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The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi
  • Gennaio 02, 2025
  • Riccardo
  • 3849
To see: landscape & special place

The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi

The Basilica was commissioned by Pope Gregory IX with the Bull "Recolentes" of 29 April 1228 and since 1230 it has kept the mortal remains of the saint.
The same pontiff awarded her the title of "Caput et Mater" of the Minorite Order in 1230, entrusting her custody for ever to the friars of the community, the group that went on to form the Order of Minor Conventual Friars.

The title of "Caput et Mater" was recalled by Benedict XIV in 1754, the year in which the pope elevated it to the dignity of patriarchal basilica (since 2006 "papal basilica") and papal chapel.

The structure of the Basilica is composed by two superimposed churches: the lower church, built for first, is in Umbrian Romanesque style of Lombard derivation, while the second, the upper one, is marked by the French Gothic style, Italianized especially by the colors and decorations.

In front of the atrium that precedes the entrance to the lower church of the Basilica is the former oratory of San Bernardino.

In 2000, the Basilica was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other Franciscan sites.

Tomb of Saint Francis

The tomb of Saint Francis is visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world. It is a simple stone sarcophagus enclosed in the pillar under the high altar of the lower church of the Basilica.

The body of the saint was moved to the Basilica in 1230 and the crypt where you can visit the tomb was dug in the living stone in 1820.

In the corner niches are the tombs of four disciples of the Saint: Angelo, Leo, Masseo and Rufino.

In front of the Tomb of Saint Francis burns a votive lamp powered by oil donated each year from a different region of Italy on the occasion of the feast of 4 October.

Lower Church

The Lower church of the Basilica, begun to build in 1228, was completed after only 2 years.
The project is traditionally attributed to Friar Elia, to Lapo or Jacopo Tedesco, to Fra Giovanni della Penna or Fra Filippo da Campello.

The central nave recalls the Romanesque style and looks like a gallery. The high altar is surmounted by a cross vault, the work of Giotto and his workshop (1315 c.ca), and is one of the most famous artistic treasures of the entire Basilica.
Its four sails depict the three religious vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, as well as a representation of Saint Francis in diaconal dress.

In addition to Giotto, who also painted the frescoes of the Chapel of La Maddalena, the lower church is decorated with frescoes by Cimabue, Lorenzetti, Sermei and the anonymous Umbrian artist called the "Master of San Francesco".

Superior Church

The construction of the upper church of the papal basilica of San Francesco in Assisi was completed in 1253 by Innocent IV.

Its architecture is reminiscent of the French Gothic style but with lines and colors in a typical Italian style. The interior consists of a single nave with four bays. The windows have colored glass and the architectural ensemble creates a sense of balance and serenity.

The presbytery is decorated with frescoes by Cimabue and the painter known as the Maestro Oltremontano. The nave offers frescoes on the history of salvation, while in the register below, a cycle on the history of Francis and his Order, work of Giotto to judgment of some scholars or of a Roman school of painting according to others.

Sacred Convent

Consecrated with the Papal Basilica by Innocent IV in 1253, the Sacred Convent is characterized by a complex construction history and difficult to document accurately.
From 1639 to 1653 stayed there Fra' Giuseppe da Copertino, while in the Napoleonic era it suffered a plunder in 1798. After the unification of Italy and the suppression of religious orders, in 1875 it became the seat of the national boarding school for orphans of elementary teachers. Only in 1927 was it returned to the friars minor conventual, for being included in 2000 in the UNESCO World Heritage List.


Library and Archives

Inside the Sacred Convent of S. Francesco in Assisi have their headquarters:

- the Library of the Sacred Convent, ecclesiastical library open to the public, dependent on the Custody General of the Sacred Convent of the Friars Minor Conventual.

- the Ancient Fund of the Municipal Library of Assisi, which collects the libraries of the convents of Assisi suppressed in 1866.

- The Library of the International Society of Franciscan Studies - SISF, hosted by the Biblioteca del Sacro Convento since 1999.


Museum of the Treasury

The Museum of the Treasury of the Basilica was built and developed from the 13th century. The core consists of works for liturgical use, kept in the secret sacristy of the Lower Church. Over the centuries, the collection has been enriched with precious donations, relics, liturgical books and vestments.