San Rufino Cathedral & Piazza

The Cathedral of San Rufino

Dedicated to Saint Rufinus, the patron of Assisi, this Romanesque cathedral is one of the finest in Umbria. Its sculpted portals, carved corbels and three luminous rose windows mark a building begun in the twelfth century. Inside, a baptismal font links the church to both Saint Francis and Saint Clare, who were baptised here.

The Piazza San Rufino

The sloping cobbled square before the cathedral is a quietly monumental stage of pale stone houses, the bell tower and a central fountain. It remains a lived-in space where residents pause and visitors gather beneath the ancient facade.

A UNESCO hilltown

Assisi's medieval core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its honey-coloured stone draped across the slopes of Monte Subasio. The cathedral sits within a dense weave of lanes, arches and churches that draw pilgrims from across the world.