Treasure Museum of the basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Religious museum at Basilica of Saint Francis, Assisi, Italy
The Treasure Museum of the basilica is housed in two halls on the north side of the Renaissance cloister and displays sacred objects accumulated over many centuries. The collection includes paintings, textiles, and decorative pieces that were donated to the sanctuary by devotees and church dignitaries.
The collection started with gifts presented to the basilica, including a gold cross adorned with precious stones from Pope Gregory IX during a major religious ceremony. Over centuries, donations from popes, nobility, and pilgrims enlarged the collection as the sanctuary grew in importance.
The halls display Flemish tapestries and medieval majolica that reflect the artistic wealth given to the sanctuary over centuries. Visitors encounter works from different Italian painting schools that shaped the visual expression of faith in earlier times.
Entry to the museum is gained through the second level of the Renaissance cloister, and the space is open on regular visiting days. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to view the objects in both halls without rushing.
The collection holds rare 13th-century Sicilian silk cloths and an illuminated Parisian prayer book that belonged to King Louis IX. These objects reveal the long-distance trade networks and artistic exchanges that shaped medieval Europe.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
