🕊️ Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi
Italy
About This Sacred Site
The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi is built over the tomb of St. Francis (1181/82-1226), the beloved saint who renounced wealth to live in poverty and harmony with nature. The complex includes two churches stacked one above the other: the sombre Lower Basilica and the luminous Upper Basilica. The Upper Basilica contains Giotto's celebrated fresco cycle depicting 28 scenes from the life of St. Francis, one of the most important works in the history of Western art. The site is a major pilgrimage destination and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000
- •Giotto's 28-scene fresco cycle in the Upper Basilica revolutionized Western painting
- •St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, ecology, and Italy
- •A devastating 1997 earthquake collapsed parts of the ceiling frescoes, which were painstakingly restored
- •Pope Francis took his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi
Location
Coordinates: 43.0753, 12.6067
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