the burial place of st.francis, this basilica was begun in 1228, two years after the saint's death.
over the next century its upper and lower churches were decorated by the foremost artists of their day, among them cimabue, simone martini, pietro lorenzetti and giotto, whose frescoes on the life of st.francis are some of the most renowed in italy.
the basilica, which dominates assisi, is one of the great christian shrines and receives vast numbers of pilgrims throughout the year.
sight at a glance:
the campanile;
the crypt;
frescoes by giotto;
frescoes by lorenzetti;
cappella di san martino.