Chiesa Nuova (New Church), Assisi

This church sprung up in 1615, marking the spot believed to be where Saint Francis took his first breath, in the house of Pietro di Bernardone. Dubbed the 鈥淣ew Church鈥� back then, it was the swan song of Assisi's church-building spree. The impetus? Spanish Vicar General Antonio de Trejo's heartache at seeing Saint Francis's humble birthplace fall into disrepair during his 1613 Assisi jaunt. Thanks to some royal backing from Spain and a princely sum of 6,000 ducats, the dream became reality.

Pope Paul V laid the cornerstone in a grand ceremony, parading it from San Rufino Cathedral to the construction site in 1615. Crafted in late Renaissance style, the church boasts a lofty dome, its ceiling divided into coffers, crowned with a lantern and drum.

Inside, frescoes from the 17th century bedeck the walls, but the cherry on top? The high altar perched atop Saint Francis's very room, where visitors can also peek into the shop where he peddled his wares and the staircase where he was once held captive by his own father. Legend has it, it was here that Francis made his life-altering decision to forsake earthly riches.

The friary next door doubles as a museum and home to an impressive Franciscan library, brimming with ancient codices and rare tomes.

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Sight Name: Chiesa Nuova (New Church)
Sight Location: Assisi, Italy (See walking tours in Assisi)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Assisi Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Assisi, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Assisi

Creating your own self-guided walk in Assisi is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

St. Francis' Assisi Walking Tour

A holy city for Christians, Assisi has been an eternal destination of pilgrimage since the 13th century for those venerating Saint Francis and wanting to the see where he was born, worked, died and was buried. As the birthplace of one of Catholicism鈥檚 most revered saints (and one of Italy's two saintly patrons), Assisi holds religion very close to its heart.

The entire city-sanctuary 鈥�... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Assisi Introduction Walking Tour

Assisi is located on the western slope of Mount Subasio. It is 1,300 feet above sea level, overlooking the rivers Topino and Chiasicio. It is a walled city with narrow, twisting streets and alleys. It originally was known as Assisium. Successively Umbrian, Etruscan and Roman, it became a Ghibelline commune in the 11th century.

There were clashes with Guelph Perugia. In the battle of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

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