Sanctuary of Rivotorto, Gothic Revival shrine and church in Rivotorto, Italy.
The Sanctuary of Rivotorto is a church with a pink stone facade divided into three sections and decorated with ornate portals, located a short distance from Assisi. Inside, mosaics cover the walls with scenes from the life of Saint Francis and the early monastic community that gathered here.
A first structure stood on this site from 1445 until an earthquake in 1853 brought it down. The building that stands today was then constructed in the Gothic Revival style.
The interior walls carry paintings from the 17th century that show scenes from the early Franciscan community and their daily life at this site. These works give visitors a direct visual sense of the religious routines practiced here long ago.
The sanctuary sits outside Assisi and can be reached by bus or on foot from the train station. It is worth allowing extra time to walk around the surrounding grounds at a comfortable pace.
Beneath the newer parts of the sanctuary, a small stone hovel survives where Saint Francis is said to have written the first Rule of the Minorites. This modest space is considered one of the oldest tangible traces of Franciscan origins.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
