Religious Building · Assisi, Italy
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi; Latin: Basilica Sancti Francisci Assisiensis) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. Built 1228.
Photo: Berthold Werner via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Assisi, Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Building |
| Built | 1228 |
| Architect | Elias of Cortona, Lapo Tedesco |
| Length | Length: 80 m |
| Coordinates | 43.0747° N, 12.6056° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is known for
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi; Latin: Basilica Sancti Francisci Assisiensis) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died.
About Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi; Latin: Basilica Sancti Francisci Assisiensis) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. With its accompanying friary, Sacro Convento, the basilica is a distinctive landmark to those approaching Assisi.
History
The Franciscan friary (Sacro Convento) and the Lower and Upper Basilicas (Italian: Basilica inferiore e superiore) of Francis of Assisi were begun in honor of this local saint, immediately after his canonization in 1228. Simone di Pucciarello donated the land for the church, a hill at the west side of Assisi, known as "Hill of Hell" (Italian: Colle d'Inferno) where previously criminals were put to death. Today, this hill is called "Hill of Paradise".
Planning a visit? Visit the official Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Assisi |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Perugia / San Egidio Airport (PEG) |
| Distance from the airport | 12.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport (PEG) · Perugia (PG), Italy · 4.9 miles away
- Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI) · Rimini (RN), Italy · 65.3 miles away
- Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR) · Firenze (FI), Italy · 86.7 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Italy
More religious buildings
Frequently asked questions
What is Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi?
The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi; Latin: Basilica Sancti Francisci Assisiensis) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died.
Where is Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi located?
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is in Assisi, Italy. Its coordinates are 43.0747° N, 12.6056° E.
How do I get to Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi?
The nearest town is Assisi, and the nearest airport is Perugia / San Egidio Airport (PEG), about 12.7 miles away (straight line).
When was Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi built?
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi was built 1228.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Francis_of_Assisi — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207486 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.sanfrancescoassisi.org — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.