Basilica di Santa Chiara Church

Address: Basilica di Santa Chiara, Assisi/Perugia area, Umbria, Italy

Hours: Daily 9am-6pm (times vary with religious services)

Basilica di Santa Chiara is a 13th-century church in Assisi, Umbria, closely associated with Saint Clare of Assisi. It is an important pilgrimage site because it contains the saint’s tomb and relics.

The interior contains chapels and devotional spaces arranged along a basilica plan, and the exterior is notable for its austere brickwork and a tall campanile. The building is commonly visited both for its religious significance and for its medieval architecture.

Construction of the present basilica began in the mid-13th century following the death of Saint Clare and was carried out under the auspices of her followers and the Franciscan movement. The church has been maintained and altered at intervals since the medieval period to preserve its structure and devotional functions.

The basilica stands in the lower part of Assisi’s historic centre in Umbria, within walking distance of other principal Franciscan sites in the town.

• Date and association: The basilica dates to the 13th century and is directly associated with Saint Clare of Assisi, founder of the Order of Poor Clares.

What to See#

• Tomb of Saint Clare: Contains the tomb and relics of Saint Clare, which form the principal devotional focus and are located in the basilica’s interior chapels.

Located in Umbria reachable from Perugia or Assisi by regional bus or car. From Assisi train/station connections, local buses provide links to the basilica area.

• Listen for the quiet during midday prayers - the basilica's acoustics and the hollow hush make the experience memorable.
• Note the frescoes and the tombs of Blessed Jordi and other local figures; local guides can explain the Dominican order's role in the church's history.
• Combine with a stroll to the nearby medieval center and the view from Perugia's higher streets if visiting from Rome.