BASILICA SANTA CHIARA

In Gothic style, this basilica is dedicated to St. Clare (1194-1253), the first female disciple of St. Francis and founder of the Franciscan-inspired female order of Poor Clares. Clare was canonized only two years after her death, as was St. Francis. Born in Assisi in 1194, Clare Offreducio chose at the age of eighteen to follow the example of St. Francis and made a vow of chastity and poverty at the hands of Francis in 1212. She cut off her long blond hair and put on the robe. She will then be joined by her sister Catherine (and later her sister Beatrice) and other young women. This first community will lead a life of prayer, simple, poor and faithful to the Franciscan heritage. The basilica was built by Filippo di Campello between 1257 and 1265 on the foundations of the pre-existing Church of St. George, of which a chapel and the crypt have been preserved. It has a simple but beautiful façade made of white and pink limestone, the characteristic colours of this stone that comes from the nearby town of Subasio, and it is decorated with a beautiful rose window. Inside, the nave with four high bays is bare and modest. The majestic arcades support both sides of the basilica. It houses frescoes by artists of the school of Giotto (12th century), the crucifix in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which is said to have spoken to St. Francis, and, in the crypt, the body of the saint and her relics (tunics, shoes and locks of hair).