Assisi Cathedral Church

Assisi Cathedral, the Cathedral of San Rufino, is the principal Romanesque church of Assisi in Umbria and serves as the city’s cathedral. Its façade and architectural character date principally to the medieval Romanesque period.

The exterior presents a carved stone façade with a noted rose window and sculpted portal details. Inside, visitors encounter the nave and chapels typical of a medieval cathedral, along with a baptistry historically associated with local saints.

The cathedral was built on the site of earlier Christian churches and took its present Romanesque form during the medieval period, with later interior modifications and restorations over the centuries. It has been the central church of Assisi throughout its history and maintained as the seat of the local bishop.

The cathedral stands on the Piazza del Comune in Assisi, close to the Basilica of San Francesco and within the town’s historic center in Umbria, Italy.

• Facade date and features: The cathedral’s Romanesque facade dates largely to the 12th century and includes a carved portal and a prominent rose window.
• Baptismal site: Traditionally identified as the baptistry where Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare were baptized, a point of interest for many visitors.

Assisi is reached by regional train or bus from Perugia; the cathedral is a short uphill walk from the town’s main bus drop-off points and Piazza del Comune in the historic centre.

• Arrive outside mass times to admire the cathedral architecture and the baptismal font where St. Francis is said to have been baptized.
• Walk the surrounding medieval streets to understand Assisi's layered religious and civic history - the cathedral sits within a neighbourhood of artisans and small shops.