Sacro Convento

Basilica and monastery seen from the valley

The Franciscan Minorites call the Sacro Convento the mother monastery and at the same time the spiritual center of their order in Assisi , in Umbria , Italy . The building of the monastery is built together with the Basilica of San Francesco , in whose crypt the bones of St. Francis of Assisi rest, on the edge of Assisi on the slopes of Monte Subasio . There, on the so-called Hill of Hell (Collo d'Inferno) outside Assisi's city wall at that time, where executions took place, Francis wanted to be buried, in memory of his example Jesus of Nazareth , who was executed like a criminal outside of Jerusalem .

history

The construction of the basilica and the monastery began in July 1228, the year of the canonization of Francis by Pope Gregory IX. who initiated the construction of the Holy Sepulcher and laid the foundation stone himself on July 17, 1228 .

Tomb of St. Francis in the crypt

The entire church complex is planned and executed as a double church, with the so-called upper church Basilica Superiore and one floor below the lower church Basilica Inferiore . Inextricably linked with these churches is the Sacro Convento monastery , the motherhouse of all Franciscan monasteries . St. Francis , who died in Portiuncula on October 3, 1226 , was first buried in the Church of San Giorgio (on the site of today's Church of the Holy Sepulcher Santa Chiara for St. Clare ) and then moved to the so far in 1230, after two years of construction completed lower church transferred. Historians agree that the entire complex was completed within 11 years, around 1239. The original monastery area contained a refectory (dining room), a dormitory (dorm), a chapter hall (meeting room), a papal hall and scriptorium - Library . In the first two centuries of its emergence the library with a similar number of manuscripts (stand manuscripts ) in competition with the libraries of the Sorbonne and that of Avignon .

In the 15th century, under Pope Sixtus IV , the monastery was greatly enlarged and used as the summer residence of the popes.

In the 17th century, the Spanish kings donated a larger guest house to the Sacro Convento so that the brothers could better accommodate the numerous pilgrims .

Famous residents

• the composer Giuseppe Tartini developed his musical arts here from 1710 to 1713.

Usage today

In 1971, a theological institute approved by the Vatican was set up to train students of all branches of the Franciscan order, including those of the sister communities, as well as Benedictines . Candidates for the priesthood of the diocese , as well as lay people, can also conduct religious studies there.

Monastery and basilica

• 
• 

  monastery

• 

  Courtyard of the monastery

Web links

Commons : Basilica di San Francesco (Assisi) - Sacro Convento  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Sacro Convento (English)

Coordinates: 43 ° 4 ′ 29 ″  N , 12 ° 36 ′ 19.6 ″  E