Santuario di Rivotorto (Sanctuary of Rivotorto), Assisi

About 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) south of Assisi, along the road to Foligno, stands the impressive Sanctuary of Rivotorto. Constructed in 1854 in Neo-Gothic style, this sanctuary occupies the site where the first community of Franciscan friars briefly resided in 1209. It was here that Saint Francis penned the initial rules for his Order.

The structure’s façade bears symbols of the Basilica di San Francesco, whereas inside, visitors encounter the rebuilt Hovel-a humble dwelling where Francis and his earliest companions prayed, meditated, and worked during the inception of the Franciscan Fraternity. A stone engraving at the entrance commemorates this significant moment with the words "HIC PRIMORDIA FRATRUM MINORUM" (Here the beginnings of the Franciscan Friars).

Additionally, the sanctuary houses the renovated remnants of two unadorned stone buildings, believed to have been the shelters where Francis and his companions sought refuge. Surrounding the sanctuary are roads and parking lots, a stark contrast to the less cultivated and more remote countryside that once enveloped the area during Francis's time.

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Visitors to Rivotorto can also explore the tranquil Assisi War Graves cemetery, dedicated to British and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives during past conflicts.