Church of San Damiano
San Damiano is a medieval church and monastery situated on a hillside just south of Assisi in Umbria. Built in the 12th century, it holds a central place in Franciscan history as the site where Francis of Assisi heard the call to rebuild God’s church, and where Saint Clare later established the very first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare — the Poor Clares.
At a glance
- Type
- Franciscan church and monastery
- Period
- 12th century; active in Franciscan history from 1205
- Style
- Romanesque with later medieval additions
- Location
- Via San Damiano, Assisi, Umbria, Italy
- Coordinates
- 43.0616° N, 12.6181° E
Overview
San Damiano is inseparably linked to the origins of two great Franciscan movements. Built in the 12th century near Assisi, it became the first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare after Francis of Assisi placed Clare there in 1212. Today it is maintained by the Friars Minor and welcomes pilgrims and visitors year-round as one of the most spiritually significant sites along the Franciscan path through Umbria.
History
In 1205 Francis of Assisi, praying before the Byzantine crucifix inside the small chapel, heard a voice asking him to “go and repair my church.” He took the injunction literally at first, selling cloth to fund repairs to the crumbling building. After his conversion, Saint Clare received the veil here in 1212 and established the first community of Poor Ladies — later the Poor Clares — under the Rule Francis wrote for them. Clare lived at San Damiano for over forty years until her death in 1253, receiving here Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, which he composed in the garden during an illness.
What you see
The complex comprises a small Romanesque chapel, a cloister garden, a refectory, and the dormitory where Clare died. The chapel interior retains its intimate medieval character, with a replica of the famous San Damiano Crucifix — the original now hangs in the Basilica of Santa Chiara in Assisi. The garden and loggia preserve the contemplative atmosphere that Clare and her sisters would have known, with views across the Umbrian valley below Assisi.
Cultural significance
San Damiano is part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription “Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites” (2000). It remains one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in Umbria and a touchstone for scholars of medieval religious history, women’s spirituality, and the origins of mendicant orders in Europe.
Practical information
- Address
- Via San Damiano, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy
- Hours
- Generally open daily; check the official Franciscan friars website for current hours
- Admission
- Free entry; donations welcome
Getting there
San Damiano lies approximately 1.5 km south of the historic centre of Assisi. From Piazza del Comune, follow signs downhill on foot — a pleasant 20-minute walk through olive groves. By car, follow the SP238 south from Assisi and look for the signed turn-off. Buses from Assisi station serve the town centre; the walk to San Damiano continues on foot from there.