The Basilica of Saint Clare, known in Italian as Santa Chiara, stands on its own piazza a short walk from the centre of Assisi. It was built in the 13th century to honour Saint Clare, a follower of Saint Francis who founded the Poor Clares. Its pink and white striped stone and heavy buttresses make it easy to spot. Inside, the plain single nave leads to the crypt, where Saint Clare's body rests in a glass coffin beside relics of her and Saint Francis. Admission is free, and the piazza outside has a view over the Umbrian valley.
Built after Clare's death
Saint Clare died in 1253. She was buried the following day, 12 August, in the church of San Giorgio, the site where Saint Francis had first been buried. The Poor Clares were later granted that church by Pope Alexander IV, and a new basilica was built to hold her body.
The building was constructed between 1257 and 1265 in the Gothic style and was consecrated on 6 September 1265 by Pope Clement IV. It stands near the spot where the basilica of Saint Francis was built, about a kilometre away.
The façade and buttresses
The walls are banded in pink and white Subasio stone, the same local stone used across the town. Heavy buttresses run along the sides of the church, and a rose window sits in the façade.
From the piazza, the church is best seen from the side, where the buttresses reach up along the walls. The view over the valley is at its clearest from the square in front of the church.
Inside the basilica
The interior has a single nave and is plain. Fragments of frescoes remain on the walls and show how richly the church was once decorated. Works by the painter Puccio Capanna are also displayed.
The crypt contains the body of Saint Clare in a glass coffin, along with relics of her and of Saint Francis. The San Damiano Crucifix, a 12th-century cross in Byzantine style, is kept inside the basilica. It is the cross that Saint Francis is said to have heard speak to him.
Take time to walk through the different areas of the church, including the main altar, a side chapel for quiet prayer, and the area where the crucifix is displayed.
Visiting the basilica
Admission is free. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking area. The large paid car park beneath the church is central, and a few escalators lead up to the churchyard.
From the Cathedral of San Rufino, about 400 metres away, you can walk downhill along Via Sermei and see the bell tower of the basilica on the way.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
No. Admission is free.
Can you take photos inside?
No. Photography is not allowed inside the basilica.
Is the basilica wheelchair accessible?
Yes. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking area.
Where is Saint Clare buried?
Her body rests in the crypt, in a glass coffin, with relics of her and Saint Francis nearby.
How far is the Basilica of Saint Francis?
About one kilometre away.
