Oratorio di San Francesco (Oratory of St. Francis), Assisi

Saint Francis was born in Assisi in 1182, though the details of his early life remain shrouded in mystery. According to folk tradition, an elderly pilgrim arrived in Assisi shortly before his mother, Pica, went into labor. This pilgrim, known for preaching Christian charity, advised Pica to move from her luxurious chamber to a humble stable within the house for a smoother delivery. Despite being in labor, Pica followed this advice, drawing inspiration from the Madonna's nativity. Thus, Saint Francis was born on straw in a small and modest stable, echoing the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth.

The stable, later converted into a chapel starting in the 13th century, still stands near the central square in the alley of the Holy Spirit. Its Gothic doorway was added in 1281. The chapel, believed to have been established by Francis's nephew shortly after the saint's death, remained in use throughout the Middle Ages. Though the walls were once adorned with frescoes, they were restored to their original state in 1926, revealing a rustic stone vault inside.

The façade, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles, bears a significant Latin inscription: "This Oratory was the stable of the ox and the donkey where Saint Francis was born, mirror of the World."