The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
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The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
The Basilica is the symbol of Assisi, and one of the most venerated sanctuaries of the whole Christian world.
It saw the light in 1228, two years after the Saint’s death, and it is composed by two churches, one placed above the other: the Lower one, low and dark, built on solid and squat pillars, and the Upper one, vertical and luminous.
The façade has a Romanic structure, simple and linear, with a wonderful rose window. Only the entrance door, with its bipartition, is in Umbrian gothic style, but the bell-tower, built in 1239, is Romanic as well.
On the flanks of the Basilica are visible the flying buttresses and the rampant arches, which lean on huge cylindrical structures that serve as support for the architectural frame. The frescos inside the church represent a real masterpiece of the 13th and 14th century painting. In the lower church, the walls and vaults are enriched with masterpieces by Giotto, Cimabue, Lorenzetti and Simone Marini, which illustrate the life of Jesus and St. Francis. Halfway the nave, a staircase leads down to the crypt, where the sepulchre of the Saint is kept.
Access to the Upper Basilica is provided through the beautiful cloister which belongs to the annexed convent. Inside, all along the walls of the nave it is possible to admire the superb cycle of frescos painted by Giotto on the life of St. Francis.
Addresses and timetables:
Basilica:
Tel.: 075819001
Fax: 0758190035
Lower Basilica:
open from Easter to November:
working days: from 6.30 am to 18.50 pm
feast days: from 6.30 am to19.15 pm
open from November to Easter
daily 6.30 am- 18.00 pm
Upper Basilica:
open from Easter to November:
working days: from 8.30 am to 18.50 pm
feast days: from 8.30 am to 19.15 pm
open from November to Easter
daily 8.30 am- 18.00 pm
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Places not to miss
» The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
» Church of Saint Claire in Assisi
» Rocca Maggiore - The Fortress in Assisi
» Saint Rufinus’ Cathedral in Assisi
» Town square and the Temple of Minerva in Assisi