The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi

It is impossible to think of Assisi without references to the saint who, together with Catherine of Siena, was proclaimed patron of Italy by Pope Pius XII in 1939. Well, Assisi is still at the center of a journey that crosses these lands and leads to Rome. A path that obviously passes through the places of St. Francis, a character who, between history and legend, has nevertheless made himself the bearer of a more timely message than ever. Peace and respect not only for men but also for nature. A substantial study is certainly given by the Basilica of St. Francis Guided Tour. With a certified local guide, it will be possible to retrace the stages of the saint’s life, entering one of the most beautiful and important sanctuaries in the world: the Basilica of St. Francio of Assisi. Every year, visited by millions of tourists and pilgrims, the Sanctuary offers the visitor an astonishing scenery, capable of striking the eye and attention of anyone who enters it for the first time. After all, it is the most splendid manifestation of art inspired by the glory of the saint of Assisi. A candid emblem and symbol of the city itself. Discover by participating in the aforementioned tour the life of the two greatest Italian artists who worked on the Basilica, Giotto and Cimabue. Study their style, their technique, their very life, and what made them great. Do not hesitate to enter to admire their fabulous frescoes of the central nave and the dome, a unique artistic and historical heritage of inestimable value. Start from the top with a Gothic style architecture up to a Romanesque style. Learn the steps, the characteristics and the building structure. This and much more within a journey nestled between history and religion.

Things to know about Basilica of St. Francis

The Basilica, built on the west side of the mountain, dominates the plain below with a view as far as the eye can see. The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is considered the “Caput et Mater” of the entire Franciscan order. It consists of two distinct parts, two superimposed churches, the Upper Basilica and the Lower Basilica. The second is more earlier than the first and today contains the relics of the saint. The Upper Basilica, built after the death of St. Francis, around 1230 by Pope Gregory IX, is a perfect representation of Italian Gothic. Inside, in the cross vaults and on the side walls, some of the many works that make this Basilica one of the masterpieces of Italian art are represented, they are the works of Giotto, depicting the life of the Saint. Some believe it to be the first color film in the life of St. Francis. We are talking about 28 scenes placed one after the other thanks to which it is possible to find different techniques and styles. From the Byzantine of 1200, with still figures and without pathos, to Giottesque realism, with scenes of everyday life and human faces. Unlike the Upper Basilica, the Lower one is Romanesque in style, inviting meditation with darker and more subdued lights. It is the first Basilica to be created right above the crypt containing the remains of the Saint. Entering both basilicas means being inundated by an explosion of color, light, almost joy. Simple and essential ornaments. The rest is only devotion and deep Christian respect in the style preached by the Saint of Assisi.