One of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy, the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi is also a Unesco World Heritage site, welcoming visitors as a distinctive landmark as they approach the Umbrian town, birthplace of Francis.

The basilica of Saint Francis was built starting from 1228, just two years after Francis’ death, as a place destined to guard the saint’s remains. The first stone was placed by Pope Gregory IX on 17 July 1228, the day after the canonization of Francis. According to tradition, Francis himself, as he was nearing his death, indicated that location to his Franciscan brothers as the place for his burial.