Basilica di Santa Chiara, Minor basilica in Assisi, Italy
The Basilica di Santa Chiara is a Gothic church in Assisi built with pink and white stone quarried from Monte Subasio. Its structure features side flying buttresses, a tall central nave, and the city's highest bell tower.
Construction began in 1257, just two years after Clare was declared a saint, and the builders incorporated the earlier Church of Saint George. That earlier church had once held the remains of Saint Francis before they were relocated.
The order of nuns has shaped daily spiritual practice in this place for centuries, with their presence and prayers still felt by visitors today. The living community continues to occupy the convent alongside the basilica, maintaining practices that connect modern worship to medieval traditions.
The basilica is within walking distance in Assisi's old town and involves some stairs and slopes in the surrounding streets. Morning visits tend to be quieter and offer better light inside the building for seeing the details.
A medieval cross that the young Saint Francis venerated is displayed above the high altar, having been moved here from another church in the area. This artwork held deep meaning for Francis as a symbol of his spiritual awakening.
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