The Pilgrim's Way

Burial church of the Saint, a double church of Romanesque-Gothic genius. The Lower Basilica holds his tomb; the Upper Basilica displays the famous fresco cycle of his life. Pope Gregory IX laid the foundation stone the very day after canonizing Francis — making it one of the fastest-built major churches in history.

The ruined chapel where the crucifix spoke — "repair my house" — and where Francis composed the Canticle at the end of his life. Later given to Saint Clare and her sisters, it remains a convent of Poor Clares to this day.

The tiny chapel Francis restored with his own hands, the true birthplace of his Order. Here the Franciscan movement began, and here he died on the night of October 3rd, 1226. It now sits enclosed within an enormous basilica, a small thatch within a palace.

The hermitage-cave where Francis and his brothers withdrew to pray, far from the noise of the world. A forest path of ancient holm oaks still leads to the grotto where he slept on stone.

The mountain of the stigmata. On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, in a vision of the seraph, Francis received the five wounds of Christ. The Sasso Spaccato — the split rock behind which he hid in fear — is still shown to pilgrims.

Here Francis staged the first living Nativity scene, with an ox and ass, to make the poverty of Bethlehem palpable. From this quiet hillside the tradition of the Christmas crib spread to the whole world.

The Rieti sanctuaries where Francis drafted the Later Rule and sought rest for his failing eyes. He once fled La Foresta by night and was recalled by the famous Sugliano woman, after whom the folk-song "O Francis, do not go" is named.