Assisi, a city in the Umbria region, is a spiritual, artistic, and touristic center whose identity is intertwined with the figure of St. Francis.
Assisi, the city of St-Francis
Assisi is located on a hilltop in the Umbrian Valley. In this small city, everything goes back to St. Francis: the remains of the Saint have been preserved here since 1230 AD. The medieval urban setting is rich in breathtaking alleys and sights that assimilate perfectly with works of religious art of inestimable value.
The Basilica of St-Francis
The Basilica of St. Francis is the main attraction of Assisi. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, the basilica was built to host the thousands of pilgrims who travel to Assisi every year, led by a profound devotion to the Saint.
The Basilica is one of the oldest pieces of Gothic architecture in Italy, and it is famous all over the world for the majesty of the masterpieces it hosts: the frescos of Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti.
Interesting facts about the Basilica
The Basilica of St. Francis is located on a hill, on a square of irregular shape covered by green grass. Before the construction of the church, the hill was called Colle dell’Inferno, “Hill of Hell,” because it was where death sentences were carried out. Once the church was built, the name of hill changed to Colle del Paradiso, “Hill of Paradise.”
With construction starting in 1228 AD, the basilica is now a complex comprising two complementary churches, one on top of the other: the Upper and Lower Basilicas. The former is built in Lombard Romanic style, while the latter in Gothic style.