultural and artistic perspective.
The Temple of Minerva was built in the second half of the 1st century BC, was transformed into a Christian church, and today is a symbol of UNESCO values.
The archeological area of the Roman Forum preserves various rooms and finds from the ancient Roman era.
Assisi’s Roman amphitheater has partially preserved its appearance, such as in the cavea where the spectators sat.
The domus, or house, of Sextus Propertius is an ancient Roman building with marble floors and precious frescoes.
A Roman domus in the Pompeian style, it takes its name from the small domestic temple dedicated to the Lares deities, guardians of the home and family.
