| What makes it historical? |
This basilica is actually a melding of two churches, upper and lower, that started construction the day after St. Francis of Assisi was canonized: July 16, 1228! It took twenty-three years to build, according to the designs of Maestro Jacopo Tedesco, and houses masterpiece frescoes by Giotto and his school!
St. Francis, or San Francesco, started his life here in Assisi as the son of wealthy silk merchant. Around the age of 24, he had a vision that caused him to rethink his wild and opulent lifestyle, and he began to strip away his material possessions to focus on rebuilding ailing churches like the Porziuncola! He founded a new, Franciscan Order, based in a vow of poverty, in 1209 and received official clearance from Pope Innocent III for his Order to continue as a branch of the Catholic Church. From there, St. Francis set out to preach, traveling to Spain, France, Egypt, and Jerusalem until he finally returned to the Porziuncola and passed on October 3, 1226! His remains are buried here in this basilica!
There are lots of legends surrounding St. Francis, such as his receipt of the stigmata, the five wounds of crucifixion, from a vision! He’s also known as the patron saint of animals, since he preached to a flock of bird, talked a hungry wolf into not eating people anymore, and proclaimed nature as an important creation that every being needed to celebrate! His feast day is on October 3rd! |
