Orari Visita:
da Pasqua a Novembre: 8.30 > 19.00
da Novembre a Pasqua: 8.30 > 17.00
According to a holy legend, the first cathedral of Assisi was founded in the 4th century by St. Savino, second bishop of Assisi. It was located next to the city walls, on the lower terrace of the Roman town where the Temple of Janus stood. The church was built on a Roman dwelling which was found during archeological excavations begun in 1864 and carried out more extensively in 1954, when a sarcophagus from the 8th century was also found. It is possible to hypothesize that the original building was extended at the end of the 9th century, when the crypt was built. Shortly before 1035 the title of Cattedrale was transferred to the church of San Rufino by Bishop Ugone, who. however, kept his episcopal seat in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. In 1162 the facade of the church was reconstructed by a master by the name of Giovanni, perhaps the architect Giovanni da Gubbio who designed the church of San Rufino. The apse area was reconstructed in 1216, as mentioned on a tablet where the name of St. Francis appears along with that of Bishop Guido. The information was repeated in another inscription painted in the Tribune. This was lost during the 1832 earthquake which caused the collapse of the roof and the right aisle. In 1938 the church was reinforced and the facade assumed its present appearance.
Texts Kindly offered by: Editrice Minerva Assisi