Cathedral of San Rufino

Going up the steep Via San Rufino from Piazza del Comune, you quickly reach the upper part of town, and are rewarded for your tiring climb with the view of the splendid façade of the Cathedral of San Rufino, one of the most significant examples of Romanesque architecture in Umbria.

According to tradition, the original building, which held the remains of the martyr St. Rufinus, dates from the 8th century; in 1029 Bishop Hugo decided to expand the building, granting it the title of cathedral.
In the 12th century the canons wanted to build a larger church in a position behind the original one, so as to obtain space for a parvis. Bishop Hugo’s basilica was thus demolished and rebuilt, saving only the crypt, the internal cloister and a part of the bell tower.
The works were commissioned to Giovanni da Gubbio and were not completed until 1253, when it was consecrated by Pope Innocent IV.

In 1541, the architect Galeazzo Alessi from Perugia was called to restore the monumental complex, which was in poor condition. The architect completely modified the interior in the Renaissance style and created the impressive dome above the chancel.

The façade is richly decorated with plant motifs and animal and anthropomorphic figures, and is divided into three parts: the portals at the bottom, the rose windows in the middle section, with the larger, central rose window supported by telamons and framed by the symbols of the Evangelists, while the two smaller side rose windows are flanked by statues. Finally, at the top, the tympanum encloses a pointed arch, probably decorated in the past with a mosaic.

Inside the Basilica, on the left you can see a Roman cistern from the 2nd century BC and a part of the terracing wall, upon which stood the Bona Mater temple.
On the opposite side is the baptismal font where, according to legend, Francis and Clare received the sacrament; continuing along the right side aisle are the Chapel of the Sacrament and, farther ahead, the altar with a panel painted by Dono Doni depicting Christ in Glory Among Saints. Doni, a native of Assisi, also did the Crucifixion and the Deposition, painted in 1563 and placed above the two altars located in the chancel.

Descending below the level of the church, you can also see the Roman cistern, the Hugo crypt, the cloister with the altar well and the Diocesan Museum.

Assisi for everyone

Do you need more information on the accessibility of the monument? We have a dedicated section where you can find all the useful information for people with motor disabilities to visit Cathedral of San Rufino