Assisi Cathedral

The Cathedral of San Rufino (St. Rufinus) is a major church in Assisi, Italy, that has been important in the history of the Franciscan order. In this church St Francis (1182) and St. Clare (1193) and many of their original disciples were baptised. When hearing Francis preaching in this church in 1209, Clare of Assisi became deeply touched by his message and she realized her calling. Once St Francis was witnessed praying in this church while, at the same time, he was seen jumping on a chariot of fire in the Porziuncola (as related by Tommaso da Celano, Vita I, chap. XVIII)

This stately church in Umbrian Romanesque style was the third church built on the same site to contain the remains of bishop Rufino, martyred in the 3th century. The construction was started in 1140 according to the designs by Giovanni da Gubbio, as attested by the wall inscription visible inside the apse. He may be the same Giovanni who designed rose-window on the façade of Santa Maria Maggiore (Assisi) in 1163.In 1228, while he was in Assisi for the canonization of Saint Francis, Pope Gregory IX consecrated the high altar. Pope Innocent IV then inaugurated the finished church in 1253.

Façade

The Romanesque façade was built with stones from the Mount Subasio. It is a typical example of the style found in churches of Umbria in the 12th century. This façade is divided in three sections.
* The rather bare top level is triangular with an empty semi-circular arch in the middle, probably meant to contain a frieze or a mosaic.
*The middle level is divided by two vertical pilasters, in line with the arch in the upper level. Each section in this level contains a rose window, but the central one is the largest and the most ornate. It looks as if it is supported by three telamones, themselves each standing on an animal. In the four corners of an imaginary square around the rose window are the four animals, symbols of the four evangelistst.
*The lower level consists of a number of squares and three decorated stone portals with gryphons at the base of the side portals. Especially the middle portal is extensively decorated. In the lunette of the semi-circular arch over the central portal is a relief with the Christ enthroned between the sun and the moon, while on His left is the Virgin, also enthroned, nursing Jesus, and on His right St. Rufinus. The portal is surrounded with three decorated arches with saints, floral and geometrical motifs and intertwined swans. At the base of the middle arch, on each side, is a lion. These sculptures of lions and gryphons have great iconographic importance.

The bottom and the middle part of the square bell tower, on the left side of the façade, were built in the 11th century. It was then situated behind the apse of the previous church built by bishop Ugone in 1029. The top level dates from the 13th century. One can see on the bell tower a colossal one-handed liturgical clock showing the 24 hours of the "hora italica" (Italian time), a period of time ending with sunset at 24 hours. The foundations of the bell tower rest on a Roman cistern. The structure on the side of the bell tower has been identified as the home of St. Clare.

Interior

In 1571 the interior of the cathedral, originally Romanesque in style was completely modified in late Renaissance style by the architect Gian Galeazzo Alessi from Perugia. It consists of a central nave, two aisles, separated by massive pillars, an apse and a dome.

On entering the church, one’s attention is drawn to the baptismal font at the beginning of the right aisle. Here St. Francis was baptised in 1182 and St Clare in 1193, but also many of their original followers and in 1838 Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. The font was fashioned from an ancient granite column and is girdled by an iron grating. The terracotta tabernacle was a present in 1882 on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of St Francis birth.

On the right aisle is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Baroque style (begun in 1541 and enlarged in 1663), partly frescoed by Giorgetti (1663). The nine wall paintings are attributed to the 17th-century painter Andrea Carloni

The Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation was built in 1496 as a consequence of a miracle. In 1494 people had seen the image of "Our lady of Sorrows" weeping over the Christ in her arms. This German terracotta sculpture from the early 15th century has recently been stolen. An identical wooden copy now stands at the same place.

The 19th century main altar stands under the octagonal Renaissance dome over the remains of San Rufino. On both sides stand the marble statues of San Francis and Saint Clare by Giovanni Duprè. In the apse one can admire the majestic choir, with 22 stalls, decorated with wooden carvings by Giovanni di Piertacopo da San Severino (1520). The statue of Saint Rufino of Lemoyne stands at the center of the choir.

There are several paintings by Dono Doni : "Christ adored by Saints" (1555); on the two altars on both sides of the major one, there are two more works: "Deposition" (1562) and "Crucifixion" (1563).

Under the cathedral there is a crypt with the Roman sarcophagus from the 3rd century, that once contained the remains of San Rufino. It is frontally sculptured in low relief with the myth of Diana and Endymion. Here one can equally find the "Pozzo della Mensa", a medieval well and the ruins of a Carolingian cloister from the 10th century.

The "Museo del Duomo" exhibits frescoes from the 13th century, reliquaries, and illuminated manuscripts. Its most famous work of art is the triptych "Madonna with Child and Saints" by Nicolò Alunno (1470).

During restorations of the church in 1969 some of the friezes and stucco work were removed.

ee also

*Cathedral architecture

External links

* [http://www.umbria.org/assisi/assisieng/SRufino.htm Cathedral of San Rufino]
* [http://www.sanfrancescoassisi.org/index.php?dir=assisi&subdir=monumenti&lang=eng&url=sanrufi.htm Cahedral of San Rufino]