UNESCO World Heritage Site UNESCO collectively designated the Franciscan structures of Assisi as a
World Heritage Site in 2000, under the name
Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites. The inscription comprises two main areas:
Historic centre of Assisi and surrounding sites •
Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi: Constructed between 1228 and 1253 following the
canonization of St. Francis, the complex includes the
Sacro Convento and the lower (
Basilica inferiore) and upper (
Basilica superiore) churches. The lower church features
frescoes by
Cimabue and
Giotto, while the upper church contains scenes from the life of St. Francis, once attributed to Giotto but now believed to be the work of painters from the Roman school of
Pietro Cavallini. The basilica suffered severe damage during a 5.5-magnitude earthquake on 26 September 1997, which caused part of the vault to collapse, killing four people and destroying a fresco by Cimabue. Restoration took two years. • The Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco. •
Church of San Damiano: One of the first churches restored by St. Francis, and the site of one of his most famous visions. It was later given to St. Clare as the first home of the
Poor Clares. •
Eremo delle Carceri: a small monastery with a church at a canyon above the town, where St. Francis retreated and preached to birds • The Santuario di Rivotorto, a sanctuary marking the site of Francis's early communal life. •
Cathedral of San Rufino (St. Rufinus): church with a
façade in
Romanesque style with three
rose windows and a 16th‑century interior; part of it is built on a
cistern from the
Roman era. Location of the baptism of both St. Francis and St. Clare and the surviving
font carved out of a granite Roman column. •
Basilica of Santa Chiara (St. Clare): Begun in 1257, this church is characterized by its massive lateral
buttresses, a prominent
rose window, and a simple
Gothic interior. It contains 13th-century frescoes and paintings, as well as the
tomb of its namesake saint,
Saint Clare of Assisi. • The historic urban fabric of Assisi itself and its surrounding cultural landscape.
Santa Maria degli Angeli and Porziuncola •
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels); a large baroque church built to contain: • The
Porziuncola, a chapel restored by St. Francis next to which was constructed the first convent of the
Order of Friars Minor; • The
Transito, chapel built in the cell where St. Francis died. • The Palazzo del Capitano del Perdono, a historical structure associated with the tradition of the "Pardon of Assisi". Together, these sites reflect the religious, artistic, and architectural legacy of the Franciscan movement and its influence throughout medieval and modern Europe.
Other landmarks The town is dominated by two medieval
castles. The larger, known as the
Rocca Maggiore, was extensively rebuilt by
Cardinal Albornoz in 1366, and later expanded by Popes
Pius II—who added the polygonal tower in 1458—and
Paul III, who built the cylindrical bastion near the entrance between 1535 and 1538. The smaller castle, originally built during the
Roman era, is only partially preserved. A small section and three towers remain and are open to the public. Other sights include: • The Roman
amphitheater, built in the early 1st century AD. Its elliptical plan is still visible through the medieval houses constructed around it and through a surviving arch of travertine cunei. The former arena is now occupied by a garden. • The
Piazza del Comune ("Communal Square"), home to several notable buildings: the
Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (mid-13th century, featuring merlons added in 1927), the adjoining
Torre del Popolo ("People's Tower", 1305), and the
Palazzo dei Priori ("Palace of the Priors", 1275–1493). The fountain on the southern side, decorated with three lions, dates from the 16th century. • The
Temple of Minerva, a well-preserved Roman temple facing the
Piazza del Comune. • The crypt of the demolished church of
San Nicolò di Piazza, also located on the
Piazza del Comune, where St. Francis and
Bernard of Quintavalle are said to have consulted the Gospels when forming the earliest
Franciscan Rule. • The Abbey of St. Benedict, founded in the 10th century on Monte Subasio. Remains include a late 11th-century crypt, the apse, and sections of the external walls. •
Chiesa Nuova: A church built over what is traditionally believed to be the parental home of St. Francis. •
The Piccolino Chapel: A small chapel marking the legendary birthplace of St. Francis. •
Church of San Pietro (St. Peter): Originally built by the
Benedictines in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 13th century. The church features a rectangular façade with three
rose windows, and a Gothic chapel of the Holy Sacrament that houses a triptych by Matteo di Gualdo. •
Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary the Greater): The earliest extant church in Assisi and formerly the cathedral of the city. •
Santo Stefano: One of the oldest churches in Assisi, notable for its simple and early Romanesque design.
Art Assisi has had a rich tradition of art through the centuries and is now home to a number of well-known artistic works. Artists
Pietro Lorenzetti and
Simone Martini worked shoulder to shoulder at Assisi. The
Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi includes a number of artistic works. Simone Martini's 1317 fresco there reflects the influence of
Giotto in
realism and the use of brilliant colours. Lorenzetti's fresco at the lower church of the Basilica includes a series of panels depicting the
Crucifixion of Jesus,
Deposition from the Cross, and
Entombment of Christ. The figures Lorenzetti painted display emotions, yet the figures in these scenes are governed by geometric emotional interactions, unlike many prior depictions which appeared to be independent iconic aggregations. Lorenzetti's 1330
Madonna dei Tramonti also reflects the ongoing influence of
Giotto on his
Marian art, midway through his career. == Culture ==