The bones of Saint Francis rest here, a hugely important place of pilgrimage for Catholics. The Franciscans continue his work today, leading a simple monastic life with complete devotion to the poor. While the church is extremely grand, it lacks some of the ostanteous features found in other Italian churches, particularly in Rome. Be prepared to queue to see the crypt which contains the tomb of Saint Francis; this part of the church dates from the mid-thirteenth century.

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