Sacro Convento

As Sacro Convento, the Franciscan Friars Minor called the mother monastery and at the same time spiritual center of their order in Assisi, Umbria, Italy. The building of the monastery is built together with the Basilica of San Francesco, in whose crypt contains the remains of St. Francis of Assisi on the outskirts of Assisi on the slopes of Mount Subasio. There, at the so-called hell hill ( Collo d' Inferno ) outside the former city walls of Assisi, where executions took place, Francis wanted to be buried, in memory of his example, Jesus of Nazareth, who was executed as a criminal outside of Jerusalem.

With the construction of the basilica and the monastery was started in July 1228, even laid the foundation stone in the year of the canonization of St. Francis by Pope Gregory IX. , Who proposed the construction of the Holy Sepulchre Church of the Holy and on 17 July 1228.

The entire church complex is planned as a double church and performed with the so-called upper church Basilica Superiore and a floor below the lower church Basilica Inferiore. Inextricably linked with these churches is the monastery Sacro Convento, the parent company of all Franciscan monasteries. The hl. Francis, who had already died on October 3, 1226 Portiuncula, was first in the church of San Giorgio buried (on the site of the present grave church of Santa Chiara of St. Clare ) and then in 1230, after two years already, in the maximum extent finished lower church converted. Historians agree that the entire complex was completed within 11 years, about 1239. The original area of ​​the monastery contained a refectory ( dining room), a dormitory ( dorm ), a chapter room ( meeting room), a papal hall and a Scriptorium library. In the first two centuries of its existence, library standing with a similar number of manuscripts ( manuscripts ) in competition with the libraries of the Sorbonne and the Avignon.

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

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

1971, authorized by the Vatican theological institute was established, are formed on the students of all branches of the Franciscan Order, including those of sister communities, as well as Benedictine. Even seminarians of the diocese, as well laity can operate there religious studies.

Abbey and Basilica

• Monastery
• Courtyard of the monastery