Basilica superiore di San Francesco d'Assisi

About Basilica superiore di San Francesco d'Assisi

📜 History

The construction of the basilica began on July 16, 1228, just one day after the canonization of Francis of Assisi, which occurred on July 15 of that same year. The work was supervised by friar Elías de Cortona, the papal representative, and developed in successive stages. The lower basilica was completed in 1230, the year in which the saint's remains were transferred from the church of San Giorgio to the new sanctuary. The upper basilica was consecrated on May 25, 1253, and the construction of the complex was completed around 1367 with the chapel of Santa Catalina. During the French invasion of 1798, the complex was sacked. Between 1810 and 1814, the Franciscan order was suppressed and later restored. In 1818, the saint's tomb was rediscovered in a stone sarcophagus. In 1939, when Francis of Assisi was proclaimed patron saint of Italy, the basilica obtained the rank of national sanctuary. On September 26, 1997, a high-intensity earthquake caused serious damage to the upper basilica: 130 square meters of medieval frescoes were reduced to fragments, and four people lost their lives. After a restoration process called Il cantiere dell'utopia, the complex reopened on November 29, 1999.

🏛️ Architecture

The basilica is built in the Italian Gothic style and is articulated into two superimposed churches: the lower basilica, with more restrained proportions, and the upper basilica, more luminous and of greater height. The complex measures approximately 80 meters in length and 50 meters in width. The bell tower, in the Romanesque style, reaches 60 meters in height. The original design was conceived by friar Elías de Cortona. The interior walls house cycles of frescoes of capital importance for the history of Western art. Cimabue painted the frescoes of the transept and the apse between 1272 and 1280. Giotto executed in the nave of the upper basilica a cycle of 28 scenes about the life of Francis of Assisi, based on the Legenda Maior of Saint Bonaventure. Simone Martini executed the frescoes of the chapel of San Martín between 1312 and 1315, and Pietro Lorenzetti painted scenes of the Passion in the lower basilica. The crypt houses the chapel of the Relics, which preserves the tunic and sandals of Francis of Assisi, two autograph documents—the Blessing to Brother Leo and the Praises of God—and an ivory horn gifted by the Egyptian sultan al-Malik al-Kamil in 1219.

⭐ Key Facts

The basilica is administered by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and belongs to the diocese of Asís-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino. Since 1289 it has held the rank of papal chapel, a condition that grants it a direct link with the Holy See. In 1754, Pope Benedict XIV granted it the title of patriarchal basilica, and in 1939 it was declared a national sanctuary when Francis of Assisi was proclaimed patron saint of Italy. In the year 2000, the basilica and the complex of Franciscan sites of Asís were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria i, ii, iii, iv, and vi, with identification number 990. The dossier covers an area of 14,563 hectares. The complex preserves relics of Francis of Assisi, including his tunic, the sandals associated with the stigmata, and autograph documents of singular historical value. The saint's tomb, rediscovered in 1818, constitutes the devotional center of the sanctuary. The complex is one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations in the Catholic world and receives visitors from Europe and Latin America throughout the year.

The Basilica of San Francisco de Asís allows one to traverse eight centuries of religious and artistic history in a single place. The lower basilica, with its intimate atmosphere, contrasts with the luminosity of the upper nave, covered in frescoes that marked a turning point in European painting. The crypt, where the saint's remains rest, offers a space for reflection that attracts both pilgrims and those interested in medieval art. The complex, recognized by UNESCO in the year 2000, remains open for worship and visits as a living testimony of the Franciscan tradition.

✍️ Curated by María del Carmen Salazar · Last updated: 2026-03-29
Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team