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Why was the Basilica of San Francesco built in Assisi?

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Bonaventura Berlinghieri: St. Francis and Scenes from His Life — St. Francis of Assisi *St. Francis and Scenes from His Life*, tempera on panel by Bonaventura Berlinghieri, 1235; in the Church of San Francesco, Pescia, Italy.

The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi was primarily built to serve as the permanent burial place for St. Francis of Assisi.12

Following his death in 1226, St. Francis was initially interred in the Church of San Giorgio. After his canonization in 1228, Pope Gregory IX laid the foundation stone for the new basilica to honor the saint and provide a dedicated site for his remains. By 1230, the lower church was sufficiently completed to allow for the transfer of his remains.21

Beyond its role as a tomb, the basilica was established as the spiritual center of the Franciscan order and became a major destination for pilgrims seeking to venerate the saint. Over time, it also evolved into a significant landmark for Italian art and architecture, housing an extensive collection of fresco paintings by masters such as Giotto and Cimabue.12